Lost in Thy Arms

Chapter 1

FRUSTRATION

Maria sat on the edge of her mattress, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. The morning light filtered weakly through the half-closed blinds, casting stripes across the floor, but it did nothing to warm the emptiness she carried. Her chest felt heavy as she thought about her current situation. Life had not just been unfair—it had been merciless.

She grew up to a lively and vibrant atmosphere, she had everything. The love, comfort and more. Then in the blink of an eye her whole world crumbled.

At eighteen, she had lost her mother on her birthday, that was a big blow to her . Her granddad, her mom's dad, couldn't bear it and had an heart attack a year later.

Her father, that vile man, had pretended for three long years that everything was normal, only to shatter her world completely with his confession: she was not his child. The revelation had come with threats, cruelty, and a darkness Maria had never imagined she would face.

But she wasn't all that surprised because after the granddad's death, she noticed her father was acting different from late nights to not coming home at all to no longer having time for her.

And then, the last straw broke, he had brought home another woman and an eighteen-year-old boy, declaring them his family, proving that he had deceived her mother all along.

She clenched her fists at the memory, the anger and pain still raw even years later. Her mother’s gentle voice, now only a whisper in her mind, seemed to fade with every bitter thought. She was thrown out of the house after her stepmother lay false allegations on her for theft.

It was only Aunt May who had found her, offered her shelter, and helped her not fall into depression.

But even now, after 3 years despite Aunt May’s unwavering support, Maria felt the weight of her past pressing down on her. She had no time for weakness—not today, not ever.

Dragging herself reluctantly from the mattress, she shuffled to the bathroom. The tiles were cold under her bare feet, the mirror above nagging her reflection. She stared at her reflection—pale, tired eyes staring back at her. Slowly, mechanically, she ran water over her face, letting the coolness wake her senses. She brushed her teeth with careful precision, washed her hair, and dressed herself in simple clothes. Every action was a small battle against despair, a way of saying she can't give up, even if the world had been cruel.

By the time she returned to the small kitchen, the scent of brewing tea and pancakes greeted her. Aunt May was there, her face lighting up with a warmth Maria had come to rely on. The older woman moved with quiet grace, placing a steaming cup and a plate of pancakes on the table.

“Good morning, Aunt May."

“Good morning, Maria,” Aunt May said softly. “I made your favorite. Don’t let yesterday’s disappointment hang over you. You gave that interview your best. That’s what matters.”

Maria slumped into a chair, her eyes narrowing. “Best doesn’t seem to mean anything, does it?” she murmured bitterly. “No one cares. No one ever has.”

Aunt May set a hand over hers. “That’s not true. I care. Life isn’t always fair, but it isn’t finished either. You have so much ahead, Maria, even if it doesn’t feel like it now.”

Maria let out a humorless laugh. “Ahead? All I see is one dead end after another. I’m tired, Aunt May. Tired of hoping, tired of trusting, tired of people trying to take everything I’ve been given or worked for. I don’t even know why I bother anymore.”

Aunt May squeezed her hand gently, letting silence hang for a moment. “Because somewhere inside you is still that spark your mother loved. It’s why you survived when others would have broken completely. And it’s why I know you’ll rise again, in your own way.”

Still holding aunt May's hand, " You are all I have now, if you also leave me...."

Aunt May placed her finger in her lips and smiled.

"Never think that I won't ever leave you"

"Promise" Maria said with her pinky finger out.

"I promise" She said laughing at her cuteness.

After a long moment, Aunt May rose. “I have to open the shop, Maria. I’ll be back later. Try to keep yourself busy, okay? And remember…” She paused, giving a slight smile, “…life has a way of putting things right, even if we don’t understand how at first.”

As Maria nodded quietly, watching her aunt leave, the door closing with a soft click that echoed in the empty apartment.

She let her thoughts drift, the memories of her mother mingling with the bitter recollections of her father. She remembered the night he had told her the truth, the anger in his eyes, the cold satisfaction when he had taken what was hers.

She closed her eyes, pressing her palms to her face. The city continued outside, oblivious to her suffering. No one would stop for her, no one would offer a hand unless she reached out herself. And reaching out… reaching out had only brought betrayal before.

Her phone buzzed lightly on the counter, a trivial distraction. She ignored it. She didn’t want calls, messages, or reminders of the world beyond these four walls. For now, she simply stood at the window, watching, waiting, breathing.

The phone still buzzing on the counter.