Nyra didn’t stop walking.
Even when her legs ached.
Even when her chest felt tight.
She just kept moving.
The city blurred around her—voices, traffic, footsteps—everything fading into noise. Her mind was still stuck on that encounter.
Mr. Expensive Shirt.
She almost scoffed at herself.
“Arrogant idiot…” she muttered under her breath.
But somehow—
His eyes lingered in her thoughts longer than she liked.
Sharp. Cold. Observant.
Dangerous.
Nyra shook her head slightly, as if she could physically push the thought away.
Doesn’t matter.
She had bigger problems.
Money. Her sister. Survival.
Not some random rich man with an attitude.
By the time she reached home, the sky had already begun to darken.
And just like every evening—
The peace didn’t last.
“Where were you?”
Daniel’s voice cut through the moment she stepped inside.
Nyra paused.
“I went out to look for a job,” she replied, trying to keep her tone steady.
Emma, lounging on the couch, let out a small laugh. “Oh? And? Did anyone actually hire you?”
Nyra stayed silent.
That was answer enough.
Sera smirked. “Of course not. Who would?”
Something inside Nyra tightened, but she swallowed it down.
“I’ll find something,” she said quietly.
Daniel scoffed. “You’ve been saying that for weeks.”
“I’m trying—”
“Trying isn’t enough,” he snapped. “This house isn’t a charity.”
Nyra’s hands curled into fists at her sides.
“I do all the work here,” she said, her voice still calm… but firmer now.
That made Emma sit up slightly, amused.
“Oh? So now you’re complaining?” she said mockingly. “Should we applaud you for doing basic chores?”
Sera added coldly, “You should be grateful we even let you stay here.”
Grateful.
The word burned.
Nyra lowered her gaze again.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t.”
“Then act like it,” Daniel said sharply. “And stop wasting time outside. If you can’t find a job, at least be useful here.”
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Nyra nodded once. “Yes, uncle.”
Because arguing wouldn’t change anything.
It never did.
That night, Nyra sat on her bed, staring at her phone.
One message.
Unread.
From her sister.
“Did you manage anything…?”
Nyra’s throat tightened.
Her fingers hovered over the screen before slowly typing—
“Not yet. But I will. I promise.”
She hit send.
And closed her eyes.
But sleep refused to come.
The darkness behind her eyelids only made everything louder—the voices, the insults, the weight pressing against her chest. And before she could stop herself, the tears slipped out.
Silent.
Endless.
They traced down her temples into her hair as she lay there, unmoving, staring into nothingness.
“Why…?” she whispered faintly, her voice breaking in the quiet room.
Why her?
Why this life?
Why did everything always feel like a constant fight just to breathe?
Her fingers curled into the bedsheet as if holding onto something invisible—something slipping away.
Fate.
Destiny.
Whatever it was… it had never been kind to her.
A soft sound broke the silence.
Ping.
Nyra blinked, her vision still blurred with tears. For a moment, she ignored it. But the notification came again, pulling her attention.
Slowly, she reached for her phone.
Her heart wasn’t expecting anything.
Not anymore.
But the moment her eyes scanned the message—
She froze.
It was from the café she had visited a week ago.
“We’re pleased to inform you that you have been selected…”
Her breath hitched.
She sat up abruptly, wiping her tears as she read it again.
And again.
Just to be sure it was real.
They had hired her.
Not only that—the salary mentioned was enough.
Enough to help.
Enough to send her sister’s college fees.
Enough to survive… for now.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
Fragile.
Almost unfamiliar.
But the tears didn’t stop.
They kept falling, mixing relief with the pain she had been holding in all day. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she let out a shaky breath.
“Thank you…” she whispered, though she didn’t know who she was thanking.
Maybe fate had finally looked at her.
Even if just a little.
After a while, Nyra wiped her face, forcing herself to calm down. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled, steadying her racing heart.
“It’s okay…” she murmured softly. “It’s going to be okay.”
Lying back down, she pulled the thin blanket over herself, her body finally beginning to relax.
But her mind—
It wandered.
Back to earlier.
To him.
The stranger.
The way his voice had cut through the air. The way his eyes had held hers—sharp, unreadable, almost… dangerous.
Nyra frowned slightly.
Why am I thinking about him?
She turned on her side, annoyed at herself.
And yet—
There was something about him.
Something she couldn’t explain.
Like an invisible thread pulling her thoughts back to that moment.
Like a magnet she didn’t understand.
Her brows furrowed.
“What was I even thinking…” she muttered, shaking her head lightly.
He was just a stranger.
Nothing more.
And she had far more important things to focus on.
Her job.
Her sister.
Her life.
Not him.
Not whatever that strange feeling was.
Nyra closed her eyes again, this time forcing her thoughts to settle.
Slowly… gradually…
Exhaustion took over.
And for the first time that day—
Sleep finally found her.
Carrying her into the unknown of the coming morning.
" TO BE CONTINUED "
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Author's note....
This chapter was a little emotional for Nyra… but also a small step forward for her.
What did you feel reading this? 💔
Are you happy she finally got the job? And what do you think about her thoughts about that mysterious stranger…? 👀
Let me know your thoughts in the comments 🤍
Bye bye dear readers......👋👋👋👋
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