CHAPTER 8

After school, she met up with Lukas at the café to spend some time together and clear her head. The familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee and the relaxed atmosphere helped her calm down a bit. They ordered their drinks and sat down at a quiet table in the corner.

"How was your day?" Lukas asked, leaning back and watching her attentively.

"Well, Max struck again," Lina confessed, feeling frustration rising within her. "I thought I could finally fight back, but I still have the feeling he'll get me again someday."

Lukas nodded understandingly. "It's hard to get rid of him, but you can't let him intimidate you. You're stronger than you think, and I'm here to help you. We'll get through this together."

"Thank you," Lina said, feeling a little better. It was reassuring to know Lukas was by her side. They continued to talk about their fears and hopes, and time flew by.

But as they laughed and talked, Lina couldn't help but think about the constant threat posed by Max. She had no control over her surroundings and knew it was only a matter of time before Max struck again. The thought made her heart sink.

As they finally left the café, Lukas's gaze fell on her. "Lina, don't forget that you are not alone. No matter what happens, I will be here for you," he said, taking her hand. That simple touch gave her a boost of confidence.

The walk home felt easier as she thought of Lukas's words. Perhaps she could leave the darkness behind if she found the courage to face Max and stand up for herself. But deep down, she knew the battle was far from over.

Arriving home, she searched for a way to organize her thoughts. She picked up her sketchbook and began drawing, trying to capture her emotions on paper. As she drew, she thought about the challenges that lay ahead and the strength she would need to fight through them.

With every line she drew, she felt a little more liberated. It was her way of transforming her inner struggles into something positive. In that moment, she felt she couldn't give up, that she had to fight—for herself and for the people she loved.

As night fell, she left the worries of the day behind her. She knew the morning would bring new challenges, but she was determined to face them. It was time to find herself and banish the darkness.

The night passed quickly, and with the first rays of sunlight, Lina was once again overcome by thoughts of Max and the challenges of the day. She hadn't slept well; the images of the past few days seemed to circle in her head, and she simply couldn't calm down. It was a constant battle between the desire to be strong and the fear of what might come.

At breakfast, the atmosphere in the house was tense. Her mother was lost in thought, seemingly pondering her own dissatisfaction, while her stepbrothers argued. Lina wanted to stay out of the argument and felt like a spectator in her own life. "Why don't we just be a normal family?" she thought, frustrated.

After breakfast, she set off for school, and the thought of Lukas gave her a small boost of energy. Maybe she could see him today and tell him about the progress she'd made. It was always encouraging to talk to him, and she knew he could help her feel better.

When she arrived at school, she felt the familiar pressure in her chest, but she tried to ignore it. She didn't want to think about Max today; she wanted to focus on her conversations with Lukas. Classes went mostly without incident, but the constant fear that Max might show up and try to provoke her again gnawed at her.

During recess, she sat down with a small group of friends, including Lukas. "How are you today?" he asked, looking directly at her. Lina noticed how his gaze was full of understanding and compassion.

"A little better than yesterday," she answered honestly. "I've been trying not to think about Max. But it's hard."

"That's perfectly fine," said Lukas. "It takes time to recover from experiences like this. Remember, you're not alone. I'm here if you need someone to talk to."

Just as Lina was about to relax, she felt Max's presence. He was standing at the other end of the room, watching her with a gleeful smile. Her hands grew sweaty, and she tried to hide her fear. But Max didn't take long to convince her. He came closer and stood directly in front of her.

"What were you thinking, Paulina? Do you think you can defend yourself against me?" he asked in a mocking tone. "You're weak, and you know it. And Lukas? Don't think he can save you."

Lina felt like she was suffocating. Her friends nervously looked back and forth between her and Max, and she wanted them to be on her side, but Max's words cut like a sharp knife. "You have no idea who I am or what I can do," she replied, though the uncertainty still resonated in her voice.

Max laughed and then turned to the others. "Oh, listen to this! Little Paulina thinks she can stand up to me. It's almost cute." The mockery in his voice made her flinch.

