Chapter 5

“Serah, can you wake up, please? I’m home already,” I heard Mia’s familiar voice, soft but concerned. I slowly stirred from sleep, realizing I must have drifted off while crying. My body felt heavy, as if the sadness had soaked into my bones.

“Sister... is it evening already?” I asked in a lazy, worn, out voice, rubbing my eyes.

“Yes, it’s evening. Have you eaten anything? You look weak and so tired. And your eyes... they’re red. Have you been crying?” Her tone was gentle, but I knew her well enough to sense the worry behind it. Mia always knew when something was wrong. I could never hide from her, not my pain, not even a single tear.

I tried to brush it off. “No, I’m not hungry, sister. I just ate the breakfast you left for me earlier. You don’t need to worry about me so much. I’m a big girl, remember?” I tried to sound playful, but the emptiness in my voice betrayed me.

She gave me a look that saw right through my words. “Okay... but tell me the truth—why were you crying?”

I hesitated for a moment, then sighed deeply, the memory returning like a knife to my chest. “I saw Brian today. He was with his new girl.”

Her face fell. “Where did you see him?”

“I was tired of staying in the house alone. The silence was driving me crazy, so I thought maybe a walk would help clear my mind. I went to the park... and the first person I saw there was him,” I said, my voice cracking as fresh tears welled up in my eyes. “He was holding her hand, Mia. So happy... like I never even existed.”

I broke down again, my emotions pouring out. “I just don’t understand. Why is this happening to me? Why is it always me who ends up hurt?” My voice was filled with sorrow, the weight of the heartbreak almost too much to carry.

Mia moved closer, wrapping her arms around me. “Please don’t cry, sister. I hate seeing you like this. Brian isn’t worth all this pain. He’s only bringing misery into your life, and you don’t deserve that.”

She pulled back slightly and looked at me with a spark in her eye. “Let’s do something different tonight. Why don’t we go out? Just the two of us. I’ll cheer you up, what do you think? You need a break from all this sadness.”

I sniffled, trying to smile through my tears. “Yes, sister... I’d really like that.”

“That’s more like it,” she said, encouragingly. “Now cheer up, go get ready. Pick your best dress, do your hair. I’ll be in my room doing the same.”

She stood up and walked off, giving me a final smile as she disappeared into her room.

I sat quietly for a moment, then slowly got up and went to my bedroom. The mirror on my dresser reflected my swollen red eyes, and I winced at the sight. My face looked tired, drained—like I had lived through a storm. I leaned in closer and frowned. “How am I supposed to go out like this? I look terrible. I’ll probably be the ugliest girl at the hotel.”

The thought of Brian and what he’d done still burned in the back of my mind. Mia was right—he was making my life miserable. He’d taken my heart, shattered it, and walked away like it meant nothing. I needed to reclaim my happiness. Even if just for tonight.

I slowly removed my clothes and ran a warm bath. As I stepped into the tub, the soothing water hugged my body, washing away the tension and pain that had been clinging to me all week. I closed my eyes for a moment, breathing deeply, letting myself relax for the first time in days.

When I emerged from the bath, I felt lighter—almost like I had shed a layer of sadness. I wrapped myself in a towel and walked to my wardrobe, staring at my clothes, unsure of what to wear.

“What should I wear tonight?” I asked myself aloud, scanning through my dresses. My fingers landed on a soft blue dress I hadn’t worn in a long time. I smiled faintly. It was simple, elegant, and somehow comforting. It reminded me of better times—happier times. “This one,” I whispered, taking it out.

After slipping into the dress, I moved to my shoe rack and picked out my favorite pair of high heels. They matched perfectly, and for the first time in a while, I felt a glimmer of confidence. I took my time doing my makeup—just enough to cover the redness around my eyes—and styled my hair gently, giving it soft waves. I wanted to look beautiful tonight—not for Brian, but for me.

When I stepped out of my room, I was surprised to find Mia already waiting for me in the living room, dressed in a lovely outfit of her own. She looked at me with a proud smile.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting,” I said as I grabbed my phone from the table.

Mia stood up and gave me a nod of approval. “Not at all. You look amazing, Serah.”

Before I could say anything more, she smiled playfully and added, “Now let’s go. It’s getting late already. Tonight is about forgetting the pain,even if just for a few hours.”

I nodded. “Let’s go.”

With that, we stepped out of the house together—two sisters bound by love, pain, and the hope of healing.