Familiar Shadows

The warm aroma of ramen envelops me as I sit across from Aiden, my chopsticks hovering uncertainly above the steaming bowl. The air feels thick and awkward, and I can’t help but focus on how he’s slurping his noodles—cheerfully, as if this isn’t the most uncomfortable lunch I’ve ever had.

“So,” Aiden says, breaking the silence, “I noticed you looking at that flyer for the photography club yesterday. Are you interested in joining?”

I blink, caught off guard. “Uh, it was just… interesting,” I say, trying to brush it off. No one ever remembers the random things I do or say, especially not a stranger.

“You know,” he continues, his tone shifting slightly, “photography helped me through a tough time. I lost someone close to me, and capturing moments became my way of coping. It’s like freezing time, you know? You might find it meaningful.”

Well that’s a weird thing to tell someone you are having lunch with or is it just me?

“But we have a spot open,” Aiden continues, undeterred by my dismissiveness. “Seriously, if you want to join, I can teach you. I mean, it’s all about capturing moments, right? You might even enjoy it.”

I shift in my seat, focusing on the way the steam curls from my bowl. It’s strange—being noticed, being invited in. “I don’t know. I’ve never really done anything like that before.”

“Exactly! You’ll learn. Plus, it could be fun,” he says with a grin that makes my stomach flutter.

Just then, my phone vibrates violently on the table, startling me. I glance down at the screen—my class starts in ten minutes. “Oh! I have to go,” I blurt out, suddenly panicking. “I’ll think about your offer.”

As I stand, I reach for my wallet, but Aiden shakes his head. “No worries, I’ll take care of it. Consider it a welcome to the area.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, still feeling flustered. Why do we keep running into each other? And why does every interaction feel so… charged? My cheeks flush again as I remember my stomach grumbling earlier, and I quickly dismiss the thought as I hurry out of the ramen shop.

The moment I step into class, I can barely catch my breath. I sit in the back and pull out my notebook, trying to shake off the strange vibe from lunch. Minutes later, our professor strides in, his usual energy filling the room.

“Alright, everyone, we have a guest today who’s going to help with your group projects. Aiden, why don’t you come on up?”

My heart drops as Aiden stands up, looking just as surprised as I feel. “Hey, everyone,” he says, flashing a confident smile as he approaches the front of the classroom. “I’m here to give you some insight into your data analytics project on consumer behavior analysis.”

I can’t help but stare, feeling both embarrassed and excited. Consumer behavior analysis? That’s cool.

“Today, I’ll share some techniques for analyzing data trends and how to present your findings effectively,” Aiden continues. “And trust me, it’s more engaging than it sounds.”

I can hardly believe it. My random lunch companion is my class guest speaker. This day keeps getting weirder. My mind races, trying to grasp the coincidence of it all, and yet, I can’t shake off a strange feeling of anticipation.

Aiden wraps up his presentation, and the class buzzes with the excitement of new ideas. I scribble down a few notes, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation. As the lecture continues, I can't shake the feeling that fate is somehow pushing me toward Aiden. My heart races and I hate it, but I can barely concentrate.

Finally, the professor announces, “Alright, everyone, that’s all for today. Make sure to review the project guidelines I posted online.” The classroom begins to empty, and I start to gather my things when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

“Uhm, excuse me?” a classmate says, looking slightly anxious. “The professor is calling for you.”

I freeze, my mind racing with worry. Did I do something wrong? My heart pounds as I walk to the front of the class, only to find Aiden and the professor laughing together. Confusion swirls in my head.

“Ah, there you are, Raven!” the professor exclaims, a warm smile on her face. “I was just telling Aiden how well you both would work together. He’s been working on a project with his group, and I think you’d be a great addition.”

“What?” I stammer, taken aback. “I thought this was just a simple project. I didn’t know—”

“Yes, yes, it is simple,” the professor reassures me. “But it’s a great opportunity. If you all do a good job, you’ll receive a full 50% to add to your credit score.”

My mind spins. “Fifty percent?” I repeat, feeling the weight of the expectation. “That’s a lot.”

Aiden steps forward, a reassuring smile on his face. “Don’t worry, Raven. We’ll do just fine. It’ll be fun!”

“But… I don’t know anything about data analytics!” I protest, my confidence wavering.

