Holding On To Hope

Chapter 8: Silent Burdens

The next morning arrived too soon, and Lina woke up feeling heavy and drained. Her sleep had been restless, filled with fragmented dreams of her mother's angry voice and her brothers' worried faces. The bruise on her face, although less noticeable now, was still a painful reminder of last night's fight.

She stayed in bed for a while, wrapped in her blanket, staring blankly at the ceiling. She knew she had to get up and go to work, but she felt paralyzed. She couldn't face Grayson and Leon, not when the weight of her secret was becoming too much to bear.

Her phone buzzed beside her, and she glanced over to see messages from both Grayson and Leon.

Grayson: Morning! Breakfast at the office today? I'll bring coffee.

Leon: Don't even think about skipping breakfast. I'm checking in on you later.

She sighed, her heart warming a little at their care, but the weight in her chest refused to lift. The fight with her mother kept replaying in her mind, making her feel as though she was suffocating under its pressure.

Pushing the thoughts aside, she forced herself out of bed and got ready, making sure her hijab was perfectly pinned, hiding the bruise well. She tried to focus on the mundane details of her morning routine—brushing her teeth, getting dressed—but the anxiety of facing the day hung over her like a storm cloud.

At the office, Lina's attempts to appear normal didn't go unnoticed. She plastered on a smile and made light conversation with her colleagues, trying to hide her exhaustion. But Grayson and Leon, as always, could see through her.

Leon caught her eye from across the room as soon as she arrived. He raised an eyebrow, signaling for her to come over. Lina hesitated, feeling her heart pound in her chest, but she approached him anyway.

"Morning, big brother," she greeted him, trying to keep her voice light.

He looked at her intently for a moment before sighing. "Lina, I know something's up. You're not fooling anyone."

She bit her lip, unsure how to respond. Her instinct was to brush it off, but she knew Leon wouldn't let it go.

Grayson joined them just then, holding out a cup of coffee for her. "Here, caffeine for the soul," he said with a small smile. But his eyes were just as observant as Leon's, and Lina could feel both of them silently waiting for her to open up.

For a moment, Lina considered telling them everything. The fight, the bruise, the emotional toll her mother's actions had been taking on her. But then the same familiar guilt crept in—she didn't want to add to their stress. They had done so much for her already.

"I'm fine, really," she said, forcing a smile. "Just didn't sleep well last night."

Leon and Grayson exchanged a glance, clearly unconvinced.

"Lina, you know we're here for you, right? You don't have to keep things bottled up," Grayson said, his voice calm and reassuring.

"I know," she replied quietly, avoiding eye contact. "I'm just tired. That's all."

The day dragged on, each minute feeling like an hour as Lina went through the motions of her work. She tried to focus, but her mind kept drifting back to her mother. She hadn't spoken to her since the fight, and part of her dreaded going home.

Around lunchtime, she received a message from Zayn, her brother.

Zayn: Hey, Lina. How's it going? Miss you!

The message brought a small smile to her face. Zayn was always checking in, making sure she was okay, even though they didn't see each other much. They had grown up close, but the distance between them—both physical and emotional—had widened after their parents' divorce.

Lina: Miss you too. I'm okay, just work as usual.

He replied quickly.

Zayn: We need to catch up soon. I'll try to visit next month.

Lina stared at the message for a moment, feeling a pang of longing. She wished her relationship with her real brothers could be as easy and supportive as it was with Leon and Grayson. But life had taken them in different directions, and it wasn't always easy to stay connected.

She sighed and put her phone away, trying to push the emotions aside and focus on her work.

Later in the afternoon, Leon and Grayson appeared in her office again, this time looking more serious.

"Lina," Leon began, his voice low, "we need to talk. You've been off all day, and I can tell something's wrong. I don't want to push, but I can't sit here and watch you suffer in silence."

Grayson nodded, his expression calm but equally concerned. "Whatever it is, we can help. You don't have to carry everything on your own."

Lina's heart squeezed painfully in her chest. She wanted to tell them, to let them help her. But the thought of burdening them with her problems felt too much.

"I'm okay, really," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leon crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing and his tone stern. "Lina, don't lie to us. We know you're not okay. Just... talk to us."

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, trying to stay composed.

"I... I had a fight with my mom," she admitted quietly. "It was bad. But I'll be fine. I don't want to bother you guys with it."

Leon frowned, stepping closer. "Lina, you're never a bother. We care about you. You can talk to us."

For a moment, Lina stood there, feeling the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. She could feel herself unraveling, but she still couldn't bring herself to tell them everything. She didn't want them to worry.

Leon sighed, sensing her hesitation. "Alright, we won't push. But just know that we're here when you're ready to talk."

Lina nodded, grateful for their understanding, even though the guilt still gnawed at her.

The day finally ended, and Lina found herself back home, staring at her phone as she lay in bed. She wanted to reach out to her brothers, to tell them what was really going on, but the words just wouldn't come. Instead, she messaged them both, just a simple "I love you."

As she lay in silence, her phone buzzed again. It was a message from Mia.

Mia: Can't wait to see you tomorrow! I've missed you!

A wave of relief washed over Lina at the thought of Mia returning. Mia had always been a source of light in her life, someone who could lift her spirits just by being there.

Lina: Miss you too! I really need to talk to you.

Mia: I'm here for you. I can't wait to catch up!

Lina smiled, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe with Mia back, she could find the strength to share her burdens, to voice her struggles and find some semblance of peace. As sleep began to take her, she felt a small glimmer of hope that tomorrow might bring a much-needed change.