Cracks in the Porcelain

Siya woke up to the smell of antiseptic and the slow, rhythmic beep of a heart monitor. The white ceiling of the hospital room gradually came into focus.

​She sat up slowly, her mind hazy, memory rushing back in sharp, painful fragments—the locked door, Sooho’s face, her own suffocating scream. She checked herself frantically; she was in a hospital gown, unharmed, but her arm had an IV drip inserted.

​She looked around the quiet room. It was late at night. The chair beside her bed was empty.

​A deep, profound loneliness settled into her bones. She had given her entire life to her family. She had spent every waking hour serving them, sacrificing her own happiness to keep them content. Yet, when she had vanished, when she had ended up in a hospital, there was no one here. The hospital staff had undoubtedly notified her emergency contacts—her home. Yet, not a single member of her family—not her parents, not Vihan, not Priya, or Riya—had bothered to come. To them, her absence was probably just an inconvenience because dinner wasn't served on time.

​The realization broke her. A silent tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another, until she was weeping quietly, her shoulders shaking with the weight of a lifetime of neglect. She felt entirely disposable.

​The door softly clicked open.

​Siya quickly wiped her face, her defensive walls instantly going up. She expected a doctor or a nurse.

​Instead, it was Shiyaan.

​He looked exhausted. His clothes were still damp from the rain, his knuckles were bruised and bandaged, and his eyes were bloodshot with worry. In his hand, he held a paper cup of warm water.

​As soon as he saw her awake, a look of profound relief washed over his face. He walked to the side of the bed, stopping at a respectful distance.

​"You're awake," he said softly, his voice a gentle caress in the quiet room. "Are you feeling okay? Does anything hurt?"

​Siya looked at his bruised knuckles, then at his eyes, which held so much genuine pain and concern for her. The contrast was staggering—her own blood relatives didn't care if she lived or died, but this strange, quiet man had fought for her, saved her, and stayed by her side through the night.

​But her deep-seated fear and her conditioned defense mechanism took over. She couldn't handle this intensity. She couldn't let anyone get close enough to see how broken she truly was. She chose anger as her shield.

​"I am fine," she said, her voice turning sharp, cold, and deliberately rude. "Why are you still here? You should leave. I can take care of myself and go home alone."

​Shiyaan flinched slightly at her harsh tone, but he didn't back away. He set the cup of water on the nightstand. "The doctor said you collapsed due to extreme shock and exhaustion. You need to rest, Miss Siya. And... we need to talk about what happened. Mr. Sooho tried to assault you. We must go to the police and file a formal complaint. The school management needs to know."

​"No!" Siya snapped, her eyes widening in panic. "No police. No complaints. I don't want any drama. I just want to forget it."

​If the story got out, her family would blame her. They would say she brought shame upon the house, that she was careless. They wouldn't understand her trauma; they would only see a scandal that could affect Priya's marriage prospects or Vihan's social standing. She couldn't bear that weight.

​"But he hurt you!" Shiyaan’s voice rose slightly, filled with a protective rage. "He cannot get away with this!"

​"Mind your own business, Shiyaan!" Siya shouted, her voice trembling. "Who are you to tell me what to do? You are just a colleague. Thank you for bringing me to the hospital. To repay you, I will take you out for dinner sometime. Consider the debt settled. Now, please, just go away."

​The words were cruel, designed to cut and push him away.

​Shiyaan stood silent for a long moment. He looked at her defensive posture, the way she clutched the hospital blanket like a shield. He didn't see an arrogant woman; he saw a deeply wounded, terrified soul wrapping herself in thorns to survive. His heart bled for her.

​"Alright," he said softly, bowing his head. "I will leave. Please drink the water."

​He turned and quietly walked out of the room.

​Once he was gone, Siya collapsed back against the pillows, sobbing bitterly. She hated herself for being so mean to the only person who had ever protected her, but fear was a cruel master.

​The next morning, Siya discharged herself and quietly returned to her rented apartment. Unknown to her family, who thought she lived in the school quarters during weekdays, Siya had secretly rented a tiny, modest one-room apartment on the edge of the town to have a tiny sliver of peace away from their constant demands.

​As she unlocked her door, feeling completely hollow, she didn't notice a figure watching her from the shadows of the street below. Shiyaan had followed her from the hospital, keeping a safe distance, ensuring she reached her doorstep without any trouble.

​When he saw the small, rundown building she entered, completely alone, his heart ached. This beautiful, mature, brilliant woman lived like a recluse, rejected by the world.

​Right then, Shiyaan made a decision. He wasn't going to leave her alone in the dark.....

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