The academy rooftop was quiet, a rare escape from the chaos of the past few weeks. Sara leaned against the railing, the cool night air brushing her cheeks. The stars glittered above, distant and untouchable, yet oddly comforting.
Her chest still ached from the confrontation at home. Grace's smug words and her father's silence played in her head like a broken record. For the first time, Sara felt truly trapped, her future slipping from her grasp.
She closed her eyes, whispering to herself, "Maybe I really don't have a choice."
"Don't say that."
The voice startled her. She spun around to see Daniel emerging from the rooftop doorway, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. His expression was calm as always, but there was something softer in his eyes tonight.
Sara quickly looked away, embarrassed. "What are you doing here?"
"Lina said you disappeared after class," Daniel replied, walking toward her. "I figured you'd be somewhere quiet."
"I just needed air," Sara muttered, staring back up at the stars. "Everything feels… heavy."
Daniel stopped beside her, leaning on the railing too. "Grace?"
Sara's throat tightened at the mention of her stepmother's name. She nodded.
"She wants to marry me off," Sara whispered. "She's already planning suitors, and my father… he doesn't even fight it. It's like he's blind. Or maybe he just doesn't care."
The words tumbled out, raw and painful. "I feel like no matter what I do, I'll always lose. At school, at home… everywhere."
For a long moment, Daniel said nothing. Then, quietly, he asked, "Do you really believe that?"
Sara turned to him, startled. His gaze was steady, unflinching.
"I…" Her voice faltered. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to admit how small and powerless she felt. But under his gaze, the words caught in her throat.
Daniel straightened, his tone firm yet gentle. "You're stronger than you think. You just don't see it yet. You faced Emily in front of the entire school. You didn't break when your stepmother tried to humiliate you. And you still get up every day, no matter how much the world tries to push you down. That's not weakness, Sara. That's strength."
Her eyes widened, stung by his words. "Strength? I don't feel strong."
"Then borrow mine," he said simply.
The rooftop fell silent, the only sound the faint hum of the city below. Sara stared at him, stunned. His words weren't loud, they weren't dramatic — but they carried a weight that settled deep inside her chest.
"You don't have to face this alone," Daniel continued, softer now. "Not anymore."
Sara's throat tightened, emotion swelling so fiercely she thought she might break. "Why are you… why are you doing this for me?"
For the first time, a small, rare smile curved his lips. "Because I believe in you. And because… maybe I don't want to see you give up on yourself."
Her heart stuttered, warmth flooding her in a way she hadn't felt in years. For a fleeting second, she let herself imagine a future not dictated by Grace, or her father, or the whispers of others. A future where she could choose.
Slowly, she extended her hand across the railing, tentative, vulnerable. Daniel looked at it for a moment — then without hesitation, clasped it firmly in his own.
The stars above seemed to burn brighter, as if bearing witness.
"Promise me one thing," Sara whispered. "That you won't leave when things get worse. Because they will. Grace won't stop. Emily won't stop. No one will."
Daniel's grip tightened. "I promise."
The rooftop air seemed to hold its breath. For the first time in a long while, Sara's heart felt lighter. The future was still uncertain, but now she wasn't walking toward it alone.
Together, under the endless stars, a silent pact was forged.