FORTY-THREE
Aliya
ONE YEAR AGO
I’m sitting on the familiar bench in Roosevelt Park, the same bench where I sipped my hot chocolate two years ago.
A lot has changed since then.
Daniel moved out. He doesn’t live under the same roof as me anymore.
I’m attending a new school, where I’m invisible to everyone and no longer the girl who punched a teacher.
And finally, I have a friend who sees more in me than just the scars of my past.
It’s terrifying to sit here and think back to that night when my life almost ended here. When I was so desperate that I thought death was my only salvation. My freedom.
But the life I wanted to give up back then has opened new paths for me. And I’ve come to realize that my true freedom isn’t death, it’s a person. Lio.
I haven’t seen him in weeks. Seeing him again today, after all this time, feels like coming home.
Lio’s just getting back, holding an ice cream cone. He hands it to me before sitting down next to me and cracking open a can.
“You’re not getting any ice cream?”
He shakes his head as he takes a sip. “No, little one. I’m sticking with my iced coffee.”
There are dark circles under his eyes, like he hasn’t slept in weeks. His hair is a bit longer than usual, and there’s a hint of stubble on his chin.
“You look tired.”
Lio offers me a weary smile. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks.”
“You shouldn’t overwork yourself.”
“Studying lately is hell.”
And even though he blames it on studying, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s carrying something heavy, something that’s weighing him down. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
Lio pulled me out of the darkest hole of my life. If he’s struggling now, it’s my turn to help him.
He turns to me, and I can’t help but notice the lines of tiredness etched into his face. But then the corners of his mouth tug upwards before he ruffles my hair with his free hand and messes it up. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
I push him away, trying to fix my messy hair without spilling my ice cream.
“You look exhausted, Lio. Something’s bothering you, isn’t it? I just want you to know that I’m here for you. Just like you were there for me in my worst moments.”
His facade cracks slightly, but then he flashes me his dimpled smile. “I appreciate your concern, little one. But I’m a tough guy. I can handle a bit of exhaustion. And besides, being tired is my default state. Have you ever seen me before my morning coffee? I’m basically a zombie.”
“No, don’t-,” I start to say, but too late.
Lio’s grin widens as he messes up my hair for the second time. “Oh, come on. I know you can’t resist me.”
I try to swat his hand away, but in the process my ice cream scoop topples off my cone. He bursts into laughter as the ice cream lands on my pants, leaving a big stain.
“Look what you did. You wasted your ice cream.”
“Because of who, exactly?”
“Not my fault if you’re bad at multitasking, little one.”
I huff in annoyance.
“Alright, alright. Looks like I’ll have to get you another one.” He stands up, but I grab his arm.
“It’s fine.”
Lio looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “Are you sure? I don’t mind getting you another.”
I shake my head and hold up my cone. “I still have this.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a few moments, the background filled with the sounds of children laughing and playing.
After a while, Lio breaks the silence. “Hey, little one?”
“Yeah?”
His expression shifts briefly, as if he wants to say something important, but then he catches himself and smiles instead.
He glances at my wrist, where I’m wearing the bracelet he gave me. “Just wanted to see if you still have it.”
“I’ve never taken it off.”
“Good. I don’t want you to lose it.”
“I won’t,” I assure him. “It’s always with me.”
Lio leans back on the bench, stretching his arms out and trying to appear relaxed.
He’s trying to hide the flicker of vulnerability in his green eyes, but I can see right through him. He doesn’t want to burden me. Instead, he puts on this playful mask and tries to lighten the mood.
And it annoys me.
I’ve never held back when it comes to showing weakness.
He notices me studying him. “See something you like, kiddo?”
I roll my eyes. “Definitely not.”
Lio places a hand on his chest and pretends to be wounded. “My heart, it’s breaking. How will I ever recover from such a harsh truth?”
I try to stifle a laugh.
“So, there’s nothing you like about me? I’m devastated. Completely shattered.”
“You know that’s not true,” I reply after swallowing my last bite. “Of course I like you. How could I not? You helped me, Lio. Without you, I would be …”
The words catch in my throat, and Lio’s grin fades.
… dead.
I shake my head and continue. “You’re important to me. I’ll never forget how much you’ve changed my life. And I’ll always be grateful.”
His expression softens, and a flicker of emotion flares in his eyes as heat rises in my cheeks. Was that too much?
His lips curl into a smile. “You’re important to me too, little one.”
And this time, I let him mess up my hair without resisting. He rises from the bench and stretches his arms above his head, his muscles slightly tensing, and I can’t help but notice how big and imposing he is.
“I heard …” I hesitate, unsure if I should really ask him, but he turns to me before I can decide.
“I heard that Belle Isle Park is known for its diverse flora. They even planted lotus flowers there.”
It’s strange, but ever since he gave me that bracelet, I automatically associate him with lotus flowers.
“Lotus flowers, huh?”
“Can we go there next time?”
I bite my lip in embarrassment, unsure if I might be overstepping some boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed.
First my confession about how much he means to me, and now it sounds like I’m asking for a date.
The way his smirk falters slightly tells me I might have gone too far.
But then he turns to his bike. “Sure, we can check out the lotus pond next time .”
I widen my eyes in surprise. “Really?”
“Have I ever lied to you, kid?”
He avoids looking directly at me, his gaze focused on his helmet.
“But please get some rest before. I don’t want to see you with those dark circles under your eyes,” I throw in, using a sarcastic tone to lighten the mood.
He lets out a chuckle as he turns back to me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll get some rest. I can’t afford for you to keep making fun of me.”
After that, he drives me home on his motorcycle. We exchange nods as we say goodbye, and he waits until I’m inside. When I watch Lio ride away on his bike, I can’t shake the feeling that something is off.
With Robert and my mom away for a few days, the house feels unusually quiet. The thought of spending Independence Day alone tomorrow is strangely comforting. But despite the calm in the house, a sense of unease has settled deep in my stomach. I try to shake it off, but it remains.
As I take off my jacket and hang it on the coat rack, I notice a small piece of paper sticking out of the outer pocket.
Furrowing my brow, I pull it out. I initially think it’s trash until I unfold it and realize it’s a note.
A note in a familiar handwriting that strangely feels like a goodbye.
A goodbye from my only friend.