I wake up in the middle of the night, my heart racing, unable to fall back asleep.
The silence of the chalet is heavy, almost suffocating.
My throat is dry.
I need water… or maybe just to move.
To escape my thoughts.
I get up slowly, without turning on the light, and leave my room.
My steps are slow, cautious.
Descending the stairs, a faint light catches my attention.
The living room.
Voices.
I freeze.
They're talking.
Dad.
Mom.
Mina.
I stay in the shadows, my heart pounding, unsure why I'm listening.
I wasn't supposed to hear this.
— I don't want to lose her… murmurs Dad, his voice breaking like I've never heard before.
My breath catches.
— Esther is everything I have… he continues.
Everything we have.
If this marriage is going to destroy her, I refuse.
I refuse to sacrifice my daughter.
I bring a hand to my mouth.
— Alex… says Mom, her voice trembling.
Do you think I don't suffer?
Do you think it doesn't tear my heart apart?
She pauses, her voice choked with emotion:
— But if I must choose between her happiness and her safety…
I will always choose to protect her.
Even if she hates me for it.
Tears well up in my eyes.
I didn't realize my words had hurt them so much.
I feel guilty. Terribly guilty.
Mina approaches them.
I see her gently place a hand on Mom's shoulder, then on Dad's.
— You are good parents, she says softly.
You've always made the best decisions for her.
Even when it hurt. Even when she didn't understand.
Dad speaks again, his voice shaky, laden with tears:
— Mina… she rejected us.
She never did that.
Even when she was angry. Even when she pouted…
Mina shakes her head gently.
— She doesn't hate you.
She's just broken. And angry.
But she loves you. Deeply.
Dad runs a hand over his face, as if trying to wipe away his tears.
— Mina… she—
— Alex, she interrupts softly, trust your daughter.
This marriage is meant to protect her, not to trap her.
Trust her.
A heavy silence falls.
I feel something inside me shift.
I should never have spoken to them that way.
They weren't trying to control me.
They were trying to save me.
And I… I pushed them away.
Hurt them. Accused them.
I slowly step back and climb to my room without making a sound.
Once alone, I sit on my bed.
Dad's words echo in my mind.
"I don't want to lose her."
This marriage…
What if it's not a prison?
What if it's truly a shield?
They've always been there.
Always.
Even when I didn't understand.
Even when I was angry with them.
I close my eyes.
A tear slips down my cheek.
I have been unfair.
After long minutes of reflection, I stand.
My legs tremble, but I know what I must do.
I go back downstairs.
They're still there.
When they see me, Mom immediately rises, worried.
Dad too.
— Esther… he murmurs.
I step forward. My voice shakes.
— I… I'm sorry.
They freeze.
Then I move toward Dad and throw myself into his arms.
Tears flow without restraint.
— I hurt you… I know.
I spoke in anger… because I was scared.
But I know you always wanted what was best for me.
Mom's eyes shine with tears.
— My dear…
Dad gently strokes my hair.
— You are the most precious thing I have.
Your mother and you…
You are the only ones I would fight for against everything and everyone.
I take a deep breath.
— If you think this marriage can protect me…
Then I accept.
Silence hangs in the air.
Mom steps closer, her voice trembling:
— Esther… are you sure?
I nod, tears in my eyes.
— Not because I'm forced.
But because I trust you.
Mom joins us in an embrace, unable to hold back her tears.
And Mina watches, eyes shining, silent… yet moved.
After the embrace, I slowly return to my room.
My heart feels heavy.
Not painful like before… but tired. Exhausted.
I close the door behind me and lean against it.
My legs almost give way.
I slide onto the bed and stare blankly.
Everything swirls in my head.
My parents.
The marriage.
Tony.
And Malik…
Especially Malik.
Minutes pass. I don't even have the strength to cry.
Then there's a gentle knock at the door.
— Esther… it's me.
Mina's voice.
— Come in…
She enters and closes the door behind her.
She studies me for a long moment, as if trying to read me.
Then she sits beside me.
— You're not okay, she says softly.
It's not just the marriage.
I lower my eyes. My hands tremble.
— Mina…
My voice cracks.
— I discovered something.
She doesn't speak.
She waits.
Then I speak.
I tell her everything.
The hotel.
The half-open door.
The voices.
Every word I heard. Every sentence that destroyed me.
— He said I was… a mission, I whisper.
A mission to seduce me.
To make me vulnerable.
And then destroy… me and my father.
My throat tightens. I can barely breathe.
— Everything was fake, Mina…
His looks.
His promises. Even when he said he loved me…
Tears finally fall.
Silent. Bitter.
Mina gently places her hand on mine.
Her voice is calm, but firm.
— Esther… look at me.
I lift my eyes.
— It's not your fault.
It's his.
Loving is never a weakness.
Trusting is not either.
I shake my head.
— But it hurts so much…
I feel like something inside me has been ripped away.
She squeezes my hand a little tighter.
— Betrayal always does that.
It shatters what we thought was solid.
But it also reveals a truth:
those who truly love you never manipulate you.
I close my eyes.
— And now…
I feel surrounded by lies.
Even the marriage…
I'm scared, Mina.
Scared I won't know who to trust anymore.
She takes a deep breath before responding.
— Esther, listen to me carefully.
Your parents never played with your heart.
They were afraid.
And when parents are afraid, they sometimes make difficult choices…
but never cruel ones.
She pauses.
— Malik chose you as a target.
Tony never sought you out.
Yet he's the one willing to protect you without asking anything in return.
Her words unsettle me.
— You must not accept this marriage out of fear, she continues.
Nor out of obligation.
But because you choose to rise.
To no longer let anyone break you.
I breathe deeply.
— Do you think I can still rise… after all this?
Mina smiles softly, eyes glistening.
— You're already standing, Esther.
Even when you tremble.
Even when you cry.
Your strength isn't never falling.
It's continuing to love without becoming hard.
I rest my head against her shoulder.
— I hurt so much…
She wraps me in her arms.
— I know, my dear.
But this pain will not define you.
It will transform you.
I stay there, against her, breathing slowly.
I feel a little less alone.
One thing is certain: I will never fall in love with anyone again.
Never.