Holding On To Hope

Chapter 5 - Moments of Solitude

The house was finally quiet. Lina relished in the silence, a rare luxury she only experienced when her mother was out for the night. Her mom had gone to some socialite party, leaving Lina to bask in the peacefulness of an empty house. No scornful looks, no harsh words—just her. These were the moments she treasured—the calm before the next inevitable storm.

Lina slipped into her favorite pajama set, a soft, worn-in combo of an oversized T-shirt and plaid pajama pants. The comfort of it immediately made her feel more at ease. She tied her hair up in a messy bun, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she adjusted her shirt. For once, she didn't dwell on the things she normally hated about her appearance. Tonight, she just wanted to enjoy the peace.

With a deep sigh, she grabbed her headphones and scrolled through her music playlist, finally settling on Diljit Dosanjh's "Khutti." As the energetic Punjabi beats filled her ears, Lina couldn't help but sway to the rhythm. The song's playful tone brought a smile to her face, and before long, she was dancing around the living room, lip-syncing along to the lyrics.

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to let go, spinning in circles, her laughter echoing through the house. It felt good—freeing. She hadn't danced like this in a long time, just for herself. Diljit's voice made her feel alive in a way she hadn't in days, and she soaked it all in.

After a few minutes, she plopped down on the couch, still out of breath from her mini dance party. She glanced at her phone and started scrolling through Instagram, pausing to laugh at the endless stream of reels. It wasn't long before a notification popped up: a message from Mia.

Lina quickly opened it. It was a reel of a cat struggling to jump on a counter but failing spectacularly.

Mia: "This is me trying to get out of bed in the morning."

Lina chuckled.

Lina: "Same, girl. I can't believe you're still on leave. Do you ever plan on coming back?"

Mia: "Only if you promise not to burn down the office kitchen."

Lina: "I can't make any promises."

Lina grinned, feeling her spirits lift. Mia was the third closest person in Lina's life, right after Leon and Grayson. Mia had a way of brightening her world, making everything seem a little less overwhelming.

Mia: "Okay, serious talk. I've got an idea for when I'm back. We need a girls' day out—just us, some shopping, and maybe I can help you with your fashion sense."

Lina laughed. There it was—the classic Mia fashion critique.

Lina: "I don't need a fashion makeover, thank you very much. My T-shirt and pajamas are a style choice!"

Mia: "Right. A choice to blend in with the couch. I'm here for it."

Lina giggled, picturing Mia's playful smirk. They had always teased each other about fashion, and it was one of the things she loved most about their friendship.

Switching apps, she noticed a message from Leon. He had sent her a reel of someone trying—and failing—miserably at assembling a complex piece of furniture. She snorted.

Leon: "My next DIY project... I'm sure it'll go just as well."

Lina replied quickly, a grin still tugging at her lips.

Lina: "Just stick to photography, Leon. Leave the building to the pros."

Leon: "Fine. But don't act like you've got it all together. Remember the time you nearly burned down the kitchen making toast?"

Lina groaned. He's never letting that go.

Lina: "That was ages ago! Let it die!"

Leon: "Never. Just think of me as your fashion photographer, and I'll make sure to capture your best moments, including your 'culinary disasters.'"

She could almost hear him laughing through the phone. Despite his teasing, Leon was her rock. He always knew how to balance out his protectiveness with playful banter. It was these small exchanges that kept her grounded, knowing she could always count on him to be there, even through something as small as a text conversation.

Feeling mischievous, Lina shot back at him.

Lina: "At least my kitchen disasters are better than your terrible dad jokes. Remember the last time you tried to be funny?"

Leon: "Touché. But my jokes are legendary, while you're just... legendary at burning food."

Lina rolled her eyes, chuckling. "I'll show you legendary when you get back. Just wait."

Her phone buzzed again—this time, Grayson.

Grayson: "Did you eat? Don't skip dinner."

Lina: "Yes, Dad 2.0, I ate. What about you?"

Grayson: "Don't sass me. I'm serious."

Lina smiled. Grayson was more reserved than Leon but equally caring. He didn't tease as much, but his concern showed through his constant check-ins and subtle ways of looking after her. It was his quiet reliability that made him just as important to her as Leon.

Lina: "I promise I ate. How was your day?"

Grayson: "Good. Busy with work. But I'll come by tomorrow if you're free."

Lina: "Yes! Coffee date? You still owe me."

Grayson: "Deal. I'll bring dessert, too."

She could already imagine the peacefulness of tomorrow, a break from the chaos. Grayson had always been her calming force, a steady presence whenever she needed to vent or just be in someone's company without talking.

With her brothers and Mia constantly checking in on her, Lina felt like she could breathe a little easier, despite everything else weighing on her. The rest of the world—her mother, her insecurities, her worries—faded in the background, at least for tonight.

Lina tossed her phone aside and grabbed her headphones again, putting "Khutti" on repeat. The beats filled her small, empty house as she leaned back, closing her eyes and letting herself enjoy the rare moment of happiness. The loneliness she often felt vanished, replaced by the comfort of knowing she wasn't alone in this world. She had Leon, Grayson, and Mia—her constants, her family.

As the song played softly in her ears, she allowed herself to smile, knowing that whatever came next, she could handle it. Not because she had to face it alone, but because she had people who truly loved her, just the way she was.