Awakening Hearts

It was evening, and she was completely ready for the party. She was wearing a blue gown that accentuated her curves. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders. To match her outfit, she wore silver heels and minimal makeup. Although she was not conventionally beautiful, today she looked pretty.

She was the only daughter of Sophia Whitmore, a successful lawyer who had quit her job and was now living with her sister, Olivia Whitmore, Lyra's aunt. However, Lyra wasn't very close to her aunt. Her only friend was Wren. She didn't ask her mother about her father because she knew some topics were not to be discussed, and she preferred it that way.

Lyra was very young when her father left them. At the time, her mother, Sophia, was a mess, and it was only Wren and Olivia who were there to support them. Although Lyra doesn't remember much about her father, she sometimes feels a deep yearning for his love. Both Sophia and Olivia love her dearly, but Lyra never felt particularly close to them, even though Sophia was her mother.

Lyra was twenty-five years old and had graduated in English literature. After graduating, she chose to be a full-time writer. Once she saved enough, she moved out of her mother's home, despite protests from both her mother and her aunt. Although Lyra sometimes felt like a burden, her mother didn't leave her alone. Wren was sent with her. Even though her new house wasn't far from her mother's house, she still felt free in her own space. The house wasn't big—only two rooms, a kitchen, and a washroom—but it was enough for her.

The Whitmore house was bustling with sounds. Her mother hadn't invited many people, just her old friends and acquaintances, but it still filled the house. Lyra had already sent her gift through Wren, so she didn't have much to hold apart from her phone. She didn't use her phone much, though, because honestly, who would she call anyway?

Just as she exited her house, her phone started ringing. 

"Wren, I am on my way. No need to scold me. Besides, they're all Mama's friends anyway it's not like they're going to mind me..." she said while signalling a taxi to stop. 

"Come quickly; your mother is waiting for you."

"Alright, I'm in the taxi. I'll be there in twenty minutes." She cut the call and directed the driver.

*************

It had been an hour since the party ended, and her mother, Sophia, hadn't left her alone for one moment. 

"Mama, it's your day. Don't fuss over me, please. It's not like I'm going to get hurt." Her aunt looked at her sympathetically, as if she knew her plight. "Save me," she mouthed.

Olivia smiled and went to them. "Come on, Sophie, let the child breathe. You didn't even let her sit with the ladies."

"Why is it so hard for you to understand that I miss my sweet girl?"

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Come on, Mama, it's not like you haven't seen me in weeks."

"Yeah, but it's not the same anymore. You don't live with us anymore."

"Are you feeling lonely, Mama? Auntie, you should look for someone for Mama. She really needs someone in her life," she said, glancing at her aunt Olivia.

Olivia and Wren both chuckled, while Sophia smacked her on the head.

"Ouch! A moment ago, you said you missed me, and now you're smacking my head."

"I don't have time for your nonsense." Sophia then got up and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, while the rest of them laughed.

After a while, Olivia asked, "Are you okay, Lyra?"

"Yeah, I am. Why would you ask that?"

"Um, nothing. Just checking up on you."

Lyra felt uncomfortable with the question, so she said, "I'll go help Mama in the kitchen."

"Wren, is she really okay?"

"Sometimes she'll feel lonely, but nothing has happened so far. However, she suspects that Sophia is hiding something from her."

"I've told Sophia to compose herself in front of Lyra again and again, but she won't listen. We can't risk..." Her sentence was cut off by Lyra.

"Dinner is ready. Come on, everyone."

Olivia's expression softened as she looked at the mother-daughter duo setting up the table together. 

"Pray that nothing happens this time, Wren."

"It won't. We will protect her this time." They both looked at each other and nodded.

*****************

At her mother's insistence, Lyra and Wren stayed with Sophia and Olivia, as Lyra didn't want to upset her mother. After dinner, Lyra went to her room. It was just the same as before. Her room in her own house was inspired by this one in her mother's house. She had spent her whole life in this house, and now coming back to her old room felt a bit strange.

She walked over to the library section, which was completely identical to the one in her own house. The only thing that might have changed were the books. She was looking for something to read when her eyes fell on a journal. Its cover was a shiny black, and it looked like someone had polished it recently. Lyra, as if in a trance, went to that section. She pulled out the journal and started reading it.