One Chance

Chapter 5 : The Pain of Progress

Amira sat on her bed, staring at the journal her therapist had suggested she keep. The pages were mostly blank, save for a few lines scrawled on the first page, tentative thoughts about her father, fragmented memories that she had barely managed to write down. It wasn't that she didn't want to deal with her past. She did. But every time she picked up the pen, her mind recoiled, pushing her back into the safe but stifling silence she had kept for years.Arjun had been supportive since that night in the garden. He never pried or asked for more than she was ready to give, but she could see the concern in his eyes whenever she withdrew into herself. She wanted to be better, for him, for herself. But facing the darkness that had shaped her childhood wasn't just about remembering, it was about reliving. And that terrified her.Her phone buzzed beside her, interrupting her thoughts. It was a text from Arjun: 'Hey, do you want to get some lunch today? No pressure, just thinking of you.'A soft smile tugged at her lips. He always knew when to reach out, just when she needed it. She typed back quickly: 'Sure. Let's meet at our usual spot?'The walk to the café was short, but it gave her time to reflect. She had been working on herself, trying to navigate her trauma, but some days were harder than others. Today felt like one of those hard days, where the weight of everything she had been through threatened to pull her under. But she had Arjun now, and that made a difference. When she arrived at the café, Arjun was already there, waving at her with that same comforting smile. She walked over, and they settled into their familiar routine, ordering their usual meals and chatting about classes, mutual friends, and their favourite books. For a while, it felt normal, easy, even. But beneath the surface, Amira could feel the tension building, the unspoken fears gnawing at her."Amira," Arjun said after a long pause, setting his fork down. "You don't have to answer this, but...how are you doing? Really?"She hesitated. The truth was, she wasn't sure how to answer that question. Some days she felt fine, better than fine, even. But on other days, like today, it felt like she was barely holding herself together. She glanced at him, seeing the openness in his expression, and decided to be honest."I'm trying," she said quietly. "I really am. But some days...it's hard. Harder than I want to admit."Arjun nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I get that. And you know I'm here for you, right? Whether it's a good day or a bad day, I'm here.""I know," she whispered, her voice tight with emotion. "It's just...sometimes I feel like I'm dragging you into my mess. Like, you deserve someone who doesn't have all this...baggage.""Amira, you're not a mess," he said firmly, his voice filled with conviction. "You've been through things that no one should have to go through. But that doesn't make you less deserving of love or happiness. You're strong, stronger than you realize. And I want to be here, with you, for all of it. The good days and the hard ones." She swallowed, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. She wasn't used to this kind of unconditional support. It felt foreign, almost too good to be true. But Arjun was proving, day by day, that he wasn't going anywhere."I just don't want to hurt you," she admitted softly. "Sometimes I'm so scared of getting close to people because I don't want them to see the broken parts of me.""We all have broken parts, Amira," Arjun said gently. "But that doesn't mean we can't heal. And you don't have to do it alone."The words sank in, settling in her heart like a balm. She nodded, unable to speak, and reached across the table to take his hand. It was a small gesture, but for her, it was monumental. She was learning to let people in, to let Arjun in, and that was progress.