CHAPTER 1 — The Silent Hurt

Ariana Brooks lived with her mother, Linda. Ariana was twenty-three. She was smart but angry. She felt hurt inside. She did not understand herself. She did not understand her mother. She only knew one thing. She did not like her life. She did not like her simple clothes. She did not like being poor. She felt unlucky. And when she felt this pain, she took it out on her mother. She spoke in sharp words. She spoke without care. She spoke as if her mother did not feel anything.

Linda never complained. She worked two jobs. Her hands hurt. Her legs hurt. Her back hurt. But she still smiled at Ariana every day. She said, “Ari, eat something.” She said, “Ari, rest for a while.” She said, “Ari, tell me about your day.” Ariana gave short answers. Sometimes no answers. She looked away. She felt annoyed. She did not want simple love. She wanted a modern life. She wanted a stylish mother. She did not want this soft, tired woman who tried too hard to care.

One afternoon, Ariana came home crying. Some girls made fun of her clothes. They called her plain. They laughed at her shoes. Ariana felt small. She felt weak. She felt angry. When she reached home, Linda smiled and said, “My child, you are home early.” Ariana did not smile. She said, “Leave me alone.” Linda stepped back. She whispered, “Okay, sweetheart.” But her voice broke a little. Ariana heard it. But she did not stop. She went to her room and shut the door fast.

Later, Linda knocked softly. She said, “Ari, I made warm food.” Ariana opened the door. She looked at the plate and said, “We eat this again? Why always the same?” Linda lowered her eyes. She said, “I will try something new next week.” Ariana said, “Next week? You always say that. Always.” Linda held her chest for a second. She whispered, “Please do not be harsh today.” Ariana felt rage in her heart. She did not know why. She said, “You do not understand anything.” And she walked away again.

That night, Linda sat alone. She held her hands. They were shaking. She wiped her face. She whispered, “She is my child. She will change.” Tears fell, but she hid them. She did not want Ariana to hear. She never wanted Ariana to feel guilty. She always chose silence. Ariana lay in bed and heard a small sound. She told herself, “She is fine. She always cries for small things.” She put her pillow on her head. But her heart felt heavy. She did not understand that this was sadness. She did not understand this was her own mistake.

The next morning, Linda made breakfast again. She moved slowly. Her hands were weak. She knocked on Ariana’s door gently and said, “Ari, breakfast is ready.” Ariana opened the door. She looked at her mother’s tired face. She looked at her shaking hand. For one second, she felt worry. But she pushed it away. She said, “I am late,” and walked out. Linda stood at the door. She whispered, “Take care, my love.” Ariana did not answer.

That evening, Ariana saw her mother sitting on the couch. Linda had her hand on her head. Her eyes were closed. Ariana said, “Are you sleeping?” Linda opened her eyes slowly. She said, “Just resting, my child.” Her voice was low. Ariana stood there for a moment. She felt something strange. It felt like fear. It felt like guilt. But she did not show it. She said, “I will be in my room,” and walked away.

Inside her room, Ariana sat on the floor. She held her knees. She whispered, “Why am I like this?” She felt lost. She felt confused. She felt trapped inside her own anger. She thought about her mother’s weak face. She thought about her shaking hand. She felt a tiny pain in her chest. She put her head down. She whispered, “I do not want to be like this.” But she did not walk out. She did not say sorry. She did not hug her mother. She stayed silent. And that silence hurt both of them.

Ariana did not know the truth. She did not know her mother was getting weaker day by day. She did not know her mother cried every night. She did not know her mother skipped her own meals. She did not know her mother hid her pain. She did not know her mother was close to falling. She did not know life was about to change. She did not know she was about to face the hardest moment of her life.

Her mother’s love was strong. But her mother’s body was not. Ariana would learn this very soon. And it would break her heart.