Chapter 5: What Aria Never Said

THE GIRL WHO HELD EVERYTHING TOGETHER

Aria (POV)

The hospital hallway felt colder tonight. Maybe it was the fluorescent lights, maybe it was the way the doctor’s words from yesterday kept echoing in the back of my skull like a broken record.

Stage three.

Worsening.

Time-sensitive.

I tucked those words into my pocket like I always do with bad news. Hide it. Fold it. Pretend it’s small.

Doctor: “Aria, you shouldn’t keep skipping treatments. Your body’s fighting a war.”

Aria: “Yeah… but people at home can’t know.”

He looked at me with that disappointed, fatherly stare that makes patients feel eight years old.

Doctor: “You’re not a burden.”

If only it were that simple.

I walked out of the hospital with my sweater sleeves covering the bruises on my arms, holding my breath like it could hold my life together too.

When I got home, Mom and Dad were arguing about bills again. My sister was in her room blasting music to pretend she didn’t hear. Ethan… well, he was the only thing in this house that made me exhale again.

Except tonight, even he felt far away.

---

Living Room

Mom: “Aria, can you take the evening shift at the bakery tomorrow? They’re short-staffed.”

Aria: “Tomorrow? I… have somewhere to be.”

Mom: “Somewhere? Aria, we need the extra money.”

A tiny knife. The kind you don’t see until it pricks.

Aria: “Sure. Okay. I’ll do it.”

Because that was my job.

Patch the cracks.

Hold the pieces.

Even if I was crumbling myself.

---

Outside, by the gate

Ethan was waiting there, leaning on his bike, hair messy, smile soft. My chest actually unclenched for a second.

Ethan: “I missed you today.”

Aria: “I was… busy.”

Ethan: “You okay? You look pale.”

I almost told him. My throat even started forming the words.

I have cancer, Ethan. I’m scared. Stay with me.

But the moment I opened my mouth, my sister called from the doorway.

Sister: “Ate, Mom wants you again.”

Ethan glanced toward the house, then back at me, something unreadable in his eyes.

Ethan: “You don’t have to carry everything alone, you know?”

But I smiled. The practiced one. The safe one.

Aria: “I’m fine. Really.”

We both knew it was a lie.

---

Later That Night

My phone buzzed.

A message from Ethan.

Ethan (text): I wish you’d talk to me. I feel like you’re slipping away.

The ceiling stared back at me in the dark while my heart cracked a little more.

Aria (text): I’m just tired today. Goodnight.

Another lie for the collection.

I pressed my hand to my ribs, where the ache lived now. A deep, burning pain that would only get worse. I closed my eyes and whispered the truth I couldn’t tell anyone:

Aria (whispering): “Please… let me make it until their lives get easier.”

I knew the universe wasn’t listening.

But I said it anyway.

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