AFTER THE STORM
Elliana woke up to quiet.
No alarms.
No messages.
No chaos.
Just the dull ache in her chest reminding her that everything had changed.
She stared at the ceiling for a long time before sitting up. The house felt heavier without her dad's footsteps echoing through the halls. He had left early for work, probably to avoid another awkward conversation.
She understood.
They were both pretending to be strong.
Downstairs, her little sister was already eating cereal, legs swinging off the chair.
"Did you sleep?" she asked softly.
Elliana forced a smile. "A little."
Her sister studied her face. "You're sad."
Elliana hesitated… then nodded.
"I am."
"But you're brave," the girl added. "Daddy said you helped him catch a bad man."
Elliana froze.
Bad man.
She swallowed hard.
"He wasn't all bad."
Her sister frowned in confusion, then shrugged and went back to her cereal.
Elliana grabbed her bag and left for school.
---
At the garage, everything felt wrong without Leon.
The engines still roared.
Tools still clanked.
But his corner was empty.
The boss sighed when someone asked about him.
"Made his choices. Now he's paying for them."
Elliana passed by after classes, stopping across the street.
She didn't go in.
She couldn't.
Her phone buzzed.
Samantha: You okay?
Elliana: I don't know.
Samantha: Wanna talk?
Elliana: Not yet.
She put her phone away and kept walking.
---
That evening, her father came home late.
Dinner sat untouched between them.
"You hate me," he finally said.
Elliana looked up.
"I don't."
"You looked at me like I was the villain this morning."
She exhaled shakily.
"You did your job. I know that."
"Then why does it feel like I lost you too?" he asked quietly.
Her eyes burned.
"I lost someone," she whispered.
"Just… not the way you think."
He reached across the table, taking her hand.
"I didn't want to hurt you."
"I know," she said. "But knowing doesn't make it easier."
Silence stretched.
Then her dad said softly,
"Leon admitted everything. About your mother."
Elliana's breath caught.
"He told the truth?" she asked.
"He did," her father replied.
"He's not proud of it. But he owned it."
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"I loved him," she whispered.
Her father squeezed her hand.
"I know."
---
That night, Elliana stood by her window again.
Same street.
Same silence.
But Leon was gone.
She closed her eyes.
"I hope you change," she whispered to the empty air.
"I hope you become better… even if I'm not there to see it."
For the first time, she didn't cry.
She just breathed.
And somewhere deep inside,
she felt the beginning of healing.