Holding On To Hope

Chapter 17: The Silent Strength

The day was winding down, and the soft hum of the evening settled around the apartment. Dinner had been made—Grayson had brought over a few dishes earlier—and the scent of food lingered in the air. Lina walked into the living room, glancing toward the couch where Leon sat, his head leaned back, eyes closed. The weight of the day was evident on his face, his exhaustion palpable even in the stillness.

She smiled softly and walked up behind him. Without a word, she placed her fingers gently on his forehead, massaging the tension away. Leon's lips curled into a small smile, his eyes still closed.

"That feels nice," he murmured, his voice low, tired.

Lina chuckled quietly, continuing to massage his temples. But just as she settled into the rhythm, Leon opened one eye slightly, his expression turning serious.

"Sit beside me, Lina," he said softly but firmly. "Don't stand like that. Your side's still healing. You'll hurt yourself."

She couldn't help but smile at his concern. "I'm fine, really. You're the one who's been running yourself ragged."

"Sit," Leon repeated, though the warmth in his voice was unmistakable.

With a small laugh, Lina complied, moving around the couch to sit next to him. She resumed the massage, her hands gentle on his forehead. Leon leaned back once again, his face relaxing, though every few minutes, his eyes fluttered open, checking on her. His gaze would scan her face, as if looking for any signs of pain or discomfort, and then he'd close them again, reassured.

Lina noticed it and sighed softly, breaking the silence.

"You know," she began, her voice thoughtful, "you need to start caring about yourself too, Leon. You're human, not a machine. Let me be a good sister for once."

Leon's lips twitched into a small smile, but he didn't open his eyes. He exhaled deeply, his hand resting on his chest. "I'm built this way," he said after a moment, his voice thick with emotion. "It's who I am. I'm supposed to protect everyone, take care of my loved ones. That's all I've ever known."

Lina stopped the massage, her hands resting gently on his head. His words, heavy with meaning, hung in the air. Before she could respond, she noticed something she rarely saw—Leon's eyes, glistening with unshed tears. A single tear escaped, trailing down his cheek.

Without hesitation, Lina reached out and wiped it away, her touch soft. "You don't have to carry it all by yourself, you know," she whispered. "You've done more than enough. You've always been there for me, for Grayson, for everyone. But you need to let people care about you too."

Leon turned his head slightly, looking up at her, his eyes still tired but filled with something deeper. "I don't know if I can," he admitted quietly. "I don't know how to stop."

Lina smiled, her heart aching for him. "Well, maybe you should let me teach you." She rolled her eyes playfully, trying to lighten the moment. "You don't always have to be the big protector, Leon. Let me be the annoying little sister for once."

Leon laughed softly, his expression softening. "You're already pretty good at that."

Lina grinned, but the seriousness in her voice returned. "You're allowed to rest, Leon. You're allowed to be human."

Leon didn't reply right away. Instead, he shifted slightly and laid his head on her lap, closing his eyes. The gesture was simple, but it spoke volumes. He was tired—not just physically, but emotionally—and for the first time in a long time, he let someone else hold that burden, even if just for a moment.

They sat like that for a while, the silence between them comfortable. Eventually, Leon spoke again, his voice a little lighter. "Alright, let's eat. But I'll only sleep after I'm sure you've gone to bed first."

Lina shook her head, amused at his persistence. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Leon just smiled, sitting up as they moved to the dinner table. They ate quietly, the weariness of the day settling in. As the meal ended, Lina pushed her chair back and stood up, walking over to Leon's side. "Go to bed," she insisted, her voice firm but gentle. "You need sleep more than I do. I'm fine. I promise."

He opened his mouth to protest, but the look in Lina's eyes stopped him. He exhaled deeply and nodded. "Alright," he agreed, though he still looked unconvinced. "But only if you promise to sleep too."

"I will," she assured him, nudging him toward his room. "Go."

Leon gave her one last look before walking off to his room, shaking his head with a small smile. "Stubborn," he muttered.

Once he was gone, Lina took a deep breath and moved to her own room. Before laying down, she stood once more before her prayer mat, the soft glow of the moonlight filling the room. It was time for her to pray Tahajjud, the night prayer she loved so much.

She performed the prayer in the stillness of the night, her heart filled with gratitude. After the final rak'ah, she sat quietly, her hands lifted in dua, her voice soft as she whispered to her Lord.

"Ya Allah, thank You for everything. Thank You for giving me Leon, Grayson, and Mia. Thank You for the strength You've given me, even when I thought I couldn't carry on. Please, protect Leon. Don't ever let his eyes get wet again. He's been through enough already. If You must give someone pain, give it to me. But not him. Not anymore."

She smiled softly, her heart light. "He's done so much, Allah. Please give him peace."

With that, she finished her prayer, feeling the warmth of her faith settle over her like a comforting blanket. She laid down in bed, pulling the covers over herself, and as she closed her eyes, she whispered one final prayer.

"Allah miyaan, take care of him. And thank You... for everything."