Chapter 4: Fragile Truths
Ethan found himself spending more time with Sophie, their connection deepening with every passing day. She still didn’t talk, but she wrote to him in her notebook, sharing little pieces of herself she had kept hidden from the world.
One chilly afternoon, they sat beneath the oak tree, the golden sunlight filtering through the branches. Sophie was sketching, her pencil moving gracefully across the page, while Ethan leaned back, watching her work.
“Do you ever draw people?” he asked suddenly.
Sophie paused, then shook her head. After a moment, she flipped to a blank page and wrote: “People are hard. Faces, especially.”
“You’re doing fine with mine,” Ethan said, grinning.
Sophie raised an eyebrow, and he laughed. “Kidding. But seriously, you could probably do it if you tried.”
She didn’t answer but went back to her drawing. Ethan let the silence settle between them, comfortable now in her quiet presence. But as the wind rustled through the leaves, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was still so much about Sophie he didn’t know.
“Sophie,” he said hesitantly, “can I ask you something?”
She glanced at him, her pencil pausing mid-stroke.
“Why doesn’t your dad listen to you?”
Her expression tightened, and she lowered her gaze to the notebook. Ethan immediately regretted asking.
“Sorry,” he said quickly. “You don’t have to—”
Sophie held up a hand to stop him, then began to write. When she turned the notebook toward him, her hand trembled slightly.
“He’s angry all the time. Since Mom died. He drinks. A lot. I try to stay out of his way.”
Ethan’s chest tightened as he read the words. “Sophie, that’s not okay,” he said softly. “Have you told anyone? A teacher? A counselor?”
She shook her head furiously, her eyes wide with fear.
“Why not?” Ethan asked, struggling to keep his voice steady.
She hesitated, then wrote: “What’s the point? No one can change it. It’s just the way things are.”
“That’s not true,” Ethan said firmly. “You don’t have to deal with this alone. There are people who can help.”
Sophie didn’t respond. She closed the notebook, hugging it tightly to her chest, as if trying to shield herself from the world.
Ethan sighed, leaning back against the tree. He wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how. For now, all he could do was be there, hoping she’d let him in before it was too late.
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