The hallway was quiet, with only the faint echo of their footsteps filling the space. Aekira walked beside Shenan, her gaze wandering over the intricately carved walls and the soft glow of the light fixtures that lined the corridor. Despite the grandeur, her mind was elsewhere, replaying the tense moment in the living room when Zakis fell silent, and her family's expressions shifted. The question gnawed at her—what had caused that sudden change?
Aekira glanced up at her mother, noticing the subtle furrow in Shenan's brow. Shenan's usual warmth was replaced by a distant, contemplative look, as if she were lost in a labyrinth of her own thoughts. Aekira hesitated, biting her lip. Should she ask about what happened? Was it about her other siblings, the ones who weren't present? She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than what she'd been told.
'Should I ask?' Aekira thought, her eyes lingering on Shenan's face. She could feel the unspoken tension, the weight of whatever secrets lay between them. Finally, she decided to speak up.
"Mom?" Aekira's voice was soft, almost hesitant. Shenan blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, and looked down at her daughter with a gentle smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Shenan asked, her tone kind but still carrying an undertone of distraction.
Aekira paused, trying to find the right words. "Back in the living room... everyone seemed... I don't know, kind of tense. Is everything okay?" She kept her gaze steady, hoping to catch a glimpse of the truth in Shenan's expression.
Shenan sighed softly, her smile fading into a more serious look. "Oh, Aekira... There are some things about our family that are... complicated," she began, her voice careful, almost as if she were tiptoeing around the truth. "Your siblings... some of them have responsibilities that keep them away, and others..." She trailed off, struggling to find the right way to explain.
Aekira felt a knot form in her stomach. She wanted to know more, but she also sensed her mother's reluctance. "Are they okay? I mean... are they in trouble?" Aekira asked, her curiosity mingled with a touch of worry.
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Shenan's eyes softened, and she reached out to gently squeeze Aekira's shoulder. "They're not in trouble, darling. It's just... life in our family isn't always simple. Some of them have their own kingdoms to protect, and some... have chosen paths that are hard to understand." Her words were careful, but Aekira could hear the sadness behind them.
Aekira nodded slowly, absorbing the information. There was clearly more to the story, but she could tell her mother wasn't ready to share everything. "I just... I want to know them, you know? All of them," Aekira admitted, her voice tinged with a quiet determination.
Shenan smiled again, this time more genuinely, and pulled Aekira into a gentle hug. "And you will, in time. Just remember, no matter what paths they've chosen, they're still your family. And we're all here for each other."
Aekira clenched her fists slightly, her mind a swirl of conflicting thoughts. 'Okay... now I REALLY want to know,' she thought, feeling the burning curiosity flare even stronger. But at the same time... a hint of uncertainty tugged at her heart. She glanced up at Shenan, who continued to walk beside her, her expression now a little lighter but still carrying traces of whatever weighed on her mind.
'But at the same time… what if I'm not ready for the answers?' Aekira wondered. The idea of uncovering whatever hidden struggles her siblings faced felt both thrilling and daunting. She had only just begun to navigate this new life, and the last thing she wanted was to stumble into something she couldn't handle. The unknown loomed ahead, exciting yet unnerving.
Aekira bit her lip, her pace slowing slightly. 'What if knowing changes everything?' She'd already seen how one word, one sudden shift in mood, could alter the atmosphere in a room. It was like stepping into a story that had been unfolding long before she arrived, and every new piece of information felt like a plot twist she hadn't seen coming.
She caught her mother's eye again, and Shenan gave her a reassuring smile, as if sensing the storm of questions swirling inside Aekira's head. It was comforting, but it also reminded her of the walls that still stood between them—the unspoken truths that lingered in the spaces of their conversations.
'Maybe… maybe it's better to wait. I guess...' Aekira exhaled quietly, resolving to be patient, even if every fiber of her being was urging her to dive headfirst into the mysteries of her family. She knew she'd have to be careful, to tread lightly until she was ready to face whatever was hidden behind those closed doors.