Seven Ways To The Abyss

HOME SWEET HOME PART TWO

Amaline’s fingers tightened around the photo as she continued to stare at it, her brow furrowing in confusion. Sofia could almost see the woman’s mind racing, trying to connect the dots between a stranger at her gate and the painful memories she’d buried long ago.

Sofia swallowed, making sure her voice remained soft and vulnerable, as if she were scared to ask for help. “I don’t want to intrude... I can understand if this is too much for you, but I just... I didn’t know where else to go.”

Amaline’s lips pressed together, a tight line of indecision crossing her features. She stepped back, glancing around as if she expected someone to jump out from behind Sofia. The hesitation was palpable, but Sofia knew she had made a crack in the woman’s defenses.

"How... how do you know this is my mother?" Amaline asked, her voice still cautious.

Sofia looked down, allowing her hair to fall over her face, playing the part of someone unsure, scared. “I didn’t at first,” she admitted, “but after I found more things... the names, the dates... it all started making sense.” She glanced up at Amaline with wide, innocent eyes. “I couldn’t believe it either. I had to come find you.”

Amaline glanced down at the photo again, her shoulders stiffening. “This doesn’t make any sense. My parents... they never mentioned anything about family. They were...”

Sofia took a breath, carefully placing each word as though she were walking on thin ice. “I don’t think they could, not after what happened. My mother told me that after the accident, your parents... they became distant. It was too painful for them to talk about what they lost.”

Amaline’s eyes narrowed. “You mean to tell me I’ve had family all this time, and no one thought to reach out? Not even once?”

Sofia bit her lip and looked down again, carefully crafting her next words. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I don’t know why my mother never did... I asked her once, but she would just cry whenever I brought it up. She never forgave herself for losing contact with her sister. And then...” Sofia’s voice wavered, “...she passed before she could make things right.”

The pause that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of unspoken grief. Sofia could feel the shift in Amaline’s stance, the woman torn between skepticism and the undeniable lure of family—something she had likely longed for, even if she didn’t admit it.

“I know it’s a lot,” Sofia said, glancing up once more, her voice barely a whisper. “I just didn’t want to be alone anymore.”

Amaline’s gaze softened, the emotional walls she had built around herself beginning to crumble. Sofia could see it—the flicker of uncertainty fading, replaced by the desire to believe, the desire for connection.

A tense silence hung between them for several moments, broken only by the distant hum of city life around them. Then, after what felt like an eternity, Amaline sighed and stepped back, opening the gate wider.

"come inside."

Sofia hesitated for a moment, playing her part, as though she couldn’t believe the kindness being extended to her. “Are... are you sure?” she asked softly, her hands twisting together in a nervous gesture.

Amaline nodded, still cautious but no longer cold. “It’s not safe to stand out here, and if what you’re saying is true...” She trailed off, glancing down at the photo again before looking back at Sofia. “I don’t know how much of this I believe, but... let’s talk.”

Sofia offered a small, grateful smile, letting her eyes well up slightly, as though she were fighting back tears of relief. “Thank you,” she whispered.

As she stepped through the gate, Amaline closed it behind her, casting one more cautious glance at Sofia. “What’s your name?” she asked, her tone still guarded.

“Sofia,” she replied, her voice small. “Sofia—Unane, if I’m right.”

Amaline’s eyes flashed briefly at the mention of her family name, the final confirmation that Sofia’s story might hold more truth than she was ready to admit.

They walked silently toward the house, the tension thick between them. Sofia followed closely behind, taking in the pristine garden, the manicured hedges, the modern lines of the house that seemed almost out of place in the dusty city. It all screamed wealth and solitude—perfect for what Sofia needed.

Amaline unlocked the front door, and as it swung open, Sofia was greeted by a wave of cool air, the scent of lavender and polished wood filling her senses. The interior was as beautiful as the exterior—tastefully decorated, with expensive furniture and paintings adorning the walls.

“Have a seat,” Amaline said, motioning to a cream-coloured sofa in the living room. Sofia sat, folding her hands in her lap as she continued to play the part of the nervous relative, her eyes flickering around the room, searching for anything that might help her gain further insight into the woman’s life.

Amaline remained standing, arms crossed as she leaned against the doorframe, still eyeing Sofia warily.

“You said you found records,” Amaline started. “What exactly do you know?”

Sofia took a breath, carefully organizing her thoughts. She needed to keep this simple—just enough truth to be convincing, without giving away too much. “Not much,” she began. “Just names and a few pictures. My mother didn’t keep much... after the accident, I think she wanted to forget as much as she could.” Sofia’s voice softened as she spoke. “But she always told me that she had a sister—your mother. She regretted losing touch, and... I guess I just wanted to find you, to understand more about the family I never knew.”

Amaline stared at her for a long moment, her eyes searching Sofia’s face for any sign of deception. Finally, she uncrossed her arms and sighed.

“I... I still don’t understand how this could happen,” she said, shaking her head. “But... if what you’re saying is true, I suppose I owe it to my family to listen.”

Sofia smiled, allowing a spark of relief to brighten her expression. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t let me in.”

Amaline offered a hesitant nod, though her posture remained rigid, still guarded. “We’ll talk more about this later,” she said. “For now, you can stay. But I’m going to need more proof before I can believe everything.”

Sofia nodded quickly, trying to look as genuine as possible. “Of course,” she said. “I understand.”

As Amaline turned to walk toward the kitchen, Sofia allowed herself a small smile. She was in. She was sure Amaline gad believed her but simply was just showing resistance to so she wouldn't seem like a push over, she had just found her home, home? That didn't seem right

Shelter

I'm back!!
I know I haven't been updating a lot recently, and I am really, really sorry, school has been so hectic. Anyway, I promise to update much more regularly from now on.

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~~Barakallah