The Beginning of Silence
It was almost the end of summer.
Final year of college would begin in less than a month.
I lay on my bed, staring out through the wide-open balcony. The soft wind made the dreamcatcher sway gently, its threads dancing like they carried secrets of their own.
My eyes stayed fixed on it… but my mind was elsewhere.
Will I have a peaceful final year? Will I make any friends? Will people hate me… judge me… fear me? Should I just drop out?
The thoughts kept spiraling, tightening around my chest—
Knock. Knock.
“Lunch is ready.”
The voice cut through everything.
I pushed myself up and walked downstairs, my steps quiet, almost mechanical.
Pulling a chair at the dining table, I sat down without a word as the food was served.
At the center of the table sat Dad—his expression as cold and unforgiving as ever. Like a grim reaper waiting in silence.
Mom was still checking her makeup, even with a full plate in front of her.
Leo, my younger brother, was glued to his phone.
Same scene. Same silence.
Nothing ever changed.
Dad suddenly placed his glass on the table—hard.
The sharp sound echoed across the room, forcing everyone’s attention back to reality.
We began eating.
No one spoke.
Until—
“After a month, Lilith, you will start your final year.”
His voice was calm. Controlled.
But heavy.
“Make sure there are no complaints from your teachers. Your scores should remain high. And behave well.”
His eyes were on me.
Always on me.
I slowly put down my knife and fork.
The sharp clink against the plate made the entire room go still.
Leo smirked instantly—like he was waiting for this.
But the moment my eyes met his, he froze and quickly looked back down at his food.
Silence.
Thick. Heavy.
Dad’s gaze hardened.
Before he could say anything—
“I’ve decided something.”
My voice was steady.
“I’m moving to a condo for my final year… and I’m switching to a new college.”
For a second—
No one reacted.
Then Dad spoke, as if it didn’t surprise him at all.
“Let me know which college you wish to go to. I’ll take care of the arrangements.”
I didn’t hesitate.
“Crimson Crest University.”
All three of them looked at me immediately.
Leo frowned.
“Are you serious? That’s an elite college filled with spoiled rich kids. You want to go there?”
I turned to him slightly.
Just one look.
A small smirk.
He understood.
And just like that, he rolled his eyes and went back to eating.
Dad continued as if nothing had happened.
“I’ll handle the admission. You don’t need to worry.”
A pause.
Then—
“Your birthday is coming soon. Since you won’t be here… consider this your gift in advance.”
He gently pushed a small box toward me.
I opened it.
Inside… was a ring.
Old.
Simple.
A snake-shaped design wrapped around it.
It wasn’t flashy. Didn’t look expensive.
But I knew better.
This wasn’t just a ring.
Leo and Mom both looked at Dad—then at each other—before rolling their eyes.
But I didn’t.
Because this…
This wasn’t a cheap gift.
This was the first gift he had given me in years.
And more than that—
It was something valuable.
Something meaningful.
Something he was passing down.
I looked up at him.
“It means a lot.”
My voice softened.
“Thank you… Dad.”
For a brief second—
Something shifted.
Leo’s eyes lit up. He looked at me… then at Dad… a small, amused smile forming on his lips.
Mom only smirked and continued eating.
Maybe we weren’t the perfect family.
But somehow…
We were still my family.
And that was enough.
A few days later, Dad called in favors.
Within no time, my admission to Crimson Crest University was confirmed.
CCU.
A place filled with power, money… and people I had no intention of getting close to.
I moved into my new condo—just ten minutes walking distance from the campus.
It was simple.
Basic.
Quiet.
Exactly how I wanted my life to be.
No attention. No attachments. No complications.
This year…
I would be invisible.
Just a background character in everyone else’s story.
A non-player in this game of life.
That’s what I thought.
I finished unpacking and looked around the empty room.
Silence surrounded me again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Heavier.
I walked to the balcony and looked out into the unfamiliar city.
A new place.
A new life.
A new lie.
“Tomorrow…”
I whispered to myself.
“…the real battle begins.”
