Healing in Silence

NEXT DAY — EMBER'S HOUSE

The next morning, Ember had taken a day off from college, giving the excuse that she needed to study for her exams. But in reality, she was emotionally exhausted. The events of the previous day weighed heavily on her, and she hadn't slept a wink.

Why is this getting so hard? she wondered. Why did he force me? I want to see him, but I can't face him after what happened. Why is it so difficult to talk to him about it?

Every time she closed her eyes, it replayed in her mind like a nightmare, and fear tightened its grip on her.

I'll talk to him when I go back, she resolved, though the thought terrified her.

Later that evening, after dinner, she tried to sleep, but her heart whispered that rest wouldn't come. Her body, however, disagreed, and she eventually drifted off.

When Ember opened her eyes, sunlight was streaming through the window. Blinking, she realized someone was sleeping beside her. She squinted, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw Dylan.

For a moment, she forgot everything—she just wanted to stare at him. He looked so peaceful, so innocent. His lips, soft and pink like cotton candy, curved slightly into a smile. His shiny black hair fell messily across his face, and the sunlight made his brown eyes gleam like diamonds.

Wait... his eyes were open. He's awake!

"Oh my God!" Ember thought, her face flushing with embarrassment.

"Good morning," Dylan said, his voice deep and gentle.

Panic set in. Ember scrambled out of bed, but her legs tangled in the blanket, and she fell to the floor. "Ouch! That hurts!" she exclaimed.

"Are you alright?" Dylan asked, reaching out his hand to help her up, his eyes full of concern.

Her heart raced. His gentle look, the sparkle in his eyes—it was all too much. Ember blushed and, without taking his hand, ran out of his room and into hers, locking the door behind her.

After some time, she freshened up and went downstairs. Dylan was already eating breakfast. As usual, he appeared calm and collected.

"Come, eat something," he said, pulling out a chair for her.

"I'm coming," Ember replied, though she avoided his gaze and sat in a chair farther from him.

He thinks that just because last night is over, I've forgotten everything. Your mistake, Mr. Dylan, Ember thought, her heart still heavy with the unresolved tension between them.

Ember could feel Dylan's eyes on her, but she didn't care. Not after what he had done. He needed to feel sorry for that. She finished her breakfast in silence, avoiding any eye contact. Setting her utensils down with a clink, Ember stood up and announced, "I'm done." Without waiting for a response, she walked toward the stairs.

Halfway there, she turned back and saw Dylan's mouth open as if he wanted to say something but then hesitated. Not wanting to hear it, she firmly said, "Dylan."

He responded immediately, "Yes?" His voice was filled with an excitement that didn't match the tension in the air.

"Can you ask the driver to take me to the library? I need some books," Ember said, watching as the hope in his eyes dimmed slightly.

"I can drive you," he offered, his eyes soft, almost pleading.

"No need. You must be busy with work," she replied, trying to stay composed.

"I have no work today. I can take you," he insisted, his voice eager.

Ember sighed. "Okay."

His face lit up with disbelief, "Wait, did you say yes?"

She nodded, her voice softer now. "I'm going to change, then we can go."

"I'll wait for you," Dylan said, his voice full of anticipation.

As Ember left, Nana walked into the room and asked, "Did you make her angry?"

Dylan let out a deep sigh. "I messed up. Big time."

Nana, curious as ever, leaned in. "What did you do?"

He shook his head. "It's personal."

"Personal, huh?" Nana chuckled, raising an eyebrow,"Well, good luck with that. "

"I've got to go, taking my girlfriend to the library. Bye-bye."

When Ember stepped outside, she saw Dylan standing by the car, holding the door open for her. 'So, he's being a gentleman now. Nice,' she thought, smiling softly as she slid into the seat.

He offered to help with her seatbelt, but Ember quickly fastened it herself. His face shifted from a smile to a pout, and she stifled a laugh. 'You think you're smart, don't you?'

They soon arrived at the campus. Dylan told her, "Stay here. I'll park the car."

But Ember didn't wait. As soon as he left, she headed straight to the library, determined to get lost in the world of books. While browsing, she heard a familiar voice.

"Hello! Long time no see."

Ember turned and saw Adrien standing there. "Yeah, long time," she said with a polite smile.

"Are you alright?" Adrien asked, his concern evident.

"I'm fine," she replied. "I'm just here to grab some books for an exam."

