"The body heals in silence.
But the mind—
It screams in echoes."
The ride home was quiet.
No one spoke.
The streets outside passed in a blur, but Ryu wasn't looking.
She was staring at nothing — except what played inside her head.
The ball.
The laughter.
The hit.
And him... standing there.
Watching.
The house was filled with silence the moment they entered.
Her aunt rushed forward, her face pale with worry. "Come inside, sit down—"
Ryu gently pulled away, saying nothing, her footsteps soft on the floor.
Her grandmother came from the hallway, her hands shaking as she reached toward her.
Her uncle stepped forward too, trying to meet her eyes, but she didn't stop.
She walked past all of them.
Straight to her room.
She closed the door.
And locked it.
She stood in the middle of the room, barely breathing.
The scene played again.
And again.
And again.
Every second, every sound, every image—on repeat.
The ball flying.
The impact.
The world tilting.
And then blood.
She dropped to her knees.
Her head in her hands.
Her breath grew shallow.
Fast.
Panic bloomed like poison.
Her fingers fumbled at her drawer, searching for her medicine—shaking, blind with fear.
Where was it?
Why couldn't she remember where she kept it?
The memory loop got louder.
Her heartbeat raced.
Her lungs fought for air.
And then—
Her scream broke through the walls.
Raw. Loud. From somewhere deep inside.
She cried — not soft sobs, but broken, violent weeping.
Outside the door, her aunt was the first to react. She ran forward and knocked hard.
"Ryu?! Open the door! Please!"
Her uncle followed, trying not to panic. "Open up. We're here. It's okay now!"
Her grandmother's voice trembled behind them. "Please answer us..."
But then — the worst thing happened.
The noise stopped.
No more crying.
No movement.
No response.
Just silence.
And that terrified them more than the screaming.
Her uncle didn't wait.
He stepped back and threw his weight against the door — once, twice — until the lock broke.
The door swung open.
And there she was.
Curled on the floor.
Unmoving.
Tears stained her cheeks.
Her breath was weak. Unsteady.
Unconscious.
They rushed to her.
Her aunt was crying.
Her uncle lifted her carefully.
Her grandmother covered her mouth in shock.
[Later – Hospital Room]
White lights.
Beeping monitors.
Sterile air.
Ryu stirred slowly, her eyes blinking open.
Shapes blurred into focus.
A chair. A bed railing. A soft voice.
"She's waking up..."
Her friends were there.
Kabir sat beside her, holding her hand.
Avi stood by the window, his arms folded, face pale.
Her aunt and uncle stood near the doctor at the door, listening.
"Severe panic attack," the doctor said. "Could've been triggered by emotional trauma. She's lucky it was caught in time."
Her uncle nodded, silent.
Her aunt wiped her eyes again.
Ryu turned her head slightly.
Kabir leaned closer. "Hey... you're safe. It's over."
But she didn't feel safe.
Because her mind still whispered what her voice couldn't:
He watched me fall.
And he did nothing.
Sometimes, pain leaves bruises no one sees.
But silence—
Silence leaves scars the loudest cries can't hide.
📖 END OF CHAPTER 8
👉 What memory is her mind still protecting her from?
👉 Will Reyan find out what happened to her?
👉 And when she recovers... what will she choose—silence or revenge?