HER UNREQUITED LOVE

Chapter 1: Another day ,Another cycle ​The music was a soft, swelling tide of violins and piano chords. In the grand, ballroom of her mind, Aria was lost in his eyes. Her long black hair swirled around her shoulders like silk, catching the light with every elegant turn. She was dancing beautifully, her steps perfectly synced to the melody of " A Thousand Years" her favourite love song . The boy holding her was warm, his eyes holding promises she had only ever read about in books. Every step was flawless, and for a few beautiful moments, the crushing weight of reality didn't exist. ​"Aria! Wake up, Aria! You're going to be late for school!" ​The ballroom shattered like cheap glass. The violins twisted into the sharp, rhythmic pounding of her mother's fist against the wooden bedroom door. ​Aria blinked against the harsh morning light filtering through her faded curtains, her heart sinking back into its usual, uneven rhythm. It was just a dream. She lay still for a moment, letting the phantom warmth of the dance fade away before sitting up. A soft, familiar whistle rattled in her chest—a gentle reminder from her severe asthma that she was back in the real world. ​Throwing off her blankets, Aria began her morning ritual. She slipped out of bed and knelt on the cold hardwood floor, bowing her head in a quiet, earnest prayer for her family's safety and her own health. Once finished, she stood up and walked over to her modest vanity. ​Resting against the mirror was a small, slightly tarnished silver frame. Aria picked it up, her thumb gently tracing the glass over her father’s smiling face—a face she hadn't seen in person since he abandoned them when she was only three years old. She pressed her lips to the cold glass. ​"Papa, come back soon," she whispered, a habit born of a childhood hope she couldn't quite shake. ​Setting the frame down, she looked at her reflection. Out of the entire family, she had inherited her father's striking features. Thick, raven-black hair fell in waves past her waist, framing a soft, heart-shaped face. Her wide, expressive brown eyes held a quiet depth, flanked by a delicate, slightly upturned nose and soft cheeks that easily flushed a rosy pink whenever she was nervous or out of breath. ​But a pretty face didn't pay the bills. Aria turned away from the mirror and pulled on her stiff, pressed Oakhaven Academy uniform. She was only at that elite high school because of her brains; as a brilliant straight-A student, she had scored a scholarship. Her single mother, Comfort, worked , back-to-back shifts to provide for Aria and her two siblings, and Aria refused to let her mother's sacrifices go to waste. ​After smoothing down her plaid skirt and adjusting her tie, Aria grabbed her backpack and headed downstairs for breakfast. ​The peace of the morning officially ended the moment she hit the bottom step. Bump! ​Aria stumbled backward as a small, frantic body collided straight into her stomach. It was her younger brother, Leo. He didn't even look up, his fingers flying across the screen of his DLS game . ​"Watch out, Aria! I'm in the middle of a match!" Leo yelled, dodging around her as he headed toward the kitchen table. ​"Good morning to you too, Leo," Aria breathed, shaking her head with a small smile. ​She walked past the dining area and into the living room, only to be met with a bright, blinding halo of light. Her older sister, Lyra, was sitting cross-legged on the couch in front of a massive ring light. Lyra’s phone was propped up on a tripod, and she was currently in the middle of her elaborate morning makeup routine, blending concealer with practiced precision. ​"—and that’s why you always use a damp beauty blender, guys," Lyra said to the camera, her voice with excitement. She caught Aria’s reflection in the lens and flashed a quick wave. "Say hi to the stream, Aria! We’re live on t****k!" ​Aria instantly shielded her face with her notebook, retreating toward the kitchen where her mother was packing a modest lunchbox. The house was loud, messy, and constantly moving, but as Aria took a deep breath of the toast-scented air, she knew these walls were the only safe haven she had before facing the wolves at Oakhaven.