"Exam? For what?" he asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

'I forgot he doesn't know,' Ember thought. "I'm just preparing early, so it doesn't overwhelm me later."

"That's smart. Let me help you find the books," Adrien offered.

They spent some time chatting and searching for books. As they wrapped up, Ember said, "I'm really glad we ran into each other today. Thanks for your help."

Adrien grinned. "You can thank me by buying me coffee."

Embarrassment crept over her as she admitted, "I don't have any money on me."

Adrien laughed softly. "Then I'll buy you coffee. You can treat me next time."

Just as Ember was about to respond, she heard a voice behind her, one that sent a shiver down her spine. "Actually, we're on a date today, so she can't join you."

"Dylan," she whispered, turning to see him standing there, a smug grin on his face. 'A date, huh?' Ember thought, an amused smile tugging at her lips.

"No, we're not—" she started to correct him, but Dylan interrupted, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "Are you mad, baby? Sorry for being late," he cooed before kissing her forehead.

Adrien, sensing the tension, asked, "Are you okay, Ember?"

She nodded quickly. "I'm fine. Sorry, Adrien, I forgot about our plans. Next time, for sure."

Adrien smirked. "Next time, no excuses."

"Deal," Ember replied with a faint smile.

Dylan, visibly irritated, tugged her out of the library and back to the car. The ride home was tense, Dylan driving at an alarming speed, his jaw clenched. Ember could tell he was angry—jealous, too.

Once they arrived home, Dylan wasted no time, dragging her into his room. He shut the door, locking it with a click. Ember's heart raced. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling, but he didn't respond.

Without warning, Dylan pushed her onto the bed. "Dylan, stop it!" Ember shouted, panic rising in her chest. He didn't listen. His face was inches from hers as he whispered, "Why are you doing this?" His words confused her, his frustration palpable.

"What are you talking about?" Ember asked, her voice shaky. "What have I done?"

"You talk to everyone like that," he said bitterly.

"Like what? What do you mean?" she asked, bewildered.

Dylan didn't answer. He turned toward Ember and pushed her back onto the bed. "Ouch! That hurts…" she began, but before she could fully express her pain, he kissed her, silencing her words. He pinned her hands with one of his, preventing her from moving. His other hand reached for her shirt, trying to unbutton it.

Ember struggled, doing her best to push his hand away, but he was too strong. As he continued, a tear slid down her cheek. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Stop it," her words barely audible between the kiss and her tears. Her body shook in fear, and, feeling overwhelmed, she squeezed her eyes shut, her struggling coming to an end as the terror consumed her.

Dylan finally released Ember, Seeing her stop struggling, stepping aside from the bed. Her body trembled uncontrollably, tears still flowing down her cheeks as she gasped for breath, trying to understand what had just happened. Dylan stood there, staring at her in a mixture of shame and regret.

—her shirt half-unbuttoned, her hair a mess, tears streaming from her eyes, and her body shaking—Dylan's heart sank. It hit him hard; he had caused this. He was the reason she was in so much pain.

Feeling sick with guilt, he sat beside her on the bed, gently helping her sit up, leaning her back against the headboard. Her body was still trembling, her tears showing no signs of stopping. Wordlessly, Dylan grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around her, then buttoned her shirt with shaking hands. He closed his eyes as he did, overwhelmed by the gravity of what he had done. Afterward, he poured a glass of water, carefully offering it to her.

"I'm so sorry," Dylan said softly, brushing a hand over her tear-streaked cheek. "You don't have to forgive me, but please... just don't hate me."

Ember's tear-filled eyes widened, and without warning, she threw her arms around him, sobbing into his chest. "Why did you do that?" she cried, her voice breaking with hurt and confusion.

Dylan could barely meet her gaze. "I swear, I'll never do that again. I'm really sorry." His voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

Through her tears, Ember spoke again, her words spilling out. "I won't talk to anyone if you don't want me to. Not to Mr. Chi, not to Adrien... no one. If that's what it takes, I won't."

Dylan felt a pang in his chest as he realized how much she was willing to sacrifice because of his jealousy. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders and pulled her back just enough to look into her eyes. "No, Ember, it's not your fault. It's mine. You can talk to anyone you want. I'm the one who made the mistake."

She remained silent for a few moments before speaking again. "Just tell me when you feel like that. I'll stop talking to them, but please… don't act like this ever again." Her voice trembled, and before he could respond, she was crying again, burying her face into his chest, her small hands gripping the fabric of his shirt. Dylan could feel her tears soaking through to his skin.

