Almost Whole Again

When I got home from school that day, the house felt unusually quiet. The kind of silence that wrapped itself around you, heavy and uncomfortable. I met my mum in the sitting room. She didn’t say a word,neither did I. We just shared stillness that hung in the air like thick fog.

We had lunch without exchanging a single sentence. She sat across from me, her eyes fixed on her plate, but I could tell she wasn’t really eating. I wasn’t either. My throat felt too tight.

I stood to carry my plate to the kitchen, then paused. I wanted to walk up to her to apologize and to say something. Anything at all could do . But before I could even take a step, a knock echoed through the house.

When I opened the door,Lola and Andrew stood there, both of them were staring at me like they’d been practicing what to say the whole way they came here.

We all walked quietly to my room. No one said anything for a while. The silence returned, but this time, it wasn’t just a cold silence but the situation we're in was uncertain.

Andrew sat beside me. Lola stood up, pacing like she didn’t quite know how to be still.

Then Andrew reached for my hand. His fingers were warm. His eyes found mine.

“Things have felt... off lately,” he said gently. “At first, I thought it was just one of your mood swings, that you’d snap out of it eventually. But after talking to Lola today, I finally understood. I see everything clearly now.”

He paused, squeezing my hand a little. “Look, I know you’ve been going through a lot. We’ve all heard what’s been happening lately. And we’re deeply sorry. We should’ve been there for you. I should’ve asked, checked in, and not assumed you'd be fine.I promise we'd do better.”

He kept speaking, his voice was soft and steady, but all I could do was nod, my arms folded tight across my chest. It’s not like I was going to fall into their arms and forget everything just like that.

Lola cleared her throat. “And we heard about the suspension,” she said, her tone becoming unreadable. “And the Sara thing...”

I opened my mouth to say something, to explain maybe, but before I could, Lola grabbed my arm.

“Oh, poor you!” she exclaimed, suddenly dramatic, wrapping me in a tight hug. “We were all yours. Then out of nowhere, one girl waltzes in and boom,we got cornered and left you behind.”

She paused, then smacked her forehead. “Ugh! What was I even thinking? Was I so blind that I couldn’t see things clearly?”

I laughed a little. That was the thing about Lola.She could annoy the life out of you and still find a way to make you feel better.

She looked me straight in the eyes again. “If I were you, I’d have robbed a bank out of spite. I mean, we were all here, and suddenly, someone else comes in and takes the spotlight like it was hers to begin with.”

Then she leaned in, lowering her voice dramatically. “But how did you do it? Opening up like that on your own. If it were me? Hmm. I’m taking that secret to the grave. God forbid I expose myself like that.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle again.

Lola grinned, then added, “Girl, you’re such a devious planner. One day, you’ll win an award for all of us.”

Then out of nowhere, Andrew leaned in and placed a soft peck on my cheek. My heart almost leapt out of my chest.

“That’s for being brave enough to speak your truth,” he said, smiling.

“Ouch!” Lola gave me a playful knock on the head. “And that’s for being such a criminal mastermind.”

I laughed really hard this time.

“Thank you guys,” I finally said, even though my voice was low, I was sincere. “For coming, for making it feel... easier. Even though it’s still weird.”

Andrew nodded. “Sara said to greet you. She’s helping her mum at home, so she couldn’t come with us.”

I didn’t say anything. I just nodded again.

But Lola, of course, wasn’t done. “Oh please, can we not talk about your girlfriend when we’re here with our Olivia?”

Andrew rolled his eyes. “Stop it. I’m not even old enough to be someone’s boyfriend,” he muttered seriously.

I laughed. Lola smirked. “ Look at this Old man.”

And just like that, they were bickering like old times. I sat there and watched them, smiling. This was how it used to be,just the three of us. We were this loud and messy.

We talked about school, about everything I’d missed. I didn’t realize how much I needed this until now.

Then, just as they were about to leave, Lola turned back, her eyes narrowing mischievously.

“OliOli... I haven’t seen Davis around lately. Hasn’t he come by since...?”

I knew exactly where this conversation was headed. Without saying a word, I pushed them gently out and shut the door behind them.

Lola never lets anything slide. And I wasn’t ready for her problem.

I lay back on my bed, finally able to breathe. It felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest. A part of me felt full again. I was happy but it didn’t last.

I heard another knock on my door.

“Who again?” I muttered under my breath.

Before I could answer, the door swung open.

It was Kelvin, my older brother.

“Oli Genius!” he called out, grinning as he stepped in with his bag slung over one shoulder. He was already leaving again. He hadn’t even stayed a full week.

“I hope your school won the drama competition you were all preparing for?” he asked, throwing a stack of papers at me.

I blinked. We didn’t even have a competition, but I just nodded.

I picked up the papers. He was good at portraits and sketching.Even though he wasn’t into books or grades, Kelvin was a natural when it came to drawing. Some people are just born with it, I guess.

As he was about to step out again, I moved closer and hugged him tightly.

“Be careful out there,” I whispered into his ear.

He stiffened in surprise, then nodded slowly.

I watched him leave. Then turned back to the bed and stared at the sketches he’d handed me. Something was familiar about the portrait which I couldn't place my hands on.

Somewhere down the hallway, I could hear my mum sobbing quietly.

Kelvin was her boy. He has always been. Their bond was strong ,unspoken but deeply visible.It was like those emotional family dramas on TV. I was just the audience this time, watching from the sidelines.

I didn’t see my mum again until the next morning.