The soft hum of rain against the window was the only sound in Leia's room. It had been days since she moved in with her mom, but the unfamiliar silence still felt strange. Peaceful, sure—but strange. Her new room smelled like fresh linen and lavender, a far cry from the musty corners and stale tension of her father's house. Light beige curtains fluttered slightly as the breeze came through the cracked window, and her open notebook rested on the bedspread beside her.
She lay on her stomach, her cheek pressed to her forearm, one hand lazily gripping her rainbow pen—the same one she'd written with for years. Her handwriting sprawled across the page like a stream she couldn't stop even if she tried.
Dear Diary,
I thought I'd feel lighter. I thought the second I left that house, all the heavy stuff would lift. But it didn't. Not completely. I keep thinking about Miles. About the look on his face at the party, about what he said when we were alone in his room. I think part of me will always wonder what would've happened if I hadn't pulled away that night. If I had just let him in the first time he tried to talk to me. But it's like every time something good tries to happen, life grabs it before I can. Maybe that's why I can't stop feeling guilty. For leaving. For feeling like I'm finally breathing while he's still… stuck. God, I miss him so bad it's stupid. But at least we're on good terms on, thank God.
She let out a quiet sigh and shut the notebook, tucking it under her pillow as if hiding the thoughts could somehow make them less real. The room felt quieter now, heavier somehow. Her eyes wandered to her phone charging on the nightstand. No new messages.
The door creaked slightly as her mom poked her head in. "Hey, sweetheart. You got a minute?"
Leia sat up, brushing some hair from her face. "Yeah?"
Her mother walked in, holding her phone and a small envelope in one hand, and a grin that looked a little too excited for just any regular day.
"You look serious," Leia said, trying to read her expression.
"I have a surprise," her mom said, crossing the room to sit beside her. "And before you ask—no, it's not another doctor's appointment or anything school related."
Leia raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so what is it?"
Her mother handed her the envelope. "Open it."
Leia slid her fingers under the flap and pulled out the contents. Plane tickets. Her eyes widened as she scanned them.
"Cape Town?" she breathed out.
"For a whole month," her mom said. "We're leaving next week. I already cleared it with your school. You'll only miss the last couple days before break and they said you can submit your assignments early."
Leia blinked at her. "Wait—Cape Town… like, with you?"
Her mom laughed gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Yes, with me. We're going to stay with my parents. Your grandparents. You haven't seen them since you were a baby."
Leia's chest tightened with so many feelings at once she didn't know which to grab onto first. "I thought we couldn't afford stuff like this."
"I've been saving," her mom said. "Even before I found you again. I always wanted to take you one day. I guess… I just needed a reason to finally go."
Leia stared at the tickets again, her thumb brushing over the print. "I don't know what to say."
"Say yes," her mom whispered. "Let's take a break. Just you and me and a fresh place. A fresh start."
There it was again—that weight, pressing down on her chest. Not a bad kind, not like the one she used to carry at her dad's house. This one was softer. Warmer. But still heavy.
"I want to go," Leia said quietly.
Her mom smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Good. I think this is going to be good for us."
Leia nodded into her mother's shoulder, and for a moment, she let herself believe that maybe things could be okay.
The late afternoon sun spilled gold across the park, painting the grass in light and shadow as Miles spotted Leia already sitting on the swings. She was gently swaying, her notebook tucked in her lap, eyes watching the clouds drift lazily above. He smiled a little at the sight—this version of her, calm and thoughtful, was still so new and yet somehow felt familiar.
He made his way over slowly, his school bag slung over one shoulder, the wind tugging softly at the edge of his hoodie.
"You didn't start without me, did you?" he said, voice teasing.
Leia looked up, her smile small but real. "You're late."
"I stopped for a snack," he shrugged, slipping into the swing beside her. "I'm a growing boy."
"You're an idiot."
"But your idiot," he quipped, watching her face. When she didn't argue, he felt his chest loosen a little.
They swung gently in silence for a minute, the chains creaking just slightly. Kids shrieked in the distance. A dog barked. The wind rustled leaves. Everything felt kind of still.
"So," she said after a beat. "How are you feeling… after everything?"
Miles let out a breath and leaned his head back. "Weird. Tired. Confused, maybe."
Leia looked over at him, waiting.
"She was just there," he murmured. "My mom. Like nothing happened. Like she didn't disappear for two months and barely check in with us."
Leia's voice was soft. "Did she explain why?"
"Yeah," he nodded slowly. "She said she needed a break and be away from everyone to kinda clear her mind. She didn't want us to see her differently."
Leia's brows furrowed. "That's… complicated."
"It is. But I think I get it now. I was angry at first, but… when I saw her, it didn't feel like abandonment anymore. It felt like… like someone trying to be better."
Leia reached out and gently brushed her fingers against his. "And how do you feel now?"
Miles turned his palm to meet hers. "Lighter. Like I'm not holding this big secret in my chest anymore."
She nodded. "I'm proud of you."
He squeezed her hand. "I'm proud of you too. After everything."
Leia leaned into his side for a second, letting their shoulders press together. "Speaking of everything…" she began, voice quieter now. "I have something to tell you too."
Miles shifted to face her more. "What's up?"
She turned toward him, tucking her hair behind her ear. "My mom… she booked a trip. For us. To Cape Town."
His eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"Yeah," she smiled softly. "We leave next week. I'll be gone for a month. Visiting her family—my grandparents, cousins. I've never even met them properly."
Miles blinked. "That's… actually really cool."
Leia shrugged. "I guess. It feels weird, though. Like suddenly I have this whole other life I didn't know I could have."
"I'm happy for you," he said, his tone genuine. "You deserve something that's just… good."
Leia smiled at him. "I'll text. I'll call. You won't even miss me."
"I'll definitely miss you," he said, not even pretending otherwise.
She looked down at their hands still gently laced together. "It's only a month."
He nodded. "Still. That's a long time not seeing your face."
She rolled her eyes, blushing. "You're so dramatic."
"I like your face. So, sue me."
Leia laughed quietly, leaning her head on his shoulder. "When I get back… we'll figure everything out, right?"
Miles nodded, resting his cheek lightly against the top of her head. "Yeah. We will."
They sat like that for a while—two kids in the middle of something messy and complicated, but finally, for once, at peace in each other's company.