~MY FAMILY~
I woke up with the faintest ache behind my eyes, like I had cried myself hollow. The room was dim, only the soft glow of a lamp spilling warmth over the walls. My blanket was tucked neatly around me — too neatly for me to have done it myself.
My gaze shifted, and there he was. Raffy, sitting at the edge of the bed, his face buried in his palms. His broad shoulders slumped, as if the weight of the entire night pressed down on him. A bowl of water sat on the side table, a cloth still damp inside it.
He had been there for me.
"Raffy…" My voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.
His head shot up, worry flashing in his eyes. "You're awake?" He leaned closer, his hand instinctively brushing my hair back. His touch was warm, gentle, trembling as if he was scared I'd shatter if he pressed too hard. "Do you need water? Are you okay? Should I—"
I shook my head faintly. "I… I just wanted to say thank you." My throat tightened. "For trusting me. For not leaving."
Before he could answer, the door opened wider and Maheen walked in, followed by Ayan. Both looked exhausted, eyes puffy, faces tense — but the moment they saw me sitting up, they smiled like the sun had finally broken through storm clouds.
Maheen rushed forward, grabbing my hands in hers, her grip tight but comforting. "Wateen… don't you *ever* apologize again for what happened. None of this is your fault. Not a single piece of it."
Tears pricked my eyes again, but her voice was steady, fierce. A shield.
"But I broke everything," I whispered. "Our group… our bond… Zain and Zara—"
"Forget them," Ayan cut in firmly, stepping closer. His usual playful eyes were now serious. "People who betray you when you're at your weakest were never your family to begin with. We didn't lose anyone tonight — we just saw their true faces."
Maheen squeezed my hand harder. "And we're still here. The ones who matter are still here."
Raffy hadn't spoken. He sat there, silently rubbing his thumb against the back of my hand, grounding me without a single word. His eyes, though, burned — with anger, with pain, with something that looked a lot like fear of losing me.
"I'm sorry," I whispered again, my voice breaking. "For being the reason everything fell apart."
This time it was Maheen who pulled me into a sudden hug, nearly crushing me. "Stop it, Wateen! You're not the reason. You're the victim who fought to survive. You're the girl who endured when she should've been protected. Don't carry shame that isn't yours."
A sob escaped me against her shoulder, muffled and raw.
When she pulled back, Ayan placed a reassuring hand on my head, ruffling my hair softly. "You're stronger than you think. And we'll make sure you never have to stand alone again."
The silence after his words was heavy, but not suffocating. It was warm. Safe.
Raffy finally leaned closer, his hand resting lightly on my trembling shoulder. His voice was low, rough, almost breaking. "If anyone… *anyone*… tries to hurt you again, they'll have to go through me first."
My heart twisted, my eyes searching his. There was something in his expression — a storm brewing, protective and unyielding.
For the first time in what felt like years, I didn't feel alone.