CHAPTER4
1573 Words
THE WEIGHT SHE CARRIED
Karly was tired in a way sleep could never fix.
Not physically.
Not completely.
It was the kind of exhaustion that settled deep inside a person, slowly turning even the smallest things into work.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Pretending.
Still, she woke up before everyone else like always.
The kitchen light flickered softly above her while she stood near the stove flipping pancakes with one hand and checking overdue bill notifications on her phone with the other.
Electric bill overdue.
Internet payment due Friday.
Final notice.
Karly closed the notification quickly before the headache behind her eyes worsened.
One thing at a time.
That was how she survived.
One problem at a time.
Behind her, soft footsteps approached.
“You’re awake early again.”
Karly glanced back to see Lily standing there wrapped in a blanket, her hair messy from sleep.
A small smile appeared on Karly’s face instantly.
“You say that every morning.”
“Because you’re always awake first.”
Karly set the spatula down before pulling Lily closer gently.
“You should still be sleeping.”
“I had homework.”
“At six in the morning?”
Lily shrugged sleepily.
Karly hated how fast her little sister was growing up.
Too observant.
Too quiet.
Too aware of things children shouldn’t notice.
“You’ll make yourself sick,” Karly murmured softly.
Lily looked up at her.
“So will you.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Karly forced a smile anyway.
“I’m fine.”
Lily didn’t answer.
That silence felt too knowing.
A few minutes later, Jayden walked into the kitchen half-dressed in his school hoodie while scrolling through his phone.
“Please tell me we have coffee.”
“You’re seventeen.”
“Exactly. I’m suffering.”
Karly rolled her eyes faintly before sliding a plate toward him.
Jayden stared at the pancakes.
“Okay… maybe life isn’t terrible.”
“Glad you recovered.”
For a moment, the kitchen almost felt warm.
Normal.
The kind of normal Karly desperately tried holding together every single day.
Because if she stopped trying…
Everything might fall apart.
Campus felt colder than usual.
Gray clouds covered the sky while students hurried across sidewalks carrying coffee cups and unfinished assignments.
Karly adjusted the sleeves of her oversized sweater lower over her wrists as she walked through campus quietly.
Her phone vibrated again.
Unknown Number.
Her stomach tightened instantly.
She ignored it.
The number had called three times since last night.
No voicemail.
No messages.
Just silence.
Karly shoved the phone deeper into her bag before entering class.
Focus.
Just focus.
But concentration felt impossible lately.
Every sound distracted her.
Every vibration made her tense.
And worst of all…
She constantly felt watched.
Not obviously.
Just enough to make her uncomfortable.
During class, Karly caught herself glancing toward the windows repeatedly.
Toward the hallway.
Toward the door.
Like she expected something bad to happen at any moment.
“You okay?”
Karly blinked quickly.
Maya sat beside her now, concern written all over her face.
“You zoned out again.”
“I’m tired.”
“You always say that.”
Because it was easier than telling the truth.
Karly forced herself to look back at her notes.
But Maya kept watching her.
“You know,” Maya said carefully, “people worry about you sometimes.”
Karly’s fingers tightened slightly around her pen.
“What people?”
“Meeeee, for starters.”
“I’m fine.”
Maya sighed softly.
“You keep saying that like it’s supposed to make it true.”
Karly looked away immediately.
Dangerous conversation.
Again.
Maya lowered her voice.
“Karly… if something’s going on
“There isn’t.”
Too fast.
Too sharp.
The tension between them settled instantly.
Maya looked hurt for half a second before covering it with a small shrug.
“Okay.”
Guilt twisted painfully inside Karly’s chest.
She hated herself for that tone.
But fear made people defensive.
And lately fear seemed to follow her everywhere.
Work was worse.
Friday nights at the diner were always chaotic.
Customers filled every booth.
The kitchen shouted nonstop.
Plates clattered constantly.
Normally the noise distracted Karly enough to stop thinking.
Tonight it only made her more anxious.
At around eight-thirty, she nearly dropped a tray after hearing someone call her name from across the diner.
“Karly.”
Her heart jumped painfully.
She turned quickly.
Nothing.
Just customers eating and waitresses moving between tables.
“Karly!” Maya appeared beside her looking confused. “Why are you standing there?”
“I thought someone called me.”
Maya frowned slightly. “I did.”
“No… before that.”
“You’re seriously scaring me lately.”
Karly looked away immediately.
“I’m just stressed.”
Maya studied her face quietly.
Then softened.
“Hey.” She touched Karly’s arm gently. “You know you don’t have to carry everything alone, right?”
Karly froze.
Physical contact always caught her off guard.
Maya noticed instantly and slowly pulled her hand away.
Something painful flashed across her expression.
Not judgment.
Understanding.
And somehow that felt worse.
“I should get back to work,” Karly whispered.
Maya nodded slowly.
But her eyes lingered on Karly long after she walked away.
It was nearly midnight by the time Karly finally left the diner.
Rain poured steadily across the empty streets while cold wind wrapped around her as she walked home alone beneath dim streetlights.
The city looked different this late.
Quieter.
Sharper.
Every sound echoed more than it should.
Karly shoved her hands deeper into her pockets while walking faster.
Then she heard it.
Footsteps.
Behind her.
Slow.
Steady.
Her stomach dropped instantly.
Karly kept walking.
The footsteps continued.
Not close enough to touch her.
Not far enough to ignore.
Her breathing slowly became uneven.
Don’t panic.
Maybe it’s nothing.
Maybe someone’s just walking home too.
But deep down…
She already knew it wasn’t normal.
Karly crossed the street quickly.
The footsteps followed.
Her pulse pounded harder.
Faster.
The rain made everything blurry beneath the streetlights as she risked a glance behind her.
A dark figure.
Too far away to recognize.
Too close for comfort.
Karly’s chest tightened painfully.
Then suddenly......
Headlights appeared beside her.
A black car slowed near the curb.
Expensive.
Familiar.
The passenger window lowered slightly.
Karly couldn’t fully see the person inside.
Only broad shoulders.
A dark coat.
A man’s silhouette.
Before she could process anything, the footsteps behind her stopped.
Complete silence.
Karly turned quickly.
The figure was gone.
Just gone.
Like nobody had been there at all.
Her heartbeat thundered violently inside her chest.
When she looked back toward the car
It drove away.
No words.
No explanation.
Nothing.
Karly stood frozen in the rain for several seconds before forcing herself to move again.
By the time she reached home, her hands were trembling.
She unlocked the front door quickly before stepping inside.
Silence greeted her immediately.
Too quiet.
Again.
Karly locked the door behind her before removing her wet hoodie slowly.
Everything looked normal.
Jayden’s room upstairs glowed faintly beneath the door.
The television downstairs was off.
Nothing looked disturbed.
Still…
Unease crawled beneath her skin.
Karly walked toward Lily’s room quietly.
Then stopped.
The bedroom door was slightly open.
Her stomach dropped instantly.
No.
Karly clearly remembered closing it before leaving for work.
Slowly, she pushed the door farther open.
Darkness filled the room.
“Lily?” she whispered.
No answer.
Karly’s breathing became uneven.
Then....
A small sleepy voice came from inside the darkness.
“Karly…?”
Relief nearly made her knees weak.
Lily sat up slowly beneath the blankets rubbing her eyes.
“You’re home late.”
Karly released a shaky breath.
“Yeah.”
Lily frowned softly. “Why do you look scared?”
Karly looked toward the still-open bedroom door.
Then back at her sister.
And for the first time in a long time.
She didn’t know how to answer.
- Writer
