It was late at night. The air was cold—sharp enough to bite through skin.
A strange stillness filled the winter air, the kind that sinks deep into your chest when you breathe.
She walked through the quiet hallway, dressed in soft drawstring pants and a light shirt, a classic coat draped neatly over her shoulders.
A bag hung loosely from her shoulder, and the sound of her heels echoed in the silence each step slicing through the calm.
Her long hair fell freely down her back, shimmering with a faint reddish hue under the warm light.
The muted blue and beige tones of her outfit blended perfectly with her lavender eyes—cold, calm, and beautifully distant.
She rang the bell.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Maryam stood there, her eyes carrying a quiet disapproval.
"You took too long, Ilyana,"
she said, her voice calm but laced with mild irritation.
Ilyana exhaled softly, removing her bag.
"Mom, I had a little extra work today.
Didn't realize it got this late."
She smiled faintly and stepped inside.
The house was warm, but the air still carried a trace of tension.
Maryam turned toward her.
"We were supposed to have dinner together tonight.
Your dad's upset."
Ilyana sighed lightly.
"Oh… I'll talk to him.
Please just have my dinner sent to my room.
I'll freshen up and come to you in a bit."
She climbed the stairs quietly, turned the key in her door, and disappeared inside.
Moments later, she returned—fresh-faced, dressed in a simple blue trouser and shirt.
She walked into Zakariya and Maryam's room
and sat on the couch beside them, quietly eating.
Zakariya sat across from her, his face calm but stern, his silence heavier than any words.
Ilyana looked at him with a soft smile.
"Dad… please don't be mad. I really didn't notice the time."
He glanced up at her—one sharp look,
then went back to his food without a word.
That was his way.
When he was angry, he didn't shout.
He just… withdrew behind silence.
Ilyana reached across the table, gently touching his hand.
"I promise, tomorrow we'll have lunch and dinner together.
Please, don't stay upset."
The corner of Zakariya's lips softened slightly.
He reached forward and pulled her into a brief hug.
"Promise me you'll spend the whole day with us tomorrow?"
His voice was deep, almost tired.
Ilyana nodded quickly.
"I promise, Dad."
They talked for a while longer—small things, soft laughter,
a warmth that filled the quiet space between them.
Then, when the clock struck midnight,
she excused herself and went back to her room.
The moment she entered, the weight of the day fell over her.
She sank onto the bed, her long hair spilling over the pillow like silk.
Her hand reached instinctively for the chain around her neck—a golden nackless with a small amethyst stone at its center.
It glimmered faintly in the dim light, like it held something alive inside.
She traced the edges of the stone with her fingertips, her voice barely a whisper.
"I wish… everything could just stay like this."
Her eyes slowly closed.
Silence wrapped around the room.
Then—a soft gust of wind slipped through the air.
The curtains fluttered once…and the window creaked open on its own.