In Shadows and Starlight

Tension & Spotlight.

The faint hum of Aran’s voice filled Jay’s room as he leaned over her laptop, his tall frame almost comically out of place in her modest space. It was a rare Friday night when he hadn’t left after their usual quiet conversations. Instead, he’d settled into her chair, typing furiously, focused on whatever mysterious task occupied his mind.

Jay glanced at him from where she sat folding her laundry. “You’re still here?” she asked, half-joking.

Aran didn’t look up. “You’re observant.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t press further. His presence had started to feel oddly normal, even when it wasn’t.

The night passed in relative quiet, save for the sound of her doing laundry, cleaning, and the occasional clicking of keys. Aran even helped with the laundry, albeit awkwardly, after Jay showed him how to sort the clothes.

By morning, Jay was moving slower than usual, hesitant to tackle the day ahead. Saturdays were typically reserved for long work hours, but this time, she had a different obligation—visiting her family.

She stood in her small kitchen, staring at a cup of tea, the thought of home heavy on her chest. Aran noticed.

“You don’t seem thrilled about today,” he said, setting the freshly folded laundry aside.

Jay sighed. “I’m not. It’s a monthly thing. Visit the family, get nagged, judged, and called distant. You know, a full-course meal of guilt.”

Aran tilted his head. “Why go, then?”

“Because they’re my family,” she replied simply, though the words lacked conviction.

As she started cleaning the house, Aran joined in unprompted. He wiped down surfaces and even attempted to organize her bookshelves. Once the cleaning was done and she’d showered, Jay sat on her bed, staring at the floor. The thought of her mother’s sharp remarks and her father’s pointed silence weighed heavily on her.

Aran leaned against the wall, watching her. “You don’t have to do this alone,” he offered casually. “I could come with you.”

Jay’s head shot up. “What? No! That would only make things worse.”

“Why?”

She groaned. “Because my mom would think I’ve got some rich boyfriend funding my life .  Trust me, it’s better if you stay here.”

Aran raised a brow but didn’t argue further. “Suit yourself.”

Jay left her apartment after packing a few essentials, her thoughts a tangled mess. She picked up a small bag of groceries from the nearby store before boarding the bus. The ride was uneventful, save for her racing mind. She kept thinking about how she’d defend herself, what she’d say, how she’d endure the hours ahead.

When she finally arrived at her parents’ rental apartment, the familiar sight of the narrow stairwell and peeling paint greeted her. The door opened before she could knock.

“Jay,” her mother said, her eyes scanning her from head to toe. “You’re late.”

“Hi, Mom,” Jay replied, stepping inside.

The living room was small but tidy, the faint smell of fried food lingering in the air. Her younger siblings were sprawled on the couch, playing a game. Her father sat at the dining table, barely glancing up from his newspaper.

Her mother crossed her arms. “You didn’t bring anything today?”

Jay held up the grocery bag. “I did.”

Her mother took it, her expression unimpressed. “What’s this? Bare minimum?”

Jay bit her tongue, choosing silence over an argument.