Shadows Of Joy

chapter 14

The Cracks Show

Avery sat in her usual spot in the library after school, surrounded by textbooks and notebooks, but her mind was far from focused. The familiar sounds of pages turning and the soft hum of students working should have been comforting, but today, they felt overwhelming.

She stared at her math book, the numbers swimming before her eyes. Her hand trembled slightly as she tried to solve a problem she had done a hundred times before, but today, nothing made sense. Her mind was too clouded with thoughts of her family, the unrelenting pressure, and the invisible comparisons to her sister, Jenna.

Avery closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The weight of everything was starting to become unbearable. She had been holding it together for so long, pretending to be okay, but now she could feel the cracks beginning to show.

Just as she was about to give up and pack her things, she heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Avery, mind if I sit with you?"

It was Luke, his usual calm and gentle demeanor making Avery feel a small sense of relief. She nodded silently, not trusting her voice at that moment.

Luke sat down across from her, glancing at the scattered notes and textbooks on the table. He didn't say anything at first, sensing that Avery wasn't ready to talk, but his presence was enough to break through the fog of her thoughts.

After a few minutes of silence, Luke spoke quietly. "You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."

Avery's eyes stung with unshed tears, and she bit her lip, trying to hold it together. "It just... it just feels like too much sometimes," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Luke nodded, not pushing her to explain more than she was ready to. He had always been good at giving space when needed, but still offering his support.

"I know it's hard to see it right now, but you don't have to carry it all by yourself," Luke said softly. "We're all here for you me, Rhia, Anica. You don't have to go through this alone."

Avery's heart tightened. She knew her friends cared about her, but the isolation she felt at home, the constant barrage of criticism, made it hard to believe that she wasn't alone in all of this.

"I just wish... I just wish my family could see me," Avery admitted, her voice barely audible. "It's like no matter what I do, it's never enough."

Luke's eyes softened with understanding. "You're enough, Avery. You're more than enough."

For the first time in a long while, Avery felt a tear slip down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, embarrassed, but Luke didn't judge her. He simply sat with her, offering quiet comfort as the overwhelming emotions began to surface.

The library, once a place of pressure, now felt like a small refuge. Avery realized that maybe she didn't have to keep pretending to be strong all the time. Maybe it was okay to let the cracks show to be vulnerable with the people who truly cared about her.

For the rest of the afternoon, Avery and Luke worked side by side in comfortable silence. There were no more forced smiles, no more pretending. Just two friends, navigating the quiet storm together.