Chapter 4: Behind Closed doors
As Lilia stood at her sister's door, her heart raced, and a thousand thoughts tumbled through her mind.
Would Sabrina let her in? Would she even acknowledge her presence? There was no way to predict how this encounter would go, but Lilia knew she had to try. She couldn't stay alone in her room—not tonight.
Her mind flickered back to the oppressive silence that filled the house. Her father was kind, yes, but his love felt conditional, tied to expectations that Lilia could never seem to meet.
She was the quiet daughter, the one who didn't cause trouble, but the weight of those expectations suffocated her. Sabrina, on the other hand, always seemed to glide effortlessly through life—bold, rebellious, and free. The more Lilia thought about it, the more her frustration grew. Why was Sabrina allowed to live so freely while Lilia was held to a stricter, quieter standard?
She sighed and raised her hand to knock softly on the door. The familiar hollow sound of knuckles against wood reverberated in the silence.
No response.
Lilia stood still, her palm against the cool surface of the door. She expected nothing else. Sabrina was unpredictable, and though they were twins, they were as different as night and day. Lilia's heart sank at the thought of what might await her in the room behind that door.
She had been hoping for warmth, a break from the tense isolation that filled her room, but now doubt crept in. Was this really the right choice? The thought of returning to her own room—the room that felt like a suffocating trap—made her stomach churn.
Swallowing her discomfort, she gently turned the door handle. To her surprise, the door creaked open easily, the lock disengaged. Sabrina was always meticulous about locking her door. Confusion settled in Lilia's chest, followed quickly by a wave of dread.