After Kenji left, Anele, still shaken decided she had had enough with the Himura family and went into her room to pack. She was leaving again. Anele paused, her hands resting on the handle of a suitcase, as she sensed Kyoko's presence in the room. The familiarity of Kyoko's scent—sweet and floral—whispered of memories, both good and bad. The silence stretched between them, full of unspoken words and regrets.
"Anele,"
Kyoko ventured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Please, let me help you. You don't have to do this alone."
Anele turned slowly, her brow furrowed.
"Help me? You're not going to try to stop me?"
The weight of the past loomed heavily over them, an unshakeable bond tempered by betrayal and sorrow. Anele crossed her arms, tense and guarded.
"Why should I trust you now? You stood by him when I needed someone to believe me. How do I know this isn't just another ploy to save face for your family?"
Kyoko looked pained, the flicker of regret in her eyes evident.
"I know I can't undo what's been done, but please believe me when I say that I am genuinely sorry. I should never have stood by him, and I can't live with myself knowing what he's done to you. I've been trying to make amends in my own way."
Anele bit her lip, trying to suppress the emotional storm brewing inside her. The smell of Kyoko's floral perfume intertwined with the stale air of the room, stirring memories of happier times lost in the shadows.
" What difference does it make now? What could you possibly offer me that would change anything?"
"I can get you and the twins out of here safely. I can help you find a place where you can start anew without the Himuras' reach. I have connections—people who can provide what you need. No one has to know where you've gone."
Kyoko took a cautious step forward, her eyes pleading.
"Connections? Or more like more lies to cover up your family's dirty secrets?"
Anele spat back, but her resolve was beginning to waver. The thought of leaving with her twins ignited a spark of hope, but the darkness of her past held her back. Kyoko dropped her voice to almost a whisper.
"You don't have to keep living like this, Ani. The twins deserve a life away from this horror—away from him and you do too. We can do this together."
There was a sincerity in Kyoko's tone, a desperation that made Anele stop to think. The fear of what would happen if she left still loomed large in her mind, but the thought of staying, of subjecting her children to the same legacy of trauma, made her stomach churn.
"Why would you risk everything for me now?"
Anele's voice softened, the harsh edges of her confrontation giving way to uncertainty. Kyoko's expression softened, the crestfallen weight of her actions clinging to her like a shroud.
"Because I love you, Anele. I've always loved you, even when I was too blind to see what was happening to you. I can't change the past, but I can change the future. Please, let me help you."
For the first time, Anele hesitated. The possibility of escaping this pain was tantalizing, but the ghosts of their shared history were hard to shake.
"You know they won't let you go easily,"
Anele murmured, her heart racing as she weighed the consequences of both choices.
"If you help me... you're turning against them. Yours and your brother's family. Is this really what you want?"
Kyoko stepped closer, her fierce determination radiating like a shield.
"I don't care about my family anymore—not if it means I have to stand by and watch you suffer. They've proven they'll protect their reputation above all else. It's time you came first, and I want to be the one to help you get there."
Anele's breath caught as she looked into Kyoko's eyes, searching for the truth buried within. Would she truly be able to help her escape? Or was this just another tangled web spun by the Himuras' legacy?
"Anele,"
Kyoko pressed, a fierce spark igniting in her gaze,
"You and the twins deserve better. Let's break free. Together."
Anele took a deep breath, muscles tense and heart racing, the weight of the decision beginning to settle in her bones. It was time to choose, and as she gazed at Kyoko, she found herself teetering on the precipice of a new life—one filled with possibility, but also bound with uncertainty.
"Okay,"
she finally whispered, her voice trembling.
"but this is on you. If we do this, we commit. No turning back."
Anele opened her suitcase, a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She gathered her essentials, every item packed laced with both hope and fear. As Kyoko assisted, awareness passed between them—a silent vow forged in the shadows of the past, illuminated by the flickering flame of their chances for the future. Together, they would step into the unknown.
YOU ARE READING
WHEN I NEEDED YOU. ( Lesbian Slow Updates.)
General Fiction" Stupid me. I thought you were different." " But I-" " Get away from me! I don't ever want to see your fat face again." Nothing hurt more than her words and the look of disgust on her face. The one person who she thought would believe her did not...
