"OH MY LOVE"

Behind The Closed Doors

Lila barely had time to close the door behind her before her mom's voice cut through the silence, sharp as a knife.

"Where were you, Lila? You think you can just come and go as you please?" Her mom's voice had that familiar edge to it—cold, disapproving, like she was always waiting for Lila to mess up.

Lila clenched her jaw, forcing herself to keep calm. She knew if she let the irritation show, it would only make things worse. "I told you, I was just at the café. I needed some air."

Her mom's eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Air? And what, you think that justifies ignoring your responsibilities here? You think you're better than this family, better than me?"

Before Lila could respond, her dad's voice rumbled from the living room, low and indifferent. "She's always been ungrateful. No surprise there." He didn't bother to look up from the TV, his face illuminated by the flashing screen.

Lila's chest tightened, a familiar knot of fear and frustration twisting inside her. "I'm not ignoring anything," she managed, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm just trying to..."

"To what, Lila? To act like you're the victim here?" Her mom cut her off, her voice rising. "You're always thinking about yourself. Never about what this family needs."

Lila could feel her hands shaking, but she forced herself to stay silent, knowing better than to argue back. It never made a difference—no matter what she said, her mom always found a way to turn it against her. She glanced at her dad, but his eyes were glued to the TV, like he couldn't be bothered to care.

She slipped past her mom and hurried up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached her room and closed the door quietly behind her, pressing her back against the wood as if she could keep the tension out. But even then, she could still hear her mom's voice echoing through the thin walls, each word digging into her like a thorn.

"Ungrateful... selfish... just like her father..."

Lila sank onto her bed, burying her face in her hands. She could feel the tears burning behind her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let herself break down completely. She'd learned to hold it in, to swallow the pain until it felt like a weight pressing down on her chest.

Her phone buzzed on the bedside table, and she wiped her eyes quickly before picking it up. It was a message from Alex: Hey, hope you're okay. Let's grab coffee again sometime?

She stared at the screen for a moment, her heart softening at the sight of his name. It was strange how much comfort a simple message could bring. For a second, she imagined what it would be like to tell him everything—about the fights, the constant feeling of being trapped, the way she had to tiptoe around her own home.

But she couldn't. Not yet. Instead, she typed back: Yeah, I'd like that.

She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard before she added: Thanks for today, btw. I needed it.

She hit send, and as she stared at the screen, she felt a small flicker of warmth in her chest. It wasn't much, but it was enough to remind her that there was a world outside of this house, outside of the pain that seemed to cling to her like a shadow.

Later That Night

The house was quiet now, the kind of silence that settled in after an argument like dust. Lila lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts a tangled mess. She could hear the muffled sounds of the TV from downstairs, but it was easier to ignore now that her parents had retreated to their separate corners.

Her phone buzzed again, and she reached for it, half-expecting another message from her mom. But it was Alex. Hey, Lila, I know it's late, but... you seemed kind of down earlier. Are you sure everything's okay?

Lila bit her lip, her thoughts swirling. She wasn't used to people noticing when she was upset—let alone caring enough to reach out. She considered brushing it off with another lighthearted response, but something in her resisted. Maybe it was the warmth in Alex's message or the way he seemed genuinely interested in her well-being.

She took a deep breath, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard before she typed: Things are just rough at home. My parents... they're not the easiest to be around.

She hit send, feeling a pang of anxiety tighten in her chest. Would he think she was oversharing? Would he lose interest now that he had a glimpse of the messiness she kept hidden away? But the reply came almost instantly.

Alex: I'm sorry, Lila. That sounds really tough. If you ever need a friend or just want to get away for a while, you know where to find me.

She couldn't help the small, genuine smile that tugged at her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt a little less alone, even if it was just through a phone screen. It wasn't a solution to everything she was facing, but it was a start. And right now, that was enough.