Chapter 25
The sky had turned gray by afternoon, the kind of soft gray that warned of gentle rain — not a storm, but a quiet weeping from the sky. Julia sat by her window, notebook in hand, watching the first drops tap against the glass.
Rain always reminded her of her grandma. Not the loud, angry kind, but this — soft, calm, and slow. Just like her voice when she read bedtime stories.
Downstairs, the house was silent. Her family was around, but the distance between them felt wide. Everyone was dealing with their own pain. Julia used to try to fix it — to make everyone laugh again. But now, all she could do was write.
Today's page was different, though. Instead of a letter, she wrote a story.
*A little girl had a broken heart. She didn't know how to smile anymore, not since the brightest light in her life went out. Every day, she carried her sadness like a heavy coat, even when the sun shone. She walked through the world quietly, hoping someone would notice. But nobody did… until one day, the rain fell, and it didn't feel cold. It felt like a hug from someone far away. A reminder that she wasn't alone.*
She paused, rereading her words.
Maybe someone out there needed that reminder too.
As the rain fell gently outside, Julia picked up her phone and, for the first time, decided to share her writing. Not all of it — just this small story. She posted it with the caption: *"For anyone who's hurting silently — you're not alone."*
She didn't expect anything. But five minutes later, a comment appeared:
*"Thank you. I really needed this."*
Julia stared at the words, her eyes misty again — but this time, it wasn't just grief. It was connection. Someone out there understood. Someone felt what she felt.
For the first time in a long while, she felt proud. Not because her story was perfect, but because it reached someone. Just like her grandma always said — *"Stories are bridges, my darling. And you have the heart to build them."*
She closed the notebook, stood by the window, and let the rain whisper its soft comfort.
She still didn't smile all the time. But today, she did.
And that was more than enough.