At that moment, Lina felt anger rising within her. "I'm not weak, Max. I won't let you oppress me anymore. Your words can't hurt me anymore," she cried loudly, her voice echoing through the cafeteria.

A brief moment of silence followed, and then the others began to murmur. Max, surprised by her reaction, looked at her for a moment, as if considering her words. But then the smile disappeared from his face, and his gaze turned dark. "You'll see what happens if you keep challenging me," he threatened, turning around.

Lina felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her chest. She had fought back, and it felt good. But at the same time, there was the gnawing fear that Max would actually do something. She knew she'd gone down a dangerous path, but she couldn't go back.

After the break was over, what Max had said was in the back of her mind for the rest of the school day. Classes were difficult for her, and she could barely concentrate. Thoughts of possible retaliation from Max haunted her. But the image of Lukas smiling at her gave her some hope. Maybe everything would turn out well.

At the end of the school day, Lukas approached her. "I heard your conversation with Max. You were really strong, Lina!" he said proudly. Lina smiled weakly, feeling a little better. "Thanks. I hope I didn't provoke him even more."

"You never know. But you don't have to hide. We can get through this together," he replied, taking her hand as they left the school.

Lina felt she wasn't alone. She had Lukas by her side, and that gave her the strength she needed to face her fears. It was time to confront the darkness and show that she wouldn't give up.

The next few days passed in a fog. Lina often felt like she was in a dream, with reality constantly fluctuating around her. The confrontation with Max hovered over her like a dark shadow, and although she had felt brave, she knew the danger was far from over. Max wasn't the type to just give up.

At school, she tried to focus on her homework, but her thoughts kept wandering to what Max had said. Her friends noticed her distraction, and Lukas was especially attentive. He would sit next to her during class and quietly ask, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I think so," Lina replied, even though the opposite was true. She felt torn inside. On the one hand, she wanted to be strong and not let Max oppress her, but on the other, she was constantly afraid of what he might do next.

One day during recess, while sitting at a table with Lukas, Lina felt encouraged to talk about her fears. "Lukas, what if Max really finds a way to hurt me? What should I do then?" she asked, looking into his eyes.

Lukas took her hand and squeezed it gently. "You have to believe in yourself, Lina. You're stronger than you think. And if he's really planning something, I'll be by your side. I won't leave you alone."

His words gave her comfort, but the uncertainty continued to gnaw at her. That afternoon, they decided to go to the café after school. It was a place associated with many positive memories for Lina, and she hoped that a little time there could banish her worries.

In the café, they sat at a table by the window. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked cake filled the air, and Lina could feel the tension in her body ease somewhat. As they drank their coffee and chatted about everyday things, Lukas's smile grew wider, and she found it easier to relax.

Suddenly, she felt a tingling sensation in the back of her neck, as she felt as if she were being watched. She turned around and saw Max standing at the entrance to the café, staring at her. His expression was blank, but Lina could feel the coldness in his eyes. The pressure in her chest returned, and she felt nervous.

"Hey, don't look," Lukas said quietly when he noticed Lina looking in another direction. "He's just trying to provoke you. Don't let him influence you."

"I know," Lina murmured, but the feeling of threat remained. Max eventually left, and she could breathe a sigh of relief. But the joy of their shared afternoon was clouded by the constant fear Max aroused in her.

In the days that followed, Lina tried to focus on her schoolwork and further develop her relationship with Lukas. But Max was like a shadow that kept returning to her life. He made her a target, and it felt like he felt safer each time she tried to escape him.

One afternoon at school, while Lina was in the classroom with Lukas, she felt Max's presence behind her. When she turned around, he was standing right behind her, grinning wickedly. "Well, Paulina? Do you think you can protect Lukas? You're nothing without him."

His words were like a sharp blade piercing her heart. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her hurt. "I'm more than just my friend, Max. And I won't let you hold me down. You're not as powerful as you think," she replied, even though she was trembling inside.

