After Zayan left, the house felt unusually silent.
Anisa stood by the window for a long time, her fingers brushing against the ring on her hand. A thought slowly took shape in her mind, one she had pushed away for four long years. 💭
Maybe it's time, she thought.
Maybe it was time to go back home, to see her family again, to apologize if she had been wrong.
By late afternoon, she found herself standing at the familiar gate.
The moment the door opened and they saw her, happiness flashed across all three faces. Kirana was the first to react, she ran forward without hesitation, wrapping Anisa in a tight embrace, her laughter spilling out freely. 😌
"I missed you so much," Kirana whispered.
Their mother stood nearby, quiet and composed, her emotions carefully restrained. Her eyes lingered on Anisa longer than necessary, as if memorizing her all over again.
Their father said nothing at first. Instead, he began asking questions; about her health, her work, her life, never directly expressing his feelings, yet trying to understand her through careful, indirect words. 🗣
Later, Anisa sat on the floor with Kirana, the chessboard laid out between them. It felt strangely comforting, like stepping back into a childhood moment frozen in time.
As they played, their mother joined them and suddenly noticed the ring on Anisa's finger.
"That's a beautiful ring," she said gently. "Is it new?" 💍
Anisa smiled, her face lighting up. She happily told them about her anniversary, about how Zayan had gifted it to her, her words filled with warmth and pride.
Her father leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the ring. 👀
"But… isn't it a little loose on your finger?" he asked quietly. "Doesn't your husband know your ring size?"
The question lingered in the air.
Anisa's smile faltered. She lowered her eyes, choosing silence over explanation. Without answering, she focused back on the chessboard, pretending not to hear the unease behind his words. 🙂
The rest of the evening passed gently, yet uneasily. As dusk approached, Anisa stood to leave.
Before night fell, she returned home , carrying both comfort and confusion in her heart, the weight of unanswered questions resting quietly beside the ring on her finger. 😐