"Yeah, that's right. If I remember vividly, Ana couldn't talk to us like this before. Do you want me to rip your tongue out, Ana?!" Becky shouted, her voice sharp with fury.
She was humiliated—and deep down, she blamed Kara for letting it happen.
Ana flinched but stood her ground, voice trembling.
"I'm sorry, but I wasn't talking to all of you. I was talking to Kara."
Becky scoffed.
"Ha! Have you forgotten how this works? If you talk trash about one of us, you talk trash about all of us. Now, do yourself a favor and focus on your own pathetic life."
She shot a burning glare at Kara.
Kara looked spaced out, almost detached from the tension.
"Dude, why didn't you say anything?" Becky asked, visibly annoyed.
Kara looked up, unfazed.
"There was nothing to say."
She calmly reached for her glasses and opened her Geometry textbook, leaving Becky speechless.
The rest of the day dragged by in an odd silence. Kara's group avoided direct confrontation, but the air between them was thick with confusion and judgment.
Kara went home feeling emotionally drained—unsure if she'd made a difference or just created more distance.
When she walked through the front door, Nareen was waiting for her in the living room.
"Kara! How was school?" she asked, then her face dropped. "Oh no, you look upset. What's wrong, baby?"
Kara hesitated for a moment.
"Mum... can you be honest with me?"
Nareen nodded gently.
"Do you think this way of dressing is... awkward?" Kara asked, looking down at herself.
Nareen took a deep breath.
"Sweetie, if I'm being honest—like you asked—this isn't the you I'm used to. I mean, it's a little sudden, going from crop tops, short skirts, ripped jeans… to something that looks like it came from grandma's closet. I figured people at school would be shocked today."
Kara nodded slowly.
"But you, as my mom… do you like it?"
Nareen's eyes softened.
"I do. I really do."
She walked over and took Kara's hands.
"Honestly, the way you dressed and acted before used to break my heart. You were always out at clubs, doing God knows what with your boyfriend, never thinking twice about it. You stopped going to church. I stayed silent because I didn't want to lose you—and I knew you were still grieving your dad.
There were so many nights I wondered what your father would think if he could see you.
Nareen's voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes.
"But today... the way you dressed, the way you spoke to me—it gladdened my heart."
Tears rolled down both their cheeks.
"Still, Kara," Nareen whispered, "I need to know... what's going on?"
Kara stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"I just want to change, Mum. I'm tired of living that kind of life."
They stood there in silence, clinging to each other as the weight of their emotions sank in—mother and daughter finally on the same page.