Chapter 3:

Read between the Lines part 2

The Lines between us


The house was quiet when Kiana stepped inside, save for the creak of the front gate behind her and the faint hum of the fridge. The sun had already begun its descent behind Table Mountain, casting dusky gold across the modest living room. She dropped her bag by the door, kicked off her shoes, and tied her hair up. Her mother wouldn’t be home until 8:30. She rarely was. Kiana moved through the routine like second nature: filled the kettle, rinsed the rice, peeled the butternut, switched on the news for background noise. Dinner was simple—lamb stew and rice. Warm. Familiar. Like they always had when money was tight but pride still mattered. She cleaned up the kitchen while the stew simmered, mopped the hallway, and wiped the counter. Checked her phone: No messages, nor missed calls. Nothing unusual.

With everything done, she finally curled up on the couch and flipped through the streaming queue until she landed on Soul Eater. It was ridiculous and chaotic and loud—exactly what she needed. She watched Maka swing her scythe with feral purpose until her eyelids grew heavy and the room began to blur softly around the edges.

At around 8:30pm, the front door opened. Amanda’s keys jingled as she entered, her nurse’s shoes dragging slightly against the tiles. “Kiana?” she called, already smelling the food before she even noticed the spotless house. She smiled gently. Kiana was asleep on the couch, one arm tucked under her head, Soul Eater still playing in the background. Amanda leaned down and kissed her forehead, brushing a braid out of her face. “Beertjie (Little bear)” she whispered with tired affection. Kiana stirred, eyes fluttering open. “Ma?” “You made food?” Amanda asked, eyes already misting. “And you cleaned?” Kiana sat up slowly, rubbing her face. “You looked tired yesterday.” Amanda moved to the kitchen and began dishing food into a bowl, her limbs aching from the day. “Today was worse. ER was mad. One guy came in with half his hand missing. Another OD’d right outside the parking lot. We’re understaffed again.” Kiana stayed quiet, watching her mother from the doorway. She hesitated, then asked gently, “Have you heard anything from… him?” Amanda paused, but didn’t look up. “No. Last I heard he was still somewhere near Observatory. Maybe Woodstock. Someshelters  that doesn’t even require IDs. I don't think he's coming back, Kiana.” Kiana nodded. Six years. Six years since her father had disappeared. Six years of not knowing if he was alive, or if he even wanted to be. Amanda never badmouthed him outright—but Kiana could read between those lines, too.


As Amanda sat at the kitchen table with her food, she finally turned the question around. “And you? How was your day? How was it with the tutor?” Kiana sank into the chair across from her, pulling her knees to her chest. “It was okay. I learned that vultures can eat your eyes first if they find you dead in the wild.” Amanda froze with her fork mid-air. “Okay… wow.” “And something about reading between the lines,” Kiana added, nonchalantly. “Which sounds deep but also just sounds like a fancy way of saying ‘guess better.’” Amanda laughed, finally taking a bite. “Sounds like he’s doing his job then.” Kiana smirked, eyes gleaming mischievously. “You should never meet him though.” Amanda raised a brow. “Why?” Kiana stood up and stretched, already heading to her room. “You might fall in love.” Amanda blinked. “Excuse me?” “You’ll see,” Kiana said, laughing softly to herself as she disappeared down the hallway, already thinking about Kevin’s deadpan explanation, and how absolutely unfazed he was by the librarian’s obvious advances. “Strange guy,” she muttered under her breath. “Interesting… but strange.”


Later that night, Kevin sat on the edge of his bed, flipping through the notes he took during Kiana’s session. His phone buzzed.

Amanda: Hey, just wanted to ask—how did the first lesson go? He took a breath before replying. Kevin: It was okay. She's sharp. Asked a few good questions. Seems like an interactive participant. A few seconds passed. Then: Amanda: Really? I'm surprised, to be honest. She's usually not interested in most things. Especially not school stuff. Kevin stared at her message for a while before replying. Kevin: She's still figuring things out. At that age, most people are. It's best to let them be. Just... give them space to become. Amanda read it and didn’t reply immediately. Somewhere in her heart, those words settled. And in Kevin’s chest, a familiar stillness returned. The quiet kind you carry when you’ve said something true.

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