Max shook his head and took a step closer. "Oh, really? Let's see how long you can maintain that confidence. Everyone has their weaknesses, Paulina. I'll find them."

A shiver ran down her spine, but she tried not to let it show on her face. As Max turned and walked away, she felt relief rising within her. She was scared, but she had fought back. It was a small victory, but it was a victory.

After school, she went to see Lukas. "He threatened again," she said, telling him about the encounter. Lukas took her hands and looked at her seriously. "It's okay to be scared, but don't let him win. You are strong, and I believe in you."

With these words, Lina felt a little better, even though insecurity continued to haunt her. She knew she had to prove herself again and again, not only to herself, but also to Lukas and the others.

Together they left the school grounds and headed toward the café. Lina knew they had to overcome these challenges together or they wouldn't go under. It was the first step in a new direction—a step that brought her closer to the Lina she wanted to be: strong, independent, and ready to stand up for herself.

Arriving at the café, Lina plopped into one of the comfortable armchairs. The familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries enveloped her, and for a moment, she was able to leave her worries behind. Lukas sat down across from her and smiled at her. "You're safe here," he said, and Lina couldn't help but feel a little reassured by those words.

"It's just hard to let go of thoughts of Max. I can't ignore him when he's constantly around me," she admitted, staring into her coffee cup as the steam slowly rose.

"I understand," Lukas replied. "But remember, you're not alone. You have friends who support you, and I'll always be by your side." He leaned forward slightly, his eyes sparkling with conviction. "We'll get through this together. If Max really causes problems, we'll confront him."

Lina nodded, but still felt a twinge of doubt. "I'm afraid I'll seem weak. That I won't be able to defend myself."

"That's normal," said Lukas. "Strength doesn't mean not being afraid. It means moving forward despite fear and not letting it get you down. You have to stay true to yourself and do what you believe is right."

Lina felt a small flame of hope flicker within her. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was time to face her fear and stop living in its shadow.

As they enjoyed their time at the café, Lukas talked about his hobbies and interests, and Lina couldn't help but smile. His passion and enthusiasm were contagious. It felt good to talk about other things and take her mind off the problems that haunted her.

But the feeling that Max could appear at any moment never completely left her. As they left the café and stepped out onto the street, the unease became palpable again. The sky was overcast, and the thick clouds seemed to make the day seem darker.

"Hey, let's take a little detour and cross the park," Lukas suggested. "It'll do you good to get some fresh air." Lina agreed, glad that he was concerned about her well-being.

The park was a quiet place where people often went for walks or sat on a bench to enjoy nature. It was the perfect retreat for Lina to relax and collect her thoughts. As they strolled through the paths, she tried to put the feeling of fear behind her and enjoy the moment.

Suddenly, she noticed Lukas stop and examine something in the bushes. "Look, Lina! A little dog!" He pointed to a small, dirty puppy that seemed scared and alone.

Lina knelt down and held out her hand. "Hey, little friend. Where are you from?" she whispered gently. The dog hesitated for a moment, but eventually came closer and licked her hand. "He's so cute!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

"We should take him and help him. He looks hungry," Lukas suggested. "Maybe we can take him to the animal shelter."

Lina nodded enthusiastically. It was the perfect moment to forget her worries. They decided to feed the little puppy and then drive to the animal shelter together. The distraction did her good, and she enjoyed the time with Lukas.

On the way to the shelter, they talked about their childhood and the importance of being there for others. Lina felt more connected to Lukas than ever, and it was a welcome relief from the constant anxiety that Max brought.

When they finally reached the shelter, the little dog was immediately noticed by one of the staff members. "What a cute puppy! Where did you find him?"

Lina and Lukas recounted their encounter in the park, and the staff member promised to take care of the little dog. It was a good feeling to know they had done something good, even if it was just a small step.

On the way back, they talked about their future and the importance of bringing positive things into their lives. Lina felt the darkness that had haunted her for so long slowly begin to fade.

"I believe that if we stick together, we can do anything," Lukas said. Lina nodded, and in that moment she felt that she wanted to fight not only for herself, but also for him.