Page 20 of August and the Night

She reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," she says softly. "That means a lot to me."

I smile, feeling a sense of relief that she understands where I'm coming from. "You're welcome," I reply. "Now, let's finish eating. Maybe I can show you around the spa myself some time."

Layla smiles back at me, and I can see the trust and affection in her eyes. "I'd like that," she says. "I'd like that very much."

19

Layla

After spending time with August, I feel conflicted as John drives me back home. On one hand, I cherish the moments we shared, but on the other hand, I dread returning to the suffocating atmosphere of my father's house.

I enter the house, and my heart sinks when I see my father waiting for me. His eyes are bloodshot, and veins pop on his forehead. I can sense his anger from afar. I take a deep breath, putting on a brave front to face him, though I feel a knot of fear in my stomach.

"Out late with men, huh?" he sneers. "I thought I told you to stay away from them."

I lie straight through my teeth as I say, "Father, I wasn't out with a man. I was working late in the lab, you can ask John. He can confirm it."

He grits his teeth at my response, and his anger worsens. "John? He's the only reason why I'm not tearing you apart right now," he barks.

I feel relief and gratitude for John's intervention. "He's just doing his job, Father," I say softly. "But you have to trust me. I'm not doing anything wrong."

He stares at me for a moment, then turns away, clearly still upset and making no effort to hold back his anger. "You better be telling the truth," he warns.

I muster my courage and reply, "There's no one in my life, Father, but even if there were, it's my choice, not yours. You can't control me forever."

He laughs mockingly. "You think you're so smart, don't you? I'll make sure no boy dares to come near you."

In that moment, I feel anger and defiance. "You can't stop me from living my life," I retort, trying to stand tall even as my hands tremble.

His face contorts with rage, and suddenly, he raises his hand and slaps me. The impact is sharp, and I stumble back, shocked and hurt. He leaves me there, and I feel the sting of tears in my eyes. But I refuse to let him see me cry.

As I climb up to the top floor, I hope to find comfort in Lily's company. "Lily, are you here?" I call out, my voice shaky.

But there's no response, and a sinking feeling settles in my heart. I feel even more alone and broken. Curling up on my bed, I let the tears flow freely, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of my life. I yearn for a way out, a chance to break free from the chains that bind me to my father's expectations. But for now, I have to endure this suffocating life.

I lie on my bed, lost in my thoughts and tears. I suddenly feel the mattress shift as Lily crawls in beside me. She gently wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a comforting hug. "I'm here, Layla," she whispers, her voice filled with love and empathy. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

I turn to look at her, my tear-stained cheeks meeting her soft gaze. "It's just so suffocating, Lily," I admit, my voice trembling. "I feel like I'm trapped, and I don't know how to break free."

Lily brushes a strand of hair away from my face, gently kissing my injured cheek. "We'll find a way out, Layla," she says firmly. "We'll find a way to finally live our lives the way we want to, without being controlled by anyone."

I sniffle, wiping away the tears that still linger on my cheeks. "I don't know how much longer I can endure this," I admit, my voice trembling.

Lily holds my hand tightly. "I know it's tough, but we have to stay strong," she says softly. "We can't let him break us. We have dreams and aspirations, and we can't let anyone take that away from us, especially him."

She places a series of kisses on my red cheek again, and I feel a mix of pain and comfort. "I promise you, Layla, we'll find a way out of this situation," she vows. "We'll find a way to live our lives on our terms, free from his control."

I sigh, leaning into her comforting presence. "I want that so much," I whisper. "I want to be free, to make my own choices, and to be with someone I love."

Lily hugs me tighter, her voice filled with determination. "And you will, Layla," she promises.

As I wake up in the morning, I realize that Lily is still wrapped around me in a protective embrace and I feel grateful. I want nothing more than to spend the day with her eating junk food and doing nothing, but I understand that we both have responsibilities. After she leaves to get ready, I take a shower, trying to wash away the heaviness in my heart.

When I step out of the bathroom, Lily is already in the room again, waiting to check in on me before she leaves to attend her classes. She notices me looking at the mirror, and her eyes meet mine with concern. "Layla, are you okay?" she asks softly.

I hesitate for a moment before replying, "I will be. It's just… seeing the bruise reminds me of everything."

Lily comes over and holds me in a warm, protective hug. "I'm so sorry," she says, her voice filled with empathy. "You don't deserve any of it."

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