It had been weeks since the last light went out in that house.
No more laughter in the halls, no more light footsteps in the morning.
The house that once felt warm was now silent… as if it had stopped breathing.
Raeya still spent all her time in her room.
Nothing could change her mind—except time… and maybe a little love that still lingered.
That night, like every night before, Raeya sat at her window seat, her back turned to the world.
Her face rested against the cold glass, staring out at the star-filled sky.
But no star shone bright enough to warm her frozen heart.
She just sat there, lost in thought, empty.
As if there was no more hope left in this world.
From outside, a soft knock broke the silence.
Tok. Tok. Tok.
"Raeya, it's Auntie…"
The voice was gentle, full of love.
Slowly, Raeya stood up and opened the door.
She already knew who it was.
Only one person waited for her every night, without fail—Aunt Lily.
Her aunt smiled as the door opened.
"Come on, sweetheart. It's late. Let's get you ready for bed. You'll get mosquito bites if you stay up too long~"
Raeya gave a small nod. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Yes, Auntie…"
Their nights always followed the same routine.
Raeya lay down, and Aunt Lily sat at her bedside, gently brushing her hair while telling stories—like a mother lulling her child to sleep.
"Today I saw little birds flying in the garden out back.
They were so colorful—blue, yellow, even red. Just like a rainbow."
"How about we go outside tomorrow?
Layla and Vira asked about you. They miss you, sweetheart…"
Raeya didn't answer right away.
Hearing Layla and Vira's names made her chest tighten a little.
Her elementary school friends.
They often came by the house, knocked on her door, sent her messages—but Raeya always refused to see them.
"They miss you, honey. They really want to see your smile again," Aunt Lily said, gently holding her small hand—warm and sincere.
"Let's go out tomorrow, just for a little while... please?"
Silence.
Raeya closed her eyes for a moment.
For the first time, she didn't feel like saying no.
"…Alright, Auntie. But… only for a little while."
Aunt Lily's eyes widened.
She couldn't hide her joy.
Her lips trembled, and tears fell without warning.
"Thank you, God…" she whispered as she hugged Raeya tightly, overwhelmed with emotion.
"I'm so happy, sweetheart… so happy."
"Auntie, I told you… don't call me 'Miss' when it's just us," Raeya said softly, almost in a whisper.
"Just… call me Raeya."
Aunt Lily smiled warmly and embraced her again with all her love.
"Alright… Raeya," she said, looking into that small face where a new hope began to grow.
"Tomorrow we'll go out. I'll make you a delicious lunch.
And we'll watch those rainbow birds together."
Raeya nodded.
Her eyes began to close, tired after days of crying.
Aunt Lily sang a soft lullaby, gently stroking her hair, until the little girl finally fell asleep with a slightly calmer breath.
And that night, for the first time… the room felt a little warmer.
＊✿❀ ❀✿＊
That morning, for the first time in a long while, Raeya's room was no longer silent.
She had taken a bath and now stood in front of the mirror.
Aunt Lily gently brushed her hair, and the pastel-colored dress she wore made her look sweet and fresh.
But even though her face looked clean and pretty, there was no smile on her lips.
No light in her eyes.
She stood like a porcelain doll—beautiful, but fragile and cold.
Aunt Lily watched her from behind, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.
"It's okay… the fact that you're willing to go outside today is already more than enough," she thought to herself.
Finally… the door to Raeya's room opened.
Tiny footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Slow, hesitant, but steady.
Raeya stepped out of her hiding place.
The house, which had been so silent, came to life again—as if even the air held its breath at the sight.
The maids stopped what they were doing.
Their eyes widened when they saw the little girl who had only been heard, now standing before them.
"Miss Raeya… She's finally out…"
"Thank you, God…"
"We missed you so much, Miss…"
One of the maids couldn't hold back her tears.
They had missed her for far too long.
Raeya forced a smile.
It was small and faint, but enough to bring tears of joy to those watching.
"Thank you… everyone…" she said softly.
Though she appeared calm, Raeya's heart was uneasy.
She feared her father might show up—she wasn't ready for that.
But thankfully, Arvind had left early for work—something Aunt Lily had arranged in advance.
Raeya felt a small sense of relief.
She could breathe.
The morning air greeted her as she stepped outside.
The sunlight felt almost blinding.
"Is… the outside world always this bright?" Raeya wondered.
"Or is it because I've been in the dark for too long?"
Aunt Lily gently held her hand, guiding her to the backyard garden.
Under a large shady tree, a picnic mat had been laid out.
There were snacks, fruit juice, and painting supplies.
A cool breeze blew gently.
Birds soared across the bright blue sky.
And there she stood… frozen in place.
Raeya saw a glimpse of the past.
Her younger self, laughing under the tree with her mother and father.
Painting flowers, sharing food, lost in the happiness that once felt eternal.
Now… it was all just a memory.
She and Aunt Lily sat on the mat.
Quiet.
Only the sounds of nature surrounded them.
"Look, Raeya," said Aunt Lily softly, pointing to the sky.
"See the birds? Aren't they beautiful? Those are the ones I told you about last night."
Raeya looked up.
Her eyes followed the tiny wings dancing through the air.
And suddenly...
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
Then another.
She bit her lip, trying to hold back the sobs.
But the ache in her chest was too much to contain.
"Sweetheart…? What's wrong…? Are you alright?"
Aunt Lily quickly embraced her.
"It's okay, honey. I'm right here. I'll listen to everything..."
Raeya shook her head weakly, her voice trembling.
"I… I miss my family, Auntie.
I miss Mom.
I miss when everything was still whole.
This moment… it feels too familiar.
And… I'm scared I'll never go back to how things used to be…"
Aunt Lily held back her own tears.
She gripped Raeya's small hand tightly, gently rubbing her back.
"Raeya… you're so strong.
It's okay to cry.
But never forget—you're not alone.
So many people love you.
Me… Layla… Vira… even God has never left your side.
You're not alone, sweetheart…"
Raeya clung to Aunt Lily, letting all her tears pour out.
In that warm embrace, she found a piece of peace she hadn't felt in so long.
Time passed.
Her tears slowly faded.
But her eyes were still puffy, her nose red.
She wiped her tears just as a maid came running.
"Miss, Miss Vira and Miss Layla have arrived."
In an instant, two small figures came running from afar.
"RAEYA!!"
Layla and Vira threw their arms around their friend.
"Raeya, finally!! We thought you didn't want to see us anymore!"
"We missed you so much! We waited for you at school..."
Raeya couldn't hold back anymore.
Her tears returned—not from sorrow this time, but from the overwhelming sense of longing.
The three of them cried in a tight embrace, united in shared grief and renewed hope.
*:..｡o○ ○o｡..:*
A little while later...
Their tears had dried.
Their faces were still red and swollen, but now carried traces of laughter.
"Remember when Mr. Heru fell off his chair during math class?"
"Yeah! And you drew it in your sketchbook!"
"And then you showed it to him! Hahaha!"
"You were always the mischievous one, Raeya… Without you, class is so boring."
Raeya let out a small laugh.
Still unsure, but genuine.
"I missed you too…
Thank you… for coming back, even when I kept pushing you away."
Layla hugged her again, Vira nodded with a smile.
"We'll always be here, Raeya.
We're your best friends, remember?"
Raeya looked at both of them.
And for the first time… she didn't feel alone anymore.