"Behind Closed Doors"

Stepping into the Light

Kayla's POV:

Chapter 30:

Kayla sat in front of her laptop at the small kitchen table, the bright morning light streaming through the window. For the first time in months, she felt like herself again—no more fear clinging to her every move, no more dark clouds hovering over her life. Devin was gone, and now, she could focus on what she wanted, what she needed.

She had been thinking about it for days, ever since that night when she realized she could walk outside without feeling like someone was watching her. It was time to rebuild, to dream again. And today, that started with going back to school.

She scrolled through the college website, looking over the application process. She had always wanted to study design, and now that the chaos in her life had settled, there was no reason to put it off any longer. The thought of starting something new was exciting, even if it came with a little bit of nervousness. But this time, the nerves didn't feel like fear—they felt like hope.

Lena walked into the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee and raising an eyebrow when she saw the screen. "What you doin' over there?"

Kayla smiled, glancing up at her friend. "Lookin' at school stuff. I think I'm gonna apply for design school."

Lena's face lit up with excitement. "Girl, that's what I'm talkin' about! You finally gettin' back to you."

Kayla laughed softly, her heart warming at Lena's encouragement. "Yeah, it's time. I spent too long putting everything on hold, but now... now I'm ready."

Lena took a seat next to her, glancing at the screen. "I'm so proud of you, Kay. You went through hell and came out on the other side stronger. And now, you get to chase your dreams again."

Kayla smiled, a sense of pride swelling in her chest. It had been a long road to get here, but Lena was right—she had come out stronger. She had survived, and now, it was time to thrive.

Later that day, Kayla met up with Isaiah and Jordan at a small café near their mom's house. She hadn't seen them much since she started staying at Lena's, but now that things had calmed down, she wanted to reconnect and share the news about her plans for school.

As she walked into the café, she spotted them sitting by the window. Isaiah was sipping on a drink, looking as calm and steady as ever, while Jordan leaned back in his chair, already grinning when he saw her walk in.

"There she is," Jordan said, standing up to give her a hug. "How you feelin', Kay?"

Kayla hugged him back, smiling. "I'm good. Better than good, actually."

Isaiah stood up, pulling out a chair for her. "That's what we like to hear. You look like you've been takin' care of yourself."

Kayla sat down, her heart swelling with love for her brothers. They had been her rock through all of this, and now that the storm had passed, she felt grateful for everything they had done for her.

"I have been," Kayla said, nodding. "And I've got some news."

Isaiah and Jordan both leaned in, curious expressions on their faces.

"I'm going back to school," Kayla said, a proud smile spreading across her face. "I'm applying to design school."

Isaiah's face lit up with a grin. "That's what's up! I knew you'd get back to it. Proud of you, Kay."

Jordan clapped his hands together, his excitement contagious. "That's what I'm talkin' about! You always had an eye for design. It's about time you start chasin' your dreams again."

Kayla beamed, feeling the full weight of their support. For so long, she had been scared to think about the future, but now, everything felt possible again.

"I just... I feel like I can finally breathe, you know?" Kayla said, looking between them. "It's like for the first time in a long time, I'm not just surviving—I'm living."

Isaiah nodded, his eyes soft with understanding. "That's how it's supposed to be. You fought hard to get here, and now it's your time to shine."

Jordan leaned back in his chair, a proud smile on his face. "We knew you'd bounce back, Kay. You got that strength in you. Always have."

Kayla smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time. Her brothers had always believed in her, even when she didn't believe in herself. And now, with their support and her own newfound sense of purpose, she was ready to take on the world.

As the afternoon turned into evening, Kayla sat on the porch of her mom's house, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of pink and orange. The day had been full of laughter and love, and now, she was left with a sense of peace that she hadn't known in months.

Her phone buzzed, and she smiled when she saw a message from Lena.

Lena: How's your day been?

Kayla: It was perfect. Told Isaiah and Jordan about school, and they're so excited.

Lena: I knew they would be! You're finally gettin' back to you.

Kayla smiled, setting her phone down and leaning back in her chair. Lena was right. She was getting back to herself, little by little, day by day. The journey hadn't been easy, and there were still scars that would take time to heal, but for the first time in a long time, Kayla felt like she was in control of her life again.

As she watched the sky darken and the stars begin to appear, Kayla allowed herself to dream about the future. She thought about school, about the career she had always wanted, about the life she was building for herself. And in those dreams, there was no more fear. No more Devin. Just possibility.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Kayla wasn't running from something. She was running toward something.

And that made all the difference.