Chapter 21— Fractured Weekends
Lyra's POV
The first weekend in the province is quiet in a way that almost hurts. The streets are alive with the soft hum of motorbikes, the chatter of vendors, and the distant laughter of children playing by the corner store. But for me, it's like I'm watching it all through glass — moving, alive, but untouchable.
Lola fusses over breakfast again, insisting I eat more than I want. Her hands are warm, familiar, safe. But I can't bring myself to feel it. I nod, smile faintly, and chew mechanically. She asks if I want to go with her to the market again, but I shake my head. "I think I'll stay today."
Alone in my room, the quiet presses in. My sketchbook lies open on my desk. I pick up a pencil, but the lines I draw don't form anything real. They just twist, curl, fade away under my trembling fingers. My chest feels tight, heavy, like I'm carrying a weight I can't set down.
The phone buzzes constantly on my desk. Notifications. Calls. Texts. All from Saint Valley. Evan, Soraya, Saphira, Aveline… even Cassian.
Lyra, please just talk to us.
We were stupid. We never meant for it to be like this.
You have to know it wasn't only me, Sol. I swear.
I scroll past them without reading. My chest tightens every time Evan's name pops up. His texts are endless, desperate, filled with words that feel heavy and wrong. I can't. I won't.
I leave the phone facedown.
Later, I wander out to the small balcony, the breeze carrying faint scents of jasmine and wet earth. I pull my knees to my chest, tracing the star pendant Evan gave me years ago. I close my eyes and the memory hits me again — the first day at Saint Valley.
Them. Watching me. Whispering. Smirking.
Maybe that was when it started. Maybe that was when I became someone's replacement. I hadn't realized it at the time. But now, sitting here in the warm Lumera sunlight, I see it clearly.
Anger flares briefly, then fades into something heavier — quiet, steady, bitter.
A knock interrupts my thoughts.
"Lyra?" Maeve's voice, hesitant. My heart thumps. She's the first person from this city who's come to check on me.
I open the door. She's smiling faintly, holding a small basket. "I thought… maybe you'd like some snacks. Mom said you've been quiet."
I step aside, letting her in. Her presence is gentle, soft. It doesn't hurt like the others do. She sits across from me, basket on the table, and waits, letting the silence stretch.
"I remember you," she says finally. "From school… back then. You were quiet. Always drawing."
I nod, eyes on the floor. "Yeah. I guess I still am."
Maeve smiles faintly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to. Just… know someone's here. I don't like seeing people hurting alone."
I swallow, trying to keep my chest from heaving. It's not like she understands everything, but maybe she doesn't have to.
Evan's POV
The group is frantic. We've tried every method — calls, texts, even tagging her on posts. Nothing. She's shut us out completely.
"I can't believe she blocked me," I mutter, pacing. "She doesn't even want to hear it. How can I fix this if she won't let me?"
Aveline runs a hand through her hair. "We messed up, Evan. Big time. And now… I don't even know if she'll ever forgive us."
Saphira bites her lip. "She's in the province right? Maybe we can… go see her? Talk to her face-to-face?"
"She doesn't want to see us," I say, my voice cracking. "I can feel it. She's shutting everything out. And every second that passes… it makes it worse."
Soraya sighs. "We can't just leave it like this. We need to show her that we didn't mean it. That it was a stupid mistake. But… we also can't force her to forgive us."
I grab my phone again, trembling. Another message from her.
Lyra doesn't want to hear from me.
I stare at it, heart in my throat. I don't know if she's angry, sad, or just… broken. I don't even know if I can fix it.
Lyra's POV
Maeve leaves eventually, promising to check in again. Alone, I go out to the small garden behind Lola's house. The flowers smell like summer, like the days before everything went wrong. I kneel among them, tracing the petals with my fingers.
I think about Elaine again — look her up, scroll through her perfect life. I feel small, insecure, insignificant. Maybe I was never enough. Maybe that's why the others wanted me in the first place.
I pick up my phone. One last time. I type a message to Evan. My hands shake.
I can't do this anymore. I can't trust. I can't pretend anymore. Maybe one day, I'll forgive, but not now. Not yet.
I press send and close the phone. Silence stretches around me like a heavy curtain.
I lie back on the grass, staring at the sky. The stars are faint tonight, hidden behind clouds. The pendant around my neck glints softly in the dim light.
I hug my knees, letting the tears come quietly, only when no one is watching.