Chapter 4: The Walls Around Her Heart
257 Words
The following week brought new problems.
Ava's mother became ill.
The doctor's visits were expensive, and Ava spent most nights worrying about how she would pay the bills.
One evening, she sat beside her mother's hospital bed.
"You look tired," her mother said gently.
"I'm fine."
"You're working too hard."
Ava forced a smile.
"I'll manage."
But the truth was she wasn't sure she could.
The next day, Ethan noticed something was wrong.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were filled with worry.
"Ava."
"I'm busy."
"Ava."
She finally looked up.
"What?"
"Talk to me."
For a moment, she almost told him everything.
The medical bills.
The fear.
The loneliness.
Instead, she shook her head.
"It's nothing."
Ethan wasn't convinced.
Later that evening, he followed her to the hospital.
When he saw her sitting beside her mother, everything suddenly made sense.
He understood why she always looked worried.
Why she worked so hard.
Why she rarely smiled.
The next morning, Ethan approached her desk.
"How's your mother?"
Ava froze.
"How do you know about her?"
His expression softened.
"I saw you at the hospital."
Ava immediately became defensive.
"You followed me?"
"I was worried."
"I don't need your help."
"I know."
"Then stop acting like I do."
Ethan remained silent.
Ava grabbed her bag and walked away.
But as she left, guilt tugged at her heart.
He was only trying to care.
The problem wasn't Ethan.
The problem was that Ava had spent years building walls around her heart.
And she wasn't sure how to tear them down.
- Writer