“Exactly!” he says, beaming. “That’s why I’ll help you. We’re a team now, right?”

“Right,” I mumble, still feeling overwhelmed. A part of me is excited, but the rest of me is terrified. What if I mess this up?

“See?” Aiden nudges my arm lightly, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Fate won’t let us be apart.”

“Fate, huh?” I raise an eyebrow, trying to hide my embarrassment. “More like bad luck for me.”

“Hey now, look at it this way,” Aiden says, leaning in a little closer, and lowering his voice. “You get to hang out with me more. What’s not to love?”

I blush and try to look serious. “I’m sure I’ll find a way to make it awkward.”

He chuckles, and it’s infectious. “I’m counting on it. But really, just give it a shot. We can grab coffee sometime tomorrow and discuss ideas.”

“Coffee, right? I’ll think about it.” I avoid eye contact, suddenly shy.

The professor interrupts our banter, “Alright, you two. I’ll leave you to get started. Raven, I expect to see some great contributions from you!”

As she walks away, I glance back at Aiden, who’s wearing that charming grin again. “So, guess we’re stuck together,” I say, feeling a flutter of nerves.

“Guess so,” he replies, his tone light. “I’ll see you around, partner.”

“Yeah, partner,” I mumble, watching him as he walks away. I can’t help but smile, feeling a strange mix of excitement and anxiety at what this project—and Aiden—might bring.

The classroom finally empties, and I linger for a moment, watching as Aiden walks away with that easy smile of his. Something about the way he interacts with people—how he’s so at ease, how he pays attention to little details—leaves me feeling both intrigued and wary.

As I make my way back to the dorm, I half-expect to find Maya waiting, eager to ask how my day went. But when I open the door, I’m greeted by silence. Relief washes over me, though guilt quickly follows. Maya has been nothing but considerate, yet somehow, her presence weighs on me. She’s seen a glimpse of my bruises, of things I’m not ready to talk about, and that makes being around her feel... vulnerable.

With a small sigh, I shake off the feeling and focus on packing. Just a few clothes for the weekend, enough to get by. I don’t plan on staying long anyway. Besides, by leaving early, I’ll avoid the small talk I’d have to endure if I ran into Mom or… him. The thought alone makes me move faster as if I’m racing against time to escape unnoticed.

When I arrive at my home, a strange stillness greets me. The place is quiet, too quiet for this hour. I step inside, calling out, “Mom? Anyone home?” but the only response is my own voice echoing off the walls.

I make my way further into the house, glancing around with a vague sense of unease. Just as I’m about to head back downstairs, a sudden grip on my shoulder stops me in my tracks. My heart leaps into my throat, and I spin around, fear flashing through me as I brace for the worst.

But then I see him—a tall, familiar figure, his cologne hitting me first, that painfully familiar scent. It’s him.

“Didn’t hear you come in,” he says, his hand still resting a little too firmly on my shoulder. His gaze holds a hint of amusement as if my reaction was a joke only he understands.

I force a smile, trying to calm my racing heart. “I… I didn’t think anyone was home.” I swallow hard, feeling the discomfort twist in my stomach.

“You’re early. Thought you’d be here tomorrow,” he says, raising an eyebrow.

“I… had a change of plans,” I manage to say, my voice steady, though my mind is anything but that.

The weight of his hand on my shoulder feels heavier than it should, his fingers digging just enough to make my skin crawl. His gaze is fixed on me, the same dark, unnerving look I’ve learned to recognize and dread.

“Come here, Raven,” he murmurs, his voice a low whisper that sends a shiver down my spine. I try to step back, but his grip tightens, pulling me closer. Panic floods my mind, and I manage to stammer, “No… please, my siblings will be home soon. They’ll… they’ll see.” My voice trembles, but I keep going, desperately trying to appeal to anything that might make him stop. “Please, don’t… not here.”

He smirks, ignoring my plea, his other hand moving to my arm, pinning me back against the couch. I try to pull away, feeling my heartbeat pounding in my ears, but his hold only grows stronger.

“They won’t be back for a while, Raven,” he says dismissively, his breath too close, suffocating.

Tears prick at my eyes as I continue to plead, “Please… please stop. This… it’s not right. You know it’s not right.”

