MK stood at the kitchen counter like it was the edge of a cliff.
Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted the glass of water to her lips—again. Fourth glass. Maybe fifth. She had lost count. Each gulp felt like she was trying to drown the words stuck in her throat.
Across from her, Ruth leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching her daughter with the sharp, knowing eyes only a mother could have.
"MK," she said gently. "What's going on?"
MK swallowed hard. Instead of answering, she lifted the glass again.
Ruth sighed. "You're going to turn into water if you keep drinking like that."
Inside MK's head, chaos roared.
Just say it.
Tell her.
You're different.
You like women.
She had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. In the mirror. In the car. Lying awake at night. Every version sounded brave in her head. Every version crumbled in real life.
"Mom, I—I—I—"
Her courage collapsed.
MK spun around and bolted toward the hallway.
"I need to use the toilet!" she blurted, already halfway to the bathroom.
The door closed behind her with a soft click, but inside, MK pressed her back against it like she was holding herself together.
"What is wrong with you?" she whispered fiercely to her reflection. "Just tell her already. She's your mother."
She splashed cold water on her face, staring at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were wide. Scared. But also tired.
Tired of hiding.
Tired of pretending.
Tired of carrying a secret that felt heavier every day.
"Let's do this," she muttered.
She stepped out of the bathroom.
And instantly lost her nerve again.
Ruth was sitting at the table now, watching her with concern that bordered on suspicion.
MK turned sideways, unable to face her.
"Just say it already," Ruth said suddenly. "Are you pregnant?"
MK spun around. "What? No! Why would you even think that?"
"You're leaking nervousness," Ruth replied calmly. "It's written all over your face. And the only thing I can think of that would scare you this much is pregnancy."
MK laughed—too loud, too fast.
"Am not pregnant."
Ruth raised an eyebrow,in suspicion.2
"Mom, I'm not pregnant. I don't even like men. How would I be pregnant?"
The words fell into the room like shattered glass.
Silence.
Not the soft kind. The kind that rang in MK's ears.
Ruth stared at her.
MK's breath caught. She hadn't meant to say it like that. She had planned a speech. Something gentle. Something careful. Not this.
"Oh," Ruth finally said.
Just… oh.
"That's it?" MK asked weakly.
"What do you want me to say?"
MK opened her mouth. Closed it. Tried again.
"Mom, I—I—"
Ruth suddenly sat straighter. "You're not pregnant. You don't like men. Which means you like women. And as your mother, I already know. You like that girl, shriya. You want my blessing. Wait—no—you want to marry her."
MK's jaw dropped.
"Yes," she whispered. "Mom, I like Shriya."
Ruth clapped her hands together. "So when is the wedding? I need to go shopping. I don't even have a dress!"
MK blinked. "Wait. You're… okay with it?"
Ruth frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You're okay with me liking women?"
She shrugged. "You've liked them since you were a child."
MK felt like the floor had shifted beneath her. "I did?"
"You followed girls around instead of boys. You stared at actresses on TV like they were miracles. I knew before you did."
MK laughed, eyes shining. "Then why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Because some truths have to be discovered," Ruth said softly. "Not forced."
MK stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her mother. The hug was tight. Emotional. Healing.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too. Now—enough crying. When is the wedding?"
MK pulled back, smiling sadly. "We're not together anymore. It's… complicated. Maybe someday."
She told her everything.
Two days later, she was sitting in her car, hands resting on the steering wheel, heart lighter than it had been in years.
She typed into her GPS:
Skyreach Training Center.
On the passenger seat lay a bundle of flowers—slightly crushed, slightly ridiculous.
She had watched too many movies lately. But they all said the same thing.
Grand gestures mattered.
---
Inside Skyreach, Shriya walked through the corridor toward the office, clipboard tucked under her arm. Through the glass windows, she noticed a familiar figure approaching the building.
Her heart sank.
"Not again," she murmured. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
She was about to turn away when an idea sparked in her mind.
A dangerous one.
She turned sharply and headed in the opposite direction.
Ben was sitting near the lounge, scrolling through his phone.
"Hey, Ben."
He looked up. "Shriya."
"Remember that girl from the restaurant?"
His face lit up instantly. "Yeah."
"She liked you too."
Ben stood. "Stop playing. Are the others hiding somewhere?"
"No," Shriya said calmly. "She's here. With flowers."
Ben's jaw dropped. "Where?"
"Hold on," Shriya added quickly. "If she asks about me—tell her I'm not here."
"Why would she ask about you?"
"Because girls don't like making the first move," Shriya said smoothly. "So they pretend they're here for someone else."
Ben nodded. "Smart."
"Remember," Shriya said firmly. "I'm not here."
---
MK stepped inside Skyreach, nerves buzzing like electricity.
She scanned the lobby.
Then heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, MK."
She turned. "Ben… hi. Do you know where I can find Shriya?"
Ben's eyes widened slightly.
So she was right.
"Oh," he said. "Shriya? She's on the field today."
"The field?"
"Yeah. You know… in the sky. Training dives."
MK's heart skipped. "She trains people to dive?"
"She's incredible," Ben said proudly. "I'm a trainer too. If you ever want to try, I can take you."
"You are?"
"Yes," he said firmly.
MK smiled. "Wow!,That actually sounds amazing."
"Come on," Ben said. "I'll show you around."
She followed him, excitement rushing through her veins.
As they walked, MK glanced upward through the massive glass ceiling where the sky stretched endlessly above them.
I wonder if I'm afraid of heights, she thought.