Shadow of Her Story

Chapter-7 Whispers in the shadow

Bonus chapter

It was an ordinary afternoon, and Ananya was wandering through the quiet corridors of her home. The sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow on the walls. She had just finished her online class and was looking forward to a relaxing break.

As she walked past the living room, her steps slowed. She could hear the soft murmur of voices coming from behind the partially closed door. Her parents were talking, their tones hushed but urgent. Ananya wasn't one to eavesdrop, but something in their voices made her pause.

"...she's so young. How do we tell her?" her mother whispered, her voice trembling.

"We can't hide it forever, Priya. She deserves to know," her father replied, his voice heavy with concern.

"But what if it breaks her?" her mother countered. "What if she starts seeing herself differently, starts feeling like something's wrong with her?"

Ananya's heart raced. She moved closer, her breath caught in her throat. What are they talking about? What do I deserve to know?

Her aunt joined in, her voice steady but firm. "She's strong. We've all seen it. But it's her life, her health. She has a right to understand what's happening to her."

The words hung in the air, and then her mother said it—the word that stopped Ananya in her tracks.

"Fits... Priya, she has epilepsy."

Ananya felt the ground shift beneath her feet. Her mind raced back to the fainting spells, the hospital visits, the pills she was told were just vitamins. It all started to make sense, and yet, it didn't.

She backed away from the door, her head spinning. She didn't want to hear any more. Her parents had been keeping this from her all along. Why didn't they tell me? Did they think I couldn't handle it?

Ananya rushed to her room, closing the door behind her. She sat on her bed, trying to process what she had just learned. A wave of emotions crashed over her—confusion, anger, betrayal, and a deep sadness.

Ananya's Thoughts

Fits. Epilepsy. Is this what's wrong with me? Why didn't they tell me? I've been living my life thinking I was fine, that those fainting spells were just accidents. Do they think I'm weak? Do they think I can't handle the truth?

The tears came before she could stop them. She hugged her knees to her chest, rocking slightly as she tried to calm herself. The word epilepsy echoed in her mind, unfamiliar and heavy. She didn't even know what it fully meant, but it felt like a label—a mark that separated her from the person she thought she was.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ananya avoided her family, keeping to her room and pretending to be busy. But inside, she was a storm of questions and doubts.

Later that night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, she made a decision. She wouldn't wait for her parents to tell her. She would find out for herself. She grabbed her phone and began searching for answers, reading about epilepsy, its causes, its symptoms.

What she found both scared and comforted her. She learned that while epilepsy was a lifelong condition, it didn't define a person. People with epilepsy could live normal, fulfilling lives. But the thought of living with it forever weighed heavily on her.

I'm not just the girl who has fits. I'm Ananya. I'm more than this condition, more than this label. But how do I convince myself of that when it feels like everything is changing?

The next morning, Ananya sat at the breakfast table, her parents watching her closely. She looked up at them, her eyes tired but determined.

"I heard you talking yesterday," she said quietly.

Her mother's face paled, and her father sighed, his shoulders slumping.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice cracking.

Her father reached for her hand. "We didn't want to scare you, beta. We thought we were protecting you."

Ananya looked at them, her eyes glistening with tears. "But I deserve to know. It's my life. I need to know what's happening to me."

Her parents exchanged a glance, then nodded. And for the first time, they sat her down and told her everything.

Though the conversation was painful, it marked a turning point for Ananya. The truth was heavy, but it was also liberating. She knew now what she was facing, and she was determined not to let it define her.

Her journey was far from over, but in that moment, she felt a spark of strength she hadn't felt before. She wasn't just a girl with epilepsy—she was Ananya, and she was ready to face whatever life had in store.

To be continued...............