AVA'S CONFESSION

Ava hesitated, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her shirt.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

Could she really say it out loud?

Michelle waited patiently, her gaze warm and reassuring."

It’s okay, Ava. I’m here."

Ava swallowed hard. "It’s my parents,"

she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

Michelle nodded, encouraging her to go on.

"They fight all the time," Ava continued, staring at the floor.

"It’s like…....

our house is filled with anger.

No matter what I do, it’s never enough.

My mom yells at me for everything,

and I feel like I’m just… stuck.

Like I don’t belong anywhere."

Her voice cracked, and she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

She quickly wiped them away, embarrassed.

Michelle squeezed her hand tighter.

"Ava, you don’t have to hide how you feel. It’s okay to cry."

Ava sniffed and shook her head.

"I don’t want to be weak."

Michelle frowned.

"Feeling sad doesn’t make you weak. You’ve been carrying all this alone, haven’t you?"

Ava nodded slowly. "I thought… if I told you, you’d see me differently. Maybe you’d think I was broken or too much to handle."

Michelle’s expression softened.

"Ava, you’re my best friend. Nothing could ever change that.

You’re not broken. You’re strong."

Ava let out a shaky breath.

"I just wish things were different.

I wish my mom would love me the way your mom loves you."

Michelle’s heart ached for her friend.

She had always known Ava’s mom was strict,

but she had never realized just how much pain it caused her.

"You deserve love, Ava,"

Michelle said firmly.

"You deserve to feel safe and happy. And I promise, you’ll always have me."

Ava gave a small, grateful smile. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel alone.

*A NIGHT TO REMEMBER*

Wanting to lighten the mood, Michelle jumped up from the bed. "Okay, enough sad stuff. Tonight is about fun! What do you want to do first?"

Ava laughed softly.

"Well, we did plan a movie marathon."

Michelle grinned. "Horror or comedy?"

Ava tilted her head. "How about both?

A scary one first, then something funny so we don’t have nightmares."

Michelle nodded.

"Perfect. Let’s get snacks!"

They rushed to the kitchen, where Michelle’s mom had already set out popcorn, chips, and cookies.

"Enjoy, girls!"

she said with a smile.

Back in the room, they built a blanket fort, dimmed the lights, and started their movie night. They screamed at the jump scares, threw popcorn at each other, and laughed until their stomachs hurt.

For the first time in a long time, Ava felt

free.

*A LATE-NIGHT CONVERSATION*

Hours later, as they lay in their sleeping bags, staring at the ceiling,

Michelle spoke softly.

"Ava?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think things will get better?"

Ava thought about it. About her parents, her home, her father’s words.

"I don’t know,"

she admitted.

"But for the first time, I feel like I can breathe. And I think… as long as I have people like you in my life, maybe I’ll be okay."

Michelle smiled. "You will be. No matter what happens, you’ll always have me."

Ava turned to her, her heart feeling lighter than it had in months.

"Thank you, Michelle."

"Always."

And with that, Ava finally drifted into the most peaceful sleep she’d had in a long, long time.