The glow of Daniel's laptop filled the small room with a soft blue light, casting shadows that flickered like ghosts across the walls. Lena sat curled on the couch, her fingers nervously tapping the edge of her sleeve. Tonight was not like their usual late-night calls, filled with laughter and playful teasing. This call was different.
Daniel's face appeared on the screen, his eyes tired but steady. Beside him, almost blending into the background, sat a younger woman — her expression guarded, her eyes flicking between Daniel and Lena.
"Lena, this is my sister, Mia," Daniel said quietly, as if introducing someone fragile to a storm. "Mia, Lena."
Mia offered a tentative smile. "Hi."
Lena nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle deep in her chest.
The silence stretched awkwardly before Daniel broke it. "I thought it was time you met her. She's been part of… everything. And there are things you should know."
Lena glanced at Mia, sensing the unspoken history lingering between them. She had seen Daniel's walls, the way his voice faltered sometimes, the way he seemed to carry invisible burdens. Tonight, she hoped to understand.
Mia leaned forward, her voice softer now. "Daniel's always been the strong one. The one everyone depended on. But sometimes, even the strongest have ghosts."
Daniel swallowed hard. "I don't like talking about it. Not much."
Lena reached out, her hand brushing against Daniel's on the keyboard. "It's okay. I'm here."
Mia nodded, encouraged. "When we were kids, our parents left suddenly. No warning, no explanation. Daniel had to take care of me. He became the parent. The protector."
Daniel's jaw clenched. "I was scared. Every day was a battle — to keep Mia safe, to keep us both from falling apart."
Lena's throat tightened. "You never told me."
"Because I was afraid you'd think I was broken," Daniel admitted. "That I wasn't enough."
Mia's eyes softened. "But you were enough. You still are."
The room felt smaller somehow, the space between them charged with years of pain and hope.
Lena whispered, "Thank you for trusting me."
Daniel looked at her, a flicker of vulnerability shining through his usual guarded expression. "I want you to know the real me. The parts I hide. Because if we're going to do this — whatever this is — it has to be real."
Lena nodded, tears threatening to spill. "I'm here. Real, all of it."