Chapter 175: No Longer Alone

My steps felt heavy, as if every inch of this floor was holding back my departure. For three days I gathered my courage, trying to arrange the mess in my heart before finally being able to stand in front of Farah accompanied by Kenn, Dara, and Tomi.

"You’re daydreaming again, Frel," Tomi scolded softly, breaking the silence between us.

"I know," I replied briefly while squeezing the hem of my shirt. "It’s just that ... it feels like the oxygen in this corridor suddenly disappeared."

"Hey, look at me," Dara said gently. "Take a slow breath. One ... two ... three. Don’t rush."

"I’m trying," I murmured quietly. "But my chest feels like something is tying it up."

"It’s okay to feel afraid," Kenn said softly. "What matters is that you’re not facing that fear alone."

In front of that cold iron door, my steps suddenly locked. My heart raced uncontrollably and my fingers began to grow cold. Symptoms I knew very well as the beginning of an anxiety attack.

"Frel? Your hands are shaking badly," Dara whispered anxiously beside me, her face leaning closer toward me.

"So cold," I whispered while staring at my own fingers. "Like my blood stopped flowing."

Suddenly Kenn grabbed my fingers, squeezing them gently but warmly.

"Frel, look at me," he whispered in front of me.

I looked up, finding a pair of Kenn’s eyes looking at me with calming sincerity. He didn’t let go of my hand, instead using his other hand to tidy the strands of hair covering my face.

"You don’t have to do this now if you’re not ready," he said again. His voice was low, as if he was trying to give me a sense of safety. "We can go home. Dara, Tomi, and I are here. We won’t let anyone hurt you again, including those bad memories."

"Kenn is right," Tomi added softly. "We don’t have a schedule to chase. If you want to step back, we’ll step back together."

"But if you want to move forward," Dara added with a firm voice, "we will also stand right behind you."

"I have to," I answered hoarsely. "I need an explanation so I can close this wound."

"Then we will be witnesses to your courage today," Tomi said while crossing his arms over his chest

"And if Farah tries to hurt you again...." Dara clenched her fists. "I’ll be the first to drag her out."

Tomi let out a small sigh. "Dara, this isn’t a boxing ring."

"I know," Dara replied quickly. "But it’s still annoying."

Kenn nodded slowly, understanding my stubbornness. He didn’t force me to turn back, but he pulled me into a brief and tight embrace. I could smell the scent of his calming perfume, something that always soothed me whenever my world was shaking.

"Listen to my heartbeat," Kenn whispered softly. "If it beats calmly, you can calm down too."

I fell silent for a moment in his embrace. "It’s beating fast too," I murmured softly.

Kenn chuckled quietly. "Yes, because I’m worried about you too," he whispered near my ear. "I will stand right behind this door. I won’t move even a single inch. If the atmosphere starts to feel suffocating, if you feel like you can’t breathe, call my name. I will come in immediately and take you out of there."

"Seriously?" I asked quietly.

"One hundred percent serious," he answered without hesitation.

He released his embrace, then cupped both of my cheeks with his large palms. He looked at me as if I were the most precious and the most fragile thing in this world.

"Remember, Frel. You are no longer a little girl facing your fears alone. I am here. You are strong."

"You always say that," I murmured softly.

"Because it’s always true," Kenn answered firmly.

After Kenn’s gentleness eased a little of my fear, Tomi stepped forward. Holding my shoulder while putting on a very serious face, yet full of sincerity.

"Listen, Frel," Tomi cleared his throat, trying to shift the atmosphere so it would not be too melancholic. "Inside there, you are the one who must hold the control. She has no power to make you afraid. Just think of this as your way of throwing away the trash that has been piling up in your heart for too long."

He smiled faintly, trying to pass his courage on to me. "If you feel short of breath, remember that we are here ready to take you to eat something good or just go around the city until you feel better. You are not alone, understand?"

"We can even go eat twice," he added. "Once to celebrate your courage, and once again to celebrate because you didn’t faint in there."

"Why do you have to bring up good food?" I scoffed softly, even though the corner of my lips lifted slightly.

"Because good food is a powerful move to bring your spirit back," Tomi answered with a wink.

"He’s right," Dara chimed in. "Ice cream also counts as therapy."

"I don’t remember a doctor ever prescribing ice cream," Kenn said flatly.

"Now you know," Dara replied casually.

Suddenly Dara and I laughed, while Kenn smiled faintly as he gently ruffled the top of my head.

Dara, who had been standing beside me, immediately hugged me from the side. She held my hand tightly, intertwining our fingers.

"Frel, you are the strongest girl I know," she whispered with a tone trembling with emotion. "This time you’re meeting Farah only to seek the truth. So don’t go easy on her if she starts twisting the facts." Dara briefly kissed my cheek, then clenched her fist in the air. "Stay strong! We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere."

Seeing the support from Kenn who was protective, Tomi who was calming, and Dara who was igniting my spirit, the burden on my shoulders suddenly felt lighter. I took a deep breath, looked at the door in front of me for the last time, then nodded to them.

"Thank you," I whispered to the three of them.

Kenn, who had been staring at me intently, immediately stepped forward and opened the door for me, giving one last encouraging nod before I stepped into the room.

"I’ll go in first," I said softly as the door began to open.

"I’m here, right behind this wall." Kenn reassured me once again.

His presence behind the door was the only reason why my legs did not waver when I finally had to face Farah directly.

As I stepped inside, I knew that whatever happened in that room, I would always have a place to return to in the embrace of the people who truly loved me.

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