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Chapter 25

I stood in the hallway for a moment, my emotions still a mess. The weight of everything the fight with my mother, the slap, the words. I couldn’t seem to push it all down. But as Felis gestured toward the living room, I followed him, trying to steady my breathing, though my heart felt like it was pounding in my chest.

“Come on” Felis said softly, leading me into a cozy, well-lit living room. The scent of something warm in the air made me feel strangely out of place, like I didn’t belong here. It wasn’t just the room it was the whole situation. I wasn’t used to asking for help. I wasn’t used to being here.

As we entered, I saw a woman sitting on the couch, reading a book. She looked up as we entered, her expression shifting from mild surprise to concern when she saw me standing in the doorway. She was younger than Felis, with soft brown hair and kind eyes that immediately seemed to soften when she noticed my distress.

“This is Sophia my wife ” Felis said, gesturing toward her. “Sophia, this is Estella. She’s my sister.”

I gave a small, awkward smile, not knowing what else to do. “Hi.”

Sophia set her book down and stood, walking toward me with an easy, welcoming smile. “Nice to meet you, Estella” she said warmly. “Felis told me a little about you. Come, sit down.”

I felt a slight tension in my shoulders as I made my way over to the couch. It felt strange, being here in someone else's home, surrounded by unfamiliarity and emotions I wasn’t sure how to process. But there was something about Sophia’s demeanor that made me feel less like an outsider.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice soft, as she sat beside me on the couch.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep it together. My mother’s face flashed in my mind, the sting of her slap still fresh. I hadn’t wanted to come here, but something about Felis’ concern had drawn me in. I hadn’t seen him in years, but right now, he was the only person who could understand.

“I…” I started, but the words caught in my throat. I hadn’t thought about what I would say. What do you even say when you’re standing in front of people who are strangers to your pain?

Sophia leaned forward slightly, her expression gentle. “It’s okay” she said softly. “You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready. We’re here for you, Estella.”

I shook my head, the tears threatening to spill over again. It felt wrong to cry in front of them, but I didn’t know how else to handle this. I’d kept everything bottled up for so long, and now it was all spilling out at once.

“It’s my mom” I whispered, my voice cracking. “She… she hit me again. And I don’t know what to do.”

Felis immediately stiffened beside me, his jaw clenching. He reached out to take my hand, his thumb brushing over the back of my knuckles in a comforting gesture. “I’m so sorry, Estella,” he said quietly, his voice laced with frustration. “You don’t deserve that. No one does.”

Sophia was silent for a moment, letting the words settle. She seemed to be processing what I’d said. “What happened?” she asked gently, her voice calm. “How did this start?”

I took a shaky breath, my mind racing as I tried to piece everything together. “She’s angry at me for talking to my brothers. For trying to rebuild things with them. She… she doesn’t understand.”

Sophia exchanged a glance with Felis, then turned back to me, her eyes soft. “Estella, I don’t know everything about your family, but it sounds like there’s a lot of pain there. And sometimes, people lash out because they’re hurt too. It doesn’t make it right, though. And you don’t have to take it.”

I nodded, but the truth of her words still felt distant. I wanted to believe them, but it was hard when my mom was the one who had always been there if not in the way I needed, then in the way she thought she could be. And I hadn’t been able to make her understand.

“Do you think I’m doing the wrong thing?” I asked quietly, my voice unsure. “Trying to have a relationship with you guys?”

Felis sighed deeply. “No, Estella. You’re doing the right thing. It’s not easy, and it’s not perfect, but it’s your choice. And you shouldn’t feel guilty for trying to have a connection with your family. And I’m really sorry our mom is… reacting like this.”