"Shhh… stop crying. I'll never act like this again," he whispered, gently pushing her back so he could wipe away her tears. "Drink some water, okay?"

She drank too quickly, her throat still dry and sore from the forced kiss. Dylan watched her with a heavy heart, knowing he was the reason she was like this. "I'm sorry," he whispered again, standing up. "I'll go get you some clothes."

She nodded slightly, her voice barely audible. "Can you bring them here? I don't want anyone to see me like this..."

Dylan swallowed hard. 'She doesn't want anyone to know what I've done to her,' he thought bitterly. "Of course. I'll bring them. Just wait for me."

He left the room, leaning against the wall outside to take a deep breath. Guilt gnawed at him as he asked Nana to prepare some soup, telling her he'd bring it up to Ember himself. Afterward, he stepped outside to the terrace for some fresh air, but even the cool breeze did nothing to calm his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Ember's tear-stained face. The image haunted him.

Later, he returned with clothes and a tray of dinner. Knocking softly, he called, "Ember?"

"Who is it?" came her soft reply.

"It's me. Are you okay?"

"Come in," she said.

When Dylan entered, he found her standing by the window, wrapped in the blanket, watching the sunset. The fading sun cast an orange glow across her face, but it paled in comparison to her beauty. Even now, after everything, she looked so delicate, like something precious he had broken.

"Did you bring my dress?" Ember asked, her voice soft.

Dylan, lost in thought, barely registered her question until she touched his arm. He snapped back to reality. "Yes, I brought it," he replied, handing her the clothes. She thanked him, but her eyes didn't meet his, and he could sense the fear still lingering in her.

She took the dress and disappeared into the washroom. Dylan waited outside, pacing restlessly. Suddenly, he heard a soft, "Ouch!" from inside.

His heart skipped a beat. 'Is she okay?' Without thinking, he opened the door, only to catch a glimpse of her bare legs before quickly shutting it again. "Sorry! I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Ember's voice came from inside, though he could tell she was flustered. "Just wait, I'll be out soon."

Dylan stood outside the door, his hands shaking as he realized how much damage he had caused.

When Dylan entered the washroom, his face flushed as he quickly said, "Sorry! I'll wait for you outside." He seemed to think Ember wasn't dressed, but by the time he came in, she had already changed. When she stepped out, he stood there with his eyes down, rubbing the back of his head.

"Sorry! I didn't see anything," he stammered, clearly embarrassed. His awkward expression made Ember chuckle, and she said, "You didn't see anything because I was already dressed when you came in." She tried to stifle her laughter, but it was hard to keep it in.

Dylan, with a playful grin, said, "Hey! Don't hold back. You look good when you laugh."

His attempt to lighten the mood was sweet, and though Ember smiled at him, trying to show that she was at ease, her heart still ached. The memory of what he had done lingered, making it hard for her to fully relax.

"So, I brought some soup for you," he said with a smile, holding out a bowl.

"Let me eat. I'm really hungry," Ember replied, her stomach growling. As she began eating, the sound of the spoon against the bowl echoed in the silence between them. The quiet felt heavy, almost suffocating. To break it, Ember offered, "Do you want some?" She held out a spoonful of soup toward him.

Dylan took a sip and smiled. "With your hand, it tastes even sweeter."

Ember returned his smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Really?"

"Yes," he said softly, "you're so sweet, you made the soup sweet."

For the rest of the evening, Dylan helped Ember with her studies, but something had changed. They only spoke about her lessons, avoiding any mention of the past or what had transpired between them. The weight of unspoken words hung in the air, and yet, this was how they ended the day.

The Coming Days

The days began to blend into each other. Dylan would go to college and work, while Ember stayed home. When he returned, he would help her study, often bringing snacks and dishes, but he never gave them to her directly. Instead, he handed them to Nana, who brought them to Ember, pretending they were from her. Ember knew the truth from the very first day.

Dylan rarely spoke to her now, and he kept his distance, as though he was afraid to get too close. At night, when Ember was supposed to be asleep, she would hear the soft creak of her door. Dylan would enter her room silently, sitting next to her as she pretended to sleep. He always forgot to turn off the light, a giveaway that he was there.

In the quiet of the room, she would hear him whisper, "I'm sorry," before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Every night, Ember lay still, listening, feeling his apology hang in the air like an unspoken promise.

This routine continued until Ember's exams were finally over.