Unfinished Business

Chapter 32: New Beginnings and Hidden Struggles

Que had been spendin' more time in North Carolina, committed to bein' there for Lena and Amina. He'd recently sold the house he'd initially moved into in North Carolina, decidin' it was best to just move in with Lena to be closer to her and their daughter. He still held onto his house back in their hometown, but for now, North Carolina was where he wanted to be.

However, even though he was here, Que couldn't shake the feelin' of home callin' him back. He'd suggested a few times that Lena consider movin' back to their hometown, but she'd always given him the same gentle yet firm answer: "I'm not movin' back, Que."

Lena had built a life here, growin' attached to her newfound independence and security. She told Que she'd bring Amina for visits once she was a bit older, maybe in a couple of months, but North Carolina felt like home now. She wasn't ready to leave it behind.

A Hidden Struggle

One quiet afternoon, Lena was workin' on her online classes, her laptop open as she tried to focus on her assignments. She was determined to keep up with her work, especially with graduation only months away. But the weight of everything she'd been holdin' inside began to creep up on her—exhaustion, loneliness, and a sadness she couldn't quite explain. She had been feelin' it more often, the waves of emotions risin' when she least expected it.

Que was sittin' nearby, rockin' Amina in his arms, tryin' to keep her entertained while Lena worked. He glanced over and noticed her face had changed, her expression fallin' into one of quiet sorrow. She blinked back tears, quickly wipin' her face and pretendin' to focus on her screen, but Que didn't miss it.

He set Amina down in her bassinet, walkin' over to Lena and gently placin' a hand on her shoulder. "Lena, you okay?" he asked, his voice soft, concerned.

Lena forced a small smile, noddin' but not lookin' up. "Yeah, I'm... I'm fine. Just a little sad, but I don't know why," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Que watched her, his expression filled with empathy. He could sense there was more goin' on than she was lettin' on, a quiet pain she was carryin' that she didn't know how to explain. He'd heard about postpartum depression and wondered if that might be part of what she was feelin', but he didn't want to push her.

"It's okay, Lena," he said gently. "You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, whatever you need."

Lena nodded, her eyes driftin' to Amina, who was watchin' them from her bassinet with wide, curious eyes. "I know. Thank you, Que."

Finding Comfort

As the days went on, Que made a point to check in on Lena, makin' sure she had moments to rest and take care of herself. He'd take Amina for a walk or rock her to sleep, givin' Lena a chance to nap or catch up on schoolwork. Gradually, she felt some of the weight liftin', but the sadness still lingered.

She knew that this was part of the journey, part of the process of adjustin' to life as a mother. And while she couldn't always explain what she was feelin', she found comfort in the small acts of kindness Que offered—small gestures that showed he was there for her, even if their relationship wasn't what it used to be.

One evening, as they sat in the living room with Amina nestled between them, Lena looked over at Que, feelin' a quiet sense of gratitude. "Thank you," she murmured. "For bein' here. For helpin' me with all of this."

Que nodded, his eyes soft as he looked back at her. "You don't have to thank me, Lena. We're in this together—for Amina, and for you."

In that moment, Lena realized that while their journey had been complicated, they were buildin' somethin' new—a partnership rooted in trust, shared love for their daughter, and a commitment to supportin' each other. And for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, she'd find her way through this.