Holding On To Hope

Chapter 7: Breaking Point

The following week passed in a blur of work and moments of fleeting joy with Grayson and Leon. However, Lina felt the weight of her home life pressing down on her more than ever. The small victories in the office—a compliment from a coworker, a successful presentation—were often overshadowed by the tension at home.

One evening, after a particularly long day at work, Lina returned home, exhausted. She stepped into the house, feeling the familiar dread settle in her stomach. Her mother was in the kitchen, and the tension in the air was palpable. As Lina walked by, her mother snapped at her.

"Why are you so late? I don't understand why you have to spend so much time with those boys. They're not the only people in the world!" Her mother's voice was sharp, cutting through Lina's fatigue.

Lina took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "I was just working late, Mom. It's nothing—"

"Nothing? You're always with them! I don't know what you see in those useless boys. They're a bad influence on you," her mother interrupted, her voice rising.

"I like spending time with them. They care about me," Lina replied, her heart racing.

"Care about you? They're just using you! You're not a child anymore; you need to learn to stand on your own two feet," her mother spat.

Lina felt tears prick at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "They're my friends, Mom. They make me happy," she said softly.

Her mother's face twisted in anger. "You think they make you happy? You're just being naive! You're always making excuses for them! You should be spending time with your real family."

"Mom, please..." Lina began, but her mother was on a roll, fueled by anger.

"Please what? You don't get to tell me how to feel! I know what's best for you!" Her mother shouted, and in a sudden movement, she slapped Lina across the face. The sting was immediate, sending shockwaves of pain through her body, both physically and emotionally.

Lina stumbled back, shocked. She raised a hand to her face, feeling the bruise forming on the corner of her eye. "Why do you always do this?" she whispered, feeling the weight of despair crush her.

"Because you need to learn! I'm tired of your behavior!" her mother screamed, her voice echoing in the empty house.

Lina stood frozen, tears streaming down her cheeks now. She felt humiliated and broken. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely a whisper before she turned and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Inside her room, she locked the door and sank onto her bed, sobs wracking her body. The pain from her mother's slap was nothing compared to the heartache of knowing she was unwanted, unloved. She fished her phone out of her pocket and hesitated. She wanted to text Leon or Grayson, but she didn't want to burden them with her problems. She didn't want them to worry.

Instead, she scrolled through her messages, stopping at a text from Zayn.

Zayn: Hey, sis! Just checking in. How are you?

Lina paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Part of her wanted to tell him everything, but another part felt that it would only add to the stress in his life. So she typed back, keeping it light.

Lina: I'm good! Just busy with work. How about you?

After a few moments, her phone buzzed again.

Zayn: Busy with work too! Mom is being extra this week, but you know how it goes.

Lina smiled through her tears, feeling a sense of relief that she wasn't alone in this. She texted back, trying to match his upbeat tone.

Lina: Yeah, I get it! Just hanging in there.

But the fight with her mother weighed heavily on her mind, and she knew she couldn't keep running from her feelings. After a while, she pulled out a notebook and began to write.

Lina poured her heart onto the pages, detailing everything that had happened—the fights, the pain, her brothers' love, and the joy they brought her. It was a form of therapy, a way to release the turmoil inside her. As the words flowed, she began to feel lighter, as if she was unburdening herself from the weight she carried.

Just as she finished writing, her phone buzzed again. This time it was Grayson.

Grayson: Hey, I'm around your house. Want to come for a walk?

Lina's heart swelled. She didn't want to worry Grayson, but she also craved the comfort of his presence.

Lina: I'll be there!

She quickly washed her face, trying to hide any traces of the tears and the bruise, she wore her hijab and left her room to meet Grayson downstairs.

When she dropped a message to her mom

Lina - "I'm going for a walk"

She opened the door, and went out to see Grayson standing there with a smile, his easygoing nature instantly putting her at ease.

"Hey, there she is!" he said, his eyes lighting up.

"Grayson," she said, her voice soft but grateful. She hugged her big brother. Feeling at ease.

They started walking in the street, Grayson began talking about his day, and for a while, Lina was able to forget about everything else. They joked, shared stories, and laughed as they dug into the food.

Then Grayson paused, looking at her intently. "Lina, are you sure everything's okay? You seem a bit off"

Lina hesitated, the memory of her mother's anger fresh in her mind. She didn't want to ruin the moment. "I'm fine, really. Just tired" she said, forcing a smile.

Grayson frowned, not entirely convinced but letting it go for now. "Alright, but you know I'm here if you need to talk, right?"

"Yeah, I know," she replied, her heart warming at his concern.

As they finished dinner, Leon texted her.

Leon: How's my child doing? I hope Grayson is taking good care of you! Please get some sleep.

She smiled at the protective nature of her brothers. She replied quickly.

Lina: I'm good! Just walking around with Grayson. Love you!

That night, after Grayson left, Lina went back to her room and crawled into bed feeling a mix of emotions. She felt grateful for her brothers but burdened by her mother's actions. She wanted to be strong, but the reality was hard. As she lay there, staring at the ceiling, she realized she couldn't keep living this way.

As she curled up in bed, thoughts of her younger sister, Zara, filled her mind. Zara lived with their dad and brothers, and despite the distance, Lina loved her immensely.

She also thought about Mia, who would be back soon. She missed Mia's laughter and their late-night talks. Maybe when Mia returned, things would feel a little brighter. For now, though, she knew she had to find the strength to face her struggles head-on, with the support of her brothers by her side and holding on to the hope that Allah has the best plan for her. She finally slept after praying fajr.