As Maria walked back into the house, she felt the weight of the conversation still pressing on her chest. Her father's support, though hesitant, gave her a glimmer of hope. But the thought of her mother's heartbreak lingered.
Elena was in the kitchen, quietly chopping vegetables for dinner. She didn't look up as Maria entered, the tension still palpable.
Maria: (softly) "Mom?"
Elena: (without turning) "Did you talk to your father?"
Maria: "Yeah. He said... he understands. I just want you to understand too."
Elena set down the knife and turned to face her daughter, her eyes tired but kind.
Elena: (sighing) "I'll try, Maria. That's all I can promise."
Maria nodded, knowing it was the best she could hope for at the moment. She excused herself to her room, closing the door behind her.
Sitting at her desk, Maria opened her journal. But the words wouldn't come. The guilt, the fear, the excitement-all of it swirled in her mind, refusing to settle.
"Am I making a mistake? Am I being selfish? Or is this what it feels like to really grow?"
She closed the journal with a sigh and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. For the first time in her life, Maria wasn't sure if she was strong enough to handle what lay ahead.
But as she replayed her father's words in her mind-"You'll be okay out there because you're strong"-she felt a flicker of determination. She had to believe in herself, even if it meant carrying the weight of her family's emotions with her.
YOU ARE READING
Ink and Heartstrings
Short Story"Ink & Heartstrings" crafts a compelling narrative of romance and self-discovery within the vibrant world of publishing. The images used are not my own, they have been sourced from various other places.
