Crossed Lines

Mina

The hum of the heating system filled the quiet corners of the living room as I flipped through my notes for psych class. My highlighter glided across the page, marking yet another definition I'd probably forget by tomorrow. Across from me, Charlotte was hunched over her laptop, typing furiously. The steady rhythm of her keys sounded like a frantic SOS to finish her political science paper before midnight.

Meanwhile, Hannah was sprawled out on the couch with her textbook balanced on her stomach. She'd been trying to memorize her notes for her kinesiology exam for the past hour but had only succeeded in falling asleep, her head tilted back in a way that looked anything but comfortable.

"Do you think she's absorbing information through osmosis?" I asked, leaning back in my chair and motioning toward Hannah with my pen.

Charlotte didn't even look up. "If she is, I'm going to start sleeping with my textbook under my pillow. Would save me so much time."

I snorted, turning back to my notes. "If it were that easy, we'd all have 4.0 GPAs."

The room settled into silence again, broken only by the occasional rustle of papers or the soft clink of my glass as I sipped on water. Despite the company, the house still felt heavy. It always did when I remembered my mom wasn't here. Nights like these, I wished she could've seen this – me studying with friends, living in this house she worked so hard to give me. I smile slightly at the memories of my mom giving Hannah and I cut up fruits when we were studying in high school.

"Okay," Charlotte announced, finally closing her laptop. "I'm done. If I read one more word about international relations, I might throw up."

"Progress!" I grinned and stretched my arms over my head. "Hannah's definitely not making any, though."

Charlotte grabbed a pillow off the chair and threw it at Hannah. "Wake up, Ms. Kinesiology . You've got bones to memorize."

Hannah stirred, mumbling something incoherent before sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Time for you to actually study," Charlotte quipped, smirking.

Hannah groaned, stretching out her muscles while tiding up her notes. "Ok, I can do this. I just need to look at this crap for hours, then boom! Ace the exam."

"If only it was that easy." Charlotte remarked without looking up from her notes. "Are you studying or procrastinating by doing yoga?"

Hannah shot her a grin. "Multitasking. I'm studying for my kinesiology exam, and this is a perfect stretch for my hip flexors. You should try it."

I chuckled. "Yeah, Charlotte, stretch with us. You'll thank me later."

Charlotte rolled her eyes but didn't protest. She had a way of acting cool about everything, but I knew she appreciated the little things. I glanced over at the kitchen where a pile of laundry sat, neglected, as are the dishes and boxes of takeout. I hadn't gotten around to cleaning up—again—but I couldn't bring myself to care right now.

As much as I tried to focus on school, my mind kept drifting back to the house. To the emptiness that had settled over it since Mom passed. I loved this house—it was mine, the one my mom had bought when I was younger—but sometimes it felt like too much to handle on my own. The walls that used to hold her laughter and warmth now felt quiet, as if the house was echoing her absence. I could still hear her voice in the kitchen, see her arranging things in her meticulous way, but it all felt distant now.

I had always appreciated the solitude at times, the space to think, but recently, it had become suffocating. I'd walk through the rooms and wonder what to do next, only to be met by an overwhelming silence. No one to talk to, no one to ask how my day was or to make me laugh when things felt too heavy. It's probably the reason why I spend all day at school or at work, only coming home to sleep.

I sighed, trying to focus on the conversation, but it wasn't easy. Charlotte and Hannah were deep into their studies, and I could tell they were making progress. Meanwhile, I was just... existing. I felt like I should be doing something, but the weight of everything pressing on me was starting to catch up. Trying to keep my feelings for Eli down low. Work. School. Paying off the mortgage. 

Hannah seemed to notice my drift in mood and glanced up at me. Her expression softened, as if she saw through my attempt to hide how I was feeling.

"You know, Mina," Hannah said quietly, closing her textbook for a moment. "You don't have to be alone tonight. We could all go to K-Bop Grill, have dinner, and then... stay over at your place if you want. You don't have to deal with being here by yourself."

Charlotte looked up at the suggestion, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I can't remember the last time we had a sleepover. Plus, K-Bop Grill is the best comfort food, and you're probably craving something familiar."

I didn't even know how to respond at first. They could see right through me. I appreciated that they were both so understanding, but the idea of having them around felt like exactly what I needed.

"Are you sure? I don't wanna bother you guys." I asked, my voice a little softer than usual.

"Girl, of course not," Hannah said with a warm smile. "We're here for you. Besides, it'll be fun. We can get food, talk, and just... not deal with the stress for a bit."

Charlotte chimed in, "Yeah, and I swear, K-Bop Grill's spicy rice cakes always makes everything better. "

I smiled, but there was a tightness in my chest that I hadn't expected. I nodded, my throat tight as I tried to hold back the overwhelming wave of emotions that came rushing in. I felt my eyes well up, and I quickly wiped at my face, trying to hide it from them.

"Um yeah—" My voice cracked, and I had to stop. I swallowed hard. "I just feel like I'm drowning sometimes. I'm trying to keep all this shit together, but it feels... too much, you know?"

Hannah immediately put down her textbook, her eyes softening with concern. "Mina..." She moved to sit next to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. Charlotte followed, sitting beside me and giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. 

"I-I really miss her. I want her to come back."

"Oh my god, Mina." Hannah whispered, hugging me tightly with Charlotte joining.

"You're not alone," Charlotte said quietly, her voice gentle but firm. "We're here for you, always. Whatever you need, we've got you."

Hannah nodded. "Yeah. You don't have to carry all of this by yourself. We're your friends."

I felt the tears slip free, and I didn't bother to stop them this time. I leaned into them, feeling the weight of everything break loose. But as I did, I felt their warmth and support surround me, the two of them there beside me.

"I don't know what I'd do without you guys," I whispered through the tears.

I took a deep, shaky breath, letting the moment pass as the three of us sat together in the quiet. The storm of emotions began to calm, and I realized how much this small moment of vulnerability meant. It wasn't just about sharing my burdens—it was knowing that I had people who cared, who saw me for what I was feeling and offered their understanding.

After a few minutes, I wiped my eyes and looked up at them, offering a shaky smile. "Okay, enough of this crap. Let's go eat our feelings at K-Bop Grill, yeah?"

"Definitely," Charlotte said, giving me a light shove with a smile. "The galbi awaits."

Hannah squeezed my shoulder gently. "You're gonna be fine, Mina. And we're gonna make sure of it."

I smiled, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. They were right. I didn't have to do this alone.