All Chapters of HER: Secrets I carried alone : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

I didn't text Jay again. Not because I was trying to be strong or anything deep like that. I just didn't feel like chasing something that clearly didn't want to be chased. Seen. That was enough information. So I left it. And for once… I didn't overthink it. A few days later, my phone rang. I stared at it before picking up."Hello?" There was a pause. Then a voice I hadn't properly heard in a long time. "Anna… it's your dad."I went quiet for a second. I knew who he was but why was he calling me. "…Okay," I said slowly. "Hi.""I want to see you," he said. That was it. No explanation. No warning. Just that.I sat up properly. "Why?" Another pause."I'll explain when you come." I should have said no. I almost did. But I didn't. "…I'll come," I said.Going back home felt strange. Like I was walking into something that once belonged to me but didn't feel like mine anymore. When I got there, he was already sitting in

I opened the door and Jay was there. He didn't step in immediately like he used to. He just looked at me for a second like he was trying to figure something out about me before I even said anything. "You're home," he said. "I said I was," I replied and moved aside so he could come in. He walked in slowly and this time he didn't just sit like before. He actually looked around a bit like he was noticing things he didn't notice before. I closed the door and turned back to him, and the silence came quickly between us. He didn't sit right away. Instead, he looked at me properly. "You've been ignoring me lately," he said. "You started it, I'm fine," I answered quickly, like I already had the response ready. He nodded but it didn't feel like agreement."I had some things to take care of" .It felt like he was just holding the thought. Then he said, "And I know you're not fine cuz you always say that."I shrugged slightly, trying to keep my

Jay was still looking at me like he was trying to figure me out. I shifted slightly, pulling the sheet up without thinking. He noticed, of course. He always did. "You know something?" he said."What?" I replied. He exhaled lightly. "I don't think I've ever had to try this hard before." I raised a brow. "Try what hard?""To get someone to actually be with me," he said. "Not just be there, but be there." I gave a small smile. "I am here."He shook his head. "You are, but you're not ,you know - here, like all in" That made me look at him properly, I laughed. "And what exactly does 'all in' mean to you?" I asked. "It means I don't feel like I'm guessing with you," he said. "Like I don't have to keep wondering where I stand." I didn't answer immediately.Because I knew what he meant. I just didn't know if I wanted to give him that. Then he said it."I love you, Anna." Just like

I had clothes scattered all over my bed at this point. Ella was already dressed and somehow still had the energy to keep talking while I was stressing myself out. "You've changed outfits like three times already," she said, sitting comfortably on my chair. "I have not.""Anna." "Okay maybe twice," I admitted.Ella rolled her eyes dramatically. "You're actually doing too much for somebody that said she didn't even want to come." I ignored her and held up the two outfits again. The party was denim on denim, and I was still stuck between a jean romper and a denim crop top with a skirt. "Be serious," I said, showing her both properly this time. "Which one?" Ella looked between them for a few seconds before pointing immediately. "The skirt." "Really?""Yes." I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Are you sure?""Anna, wear the skirt." I looked at it again, then nodded slowly. "Okay fine. Skirt and shirt it is."

When I woke up the next morning, Ella was already gone. At first I just laid there confused, staring at the empty side of the room. Her bag was gone too, which meant she didn't just step out for something small. I picked up my phone immediately.No messages. That was weird.Ella normally woke me up before leaving anywhere, even if it was just to say bye or complain dramatically about her feet hurting. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. "Why did she rush off like that?" I murmured to myself. Then I shrugged lightly.Maybe she had somewhere important to be.I didn't think too deeply about it after that because I had tutorials that morning and if I kept lying there, I was definitely going to be late. So I dragged myself out of bed and started getting ready. I ended up wearing boot cut jeans and a fitted top because it was one of those mornings where I wanted to look good without stressing too much. My mirror almost tempted m