Chapter 1: THE TOWN THAT DIDN’T FEEL LIKE HOME
The rain had been pouring since the morning.
Not gentle rain. Not the kind that inspires romance.
It was the sort that made everything feel heavier than it already was.
The kind that turned new beginnings into burdens.
Inside a small, battered car cruising along the outskirts of Greyford, Elena Mbiya sat pressed against the window, watching a world she hadn’t chosen drift by.
The buildings appeared too silent here.
The people seemed too far away.
Even the air felt strange.
Her younger brother Micah was asleep in the back seat, his headphones dangling around his neck. Up front, their mother drove in silence, gripping the steering wheel tightly as if it were the only thing preventing her from breaking down.
No one spoke.
There was too much they were all trying to avoid.
Elena’s gaze followed the blurred figures outside. Each raindrop sliding down the glass felt like it was washing away something she desperately wanted to hold onto.
Home.
Or what had once been home.
Her father’s voice still lingered in her memory. His laughter. His presence. The way he used to call her name as if it truly mattered.
Now it was all gone.
And nothing in Greyford seemed capable of filling that void.
“We’re here,” her mother said softly.
Elena didn’t reply right away.
She just kept staring.
At first, she didn’t even notice they had stopped.
A small house stood before them old and slightly faded, as if it had been waiting too long for someone to care. The garden was overgrown. The paint looked weary. The entire place seemed to have lost hope.
Elena stepped out of the car slowly.
The rain hit her skin immediately.
Cold.
Real.
Unforgiving.
Micah, a 13-year-old with brown skin, short, tousled curly hair, and an innocent but somewhat weary look, slim in build, groaned from behind her. "This place seems like it’s haunted."
Elena almost smiled, but it didn’t quite happen.
Her mother let out a weary laugh. “It just needs some repairs.”
Elena looked at her.
Everything needed repairs.
But not everything could be fixed.
That night, the house was quiet in a way that felt unsettling.
Elena sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling. The sound of rain tapping against the window filled the room, serving as a constant reminder she couldn’t escape.
She reached into her bag and took out a notebook.
After a long moment, she wrote:
Start over.
She stared at the words.
Then added:
Don’t get attached.
Another pause.
Her hand shook slightly as she wrote the final line:
Don’t let anyone get close enough to leave scars.
Her breath caught in her throat.
She quickly closed the notebook, as if hiding the thought could make it less real.
But even with her eyes shut, she could still feel it.
The emptiness.
The next morning arrived too quickly.
As she stood in front of her mirror wearing her perfectly fitting school uniform, her height of 1.58 cm made her neither too tall nor too short for a 17-year-old. The white shirt accentuated her lightly tanned skin, and her curly black hair was loosely tied in a low ponytail, with natural strands framing her face. Her deep brown eyes reflected sadness, and she wore a short black skirt paired with knee-length socks and black shoes. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself, "It's going to be okay; don't let them in, and you'll be fine." She stared intently at her reflection before quietly leaving her room and heading to the dining area, where she was greeted loudly by her younger brother. She responded softly with a "good morning" and offered him a small smile.
"It's going to be fine," Miya said, offering a hopeful smile.
"Yeah," Elena replied quietly while sipping her tea.
"Go grab your bag, Micah," her mom instructed as she prepared to take them to school.
Elena gently rose from her seat, took her bag, and walked toward the car.
