Silent Scars

CHAPTER 35

Ariana woke with a start, her breaths shallow and uneven as she clutched at her chest. The nightmare was familiar, its jagged edges digging into her consciousness, but the panic that followed was something she could never get used to. 

She sat up, pressing her palms to her face, willing her racing heart to slow. For as long as she could remember, the nightmares had been a part of her life, but it wasn’t the dreams that scared her, it was the crushing weight of the panic that came after, suffocating her, stealing the air from her lungs. 

The clock on the nightstand read 3:41 AM. She sighed, her breath still shaky as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The silence of the room was heavy, but it was a silence she had grown accustomed to. 

She made her way to the window, pulling aside the curtain. The world outside was cloaked in darkness, the trees swaying gently in the cool breeze. But amidst the shadows, the moon stood resolute, its pale light softening the edges of the night. 

It wasn’t bright or overwhelming. It didn’t demand attention. It simply existed, enduring the darkness surrounding it. Ariana couldn’t help but see herself in it, quiet, solitary, unnoticed.

But unlike the moon, she didn’t feel steady or whole. She felt fractured, held together by fragile threads that could snap at any moment. 

Her ribs ached as she moved away from the window, the bruises still vivid against her pale skin. They were healing, but the occasional sharp pang reminded her of how bad it had been. If her stepfather had been alive, he would have ensured the pain lingered, each breath a testament to his cruelty. 

She stepped into the bathroom, letting the cold water wash over her in the shower. It was grounding, the chill chasing away the remnants of her nightmare. As the water cascaded down, she thought about the past few days. It was overwhelming, this sudden shift in her life, but she couldn’t deny the faint flicker of hope that maybe things could be different. 

When she emerged, she wrapped herself in a towel and opened the closet. For the first time, she had choices, more than she’d ever imagined. The sheer number of clothes was both thrilling and paralyzing. She ran her fingers over the fabrics, her chest tightening with indecision.

After what felt like forever, she settled on a simple black turtleneck and soft gray joggers. The clothes felt unfamiliar, the fabric too gentle against her skin. She tugged at the hem of the sweater nervously, still unsure if she belonged in them.

Once dressed, she made her bed, smoothing out every wrinkle with meticulous care. It was a routine that calmed her, a small act of control in a life that often felt chaotic. But once the bed was made, she found herself sitting on the edge, her mind drifting.

She thought of the moon again, of its quiet resilience.

𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorknob twisting. She stiffened, her hands gripping the edge of the bed. The door creaked open, and Kendric’s bright smile filled the doorway.

“Good morning!!!”

He said cheerfully, stepping inside without hesitation.

Ariana’s shoulders relaxed slightly, though her body remained tense.

“Luca and I don’t have classes today.”

Kendric continued, his excitement bubbling over.

“So, guess what? We’re spending the whole day together!”