His grip doesn’t loosen, and I can feel the panic bubbling up, the fear that this time, there won’t be a way out. I start to cry, barely able to catch my breath. “Please… I’m begging you,” I whisper, my voice cracking, hoping somehow he’ll listen.

But then, just as I’m about to lose all hope, he’s pulled away, a shocked expression flashing across his face. I stumble to my feet, wiping the tears from my cheeks, and turn to see my mother standing there, her face twisted in anger. Relief floods through me—finally, finally, she sees what’s been happening. She knows now; she has to.

“M-Mom,” I stammer, feeling a wave of hope rise. “Mom, you saw—”

But before I can say another word, her hand connects with my cheek in a sharp slap that leaves me stunned. “How dare you?” she hisses, her voice cold and furious. “How dare you try to seduce my husband?”

My heart stops, and for a moment, I can’t even process her words. “What? No, I… I wasn’t—” I begin, but she cuts me off with another slap, harder this time, the sting spreading across my skin.

“Don’t lie to me, Raven!” she yells, her eyes blazing with anger.

“You think I don’t see how you look at him? How you throw yourself at him, making him uncomfortable?”

I shake my head frantically, choking back a sob. “Mom, no… I didn’t… I swear, I wasn’t—”

But she won’t listen. Her voice rises with every word, a fury that I’ve never seen before. “You disgust me,” she spits. “How could you do this to us? To me? After everything I’ve done for you?”

Tears blur my vision, and I can barely breathe, my words lost in the storm of her accusations. “Mom, please, I didn’t… I’m not… please listen to me,” I beg, my voice barely more than a whisper.

The chaos is interrupted by a small voice—my little sister, peering around the doorway with wide, confused eyes. “Mommy?” she asks, her voice trembling. The sight of her seems to snap my mother back to reality, just for a moment, and I take the chance to dart toward my room.

I slam the door behind me, locking it with shaking hands. I sink to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest, the sobs finally breaking free as the weight of what just happened crashes down on me. The familiar walls feel like a cage, closing in as I realize just how truly alone I am.

---

I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I woke up slumped against the door, still wearing my backpack. The room is dark, just a faint glow from the streetlight outside spilling through the window. I pull my phone from my pocket and squint at the time. Only a little past 8 p.m., but it feels like an entire night has passed.

Groggily, I make my way to the bathroom. In the mirror, I catch a glimpse of my reflection—the red mark on my cheek, swollen from my mother’s slap, stands out starkly. I reach up and touch it lightly, flinching at the pain. It’s like a permanent reminder, etched on my skin, of how little I mean to her.

I know I can’t stay here tonight. I don’t want to. Taking a deep breath, I step out of my room as quietly as I can, clutching the strap of my backpack, each step cautious. I make it down the stairs, toward the main door, hoping I can slip out unnoticed.

Just as I reach for the door handle, her voice stops me in my tracks. “Leaving already?”

I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest. Slowly, I turn to face her, and there she is, standing in the hallway, arms crossed, her expression cold and unreadable.

“We don’t want to see you for a while,” she says evenly, her voice devoid of any warmth. “Come back… maybe next month. Or when I message you.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I force myself to swallow it down. I open my mouth to speak, to ask why, but she cuts me off.

“You’ve hurt us too much,” she continues, her tone growing sharper. “Maybe some time away will be enough for you to stop thinking about my man.”

I feel my face drain of color, my hands gripping the strap of my bag so tightly my knuckles ache. “Mom… I didn’t… I would never—”

“Enough,” she interrupts, her eyes narrowing. “Just go, okay? I don’t want to argue with you. But I hope you realize how wrong it is to even think about sleeping with someone who is like a father to you. No—he is a father to you. Do you even think about what that would do to your siblings?”

Each word hits me like a punch, and I can barely breathe under the weight of her accusations. I stand there, frozen, the words lodging in my throat as I try to hold back tears. She just looks at me, waiting, her gaze hard and unrelenting.

“Fine,” I whisper, barely able to form the words. I turned back to the door, opened it with trembling hands, and stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my face like a slap.

As I walk away, I feel the sting of her words lingering, echoing in my mind. The door closes behind me with a finality that makes my chest ache. I don’t look back, just keep moving forward, the path ahead blurred through my tears. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel okay again, but right now, I just need to get back to the dorm—back to anything that isn’t here.