Mira's POV
I didn't go home immediately.
I don't even remember how long I walked.
Or where I went.
All I remember is the feeling.
Heavy.
Like something invisible was pressing down on my chest, making it harder to breathe the more I thought about it.
"I didn't do it…"
I whispered it again.
Not because I doubted myself.
But because—
no one else believed it.
The sky was already starting to fade into evening, soft shades of orange and gold stretching across the horizon.
Normally, I would stop.
Look at it.
Smile.
But today—
I couldn't.
"…why does it hurt this much…"
It wasn't the accusation.
It wasn't even the suspension.
It was the way they looked at me.
Like I had already been decided.
Like the truth didn't matter anymore.
I tightened my grip around my bag.
"…I've never… taken something that wasn't mine…"
Not money.
Not credit.
Not trust.
So why—
did it feel like all of that was taken from me today?
My steps slowed as I reached home.
The gate creaked softly as I pushed it open.
Familiar.
Comforting.
The garden greeted me the way it always did.
Flowers in full bloom.
Colors everywhere.
Roses, lilies, small white blossoms I had watched grow since I was little.
Grandpa always said,
"Flowers don't bloom loudly, Mira. They just bloom anyway."
I used to love that.
Today—
it felt different.
"…how do you bloom… when everything feels like it's falling apart…"
"Mira?"
I froze.
Grandma's voice.
Warm.
Soft.
The kind of voice that always made everything feel okay.
I turned slowly.
She was standing near the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron, concern already visible in her eyes.
"You're late today."
I forced a small smile.
"…work…"
It came out weaker than I expected.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
She always does.
"Mira… come here."
That was all it took.
Just those two words.
And suddenly—
everything I was holding together
started slipping.
I walked toward her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like if I moved too fast—
I might fall apart completely.
"What happened?"
Her hand gently touched my face.
And that was it.
My vision blurred instantly.
"I didn't do anything wrong…"
My voice broke.
I didn't want it to.
I tried to stay strong.
I really did.
But—
"I didn't do it…"
The words came out again, softer this time, shaking.
Grandma didn't interrupt.
Didn't question.
She just pulled me into a hug.
And I held onto her.
Tightly.
Like if I let go—
I would lose myself completely.
"It's okay…"
Her voice was calm.
Certain.
"They're wrong."
That simple.
That absolute.
And somehow—
that hurt even more.
Because she believed me so easily.
While everyone else—
didn't.
"…they all think I did it…"
I whispered into her shoulder.
"…they didn't even listen…"
Her hand moved gently through my hair.
"They don't know you."
A pause.
"But I do."
I closed my eyes.
Tears slipping silently now.
"I know the child who cries when a flower breaks."
"I know the girl who says sorry even when it's not her fault."
"I know my Mira."
My chest tightened again.
But this time—
it wasn't suffocating.
It was warm.
Painful.
But warm.
"…what if they never believe me…"
The question slipped out before I could stop it.
Grandma pulled back slightly, just enough to look at me.
"Then we wait."
Her eyes were steady.
Strong.
"For the truth to catch up."
A small silence.
Then she smiled.
Softly.
"Truth walks slowly, Mira. But it never stops."
I let out a shaky breath.
"…okay…"
I didn't feel okay.
Not completely.
But—
I wasn't breaking anymore.
---
Later that night, I sat by the garden.
The same place I always go.
The same flowers.
The same quiet.
But I wasn't the same.
"…what should I do…"
I stared at my hands.
Still.
Uncertain.
For the first time in a long time—
I didn't have an answer.
"I can't prove anything…"
I don't even know where to start.
A sigh escaped me.
"…maybe I really am useless…"
"No, you're not."
I froze.
That voice.
I turned.
Kael.
Leaning casually against the fence, like he had been there longer than I noticed.
"…Kael sir?"
He walked closer.
Not smiling this time.
Not joking.
Just… present.
"You're not useless."
His tone was calm.
Certain.
Just like hers.
"…you don't know that…"
"I do."
A pause.
Then—
"Because I already looked into it."
My heart skipped.
"…what?"
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Those logs?"
A small scoff.
"Too clean."
I blinked.
"…too clean…?"
"Yeah."
He crossed his arms.
"Which means someone wanted it to look perfect."
A slow realization started forming.
"…so… it was planned…?"
Kael nodded slightly.
"Very."
My fingers tightened.
"…then why me…"
Silence.
Then—
"Because you're easy to target."
The words were blunt.
Not cruel.
Just real.
"…you don't fight back."
I lowered my gaze.
"…I didn't know how…"
"I know."
His voice softened slightly.
And for some reason—
that felt worse than being blamed.
"…I should've said something…"
"You said enough."
I looked up.
Confused.
"…I did…?"
"You said you didn't do it."
A pause.
"Not everyone can say that and mean it."
Silence.
"…will it be enough…?"
Kael watched me for a moment.
Then—
"No."
My heart dropped slightly.
But before I could react—
"I will make it enough."
The words landed differently.
Stronger.
He stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough for me to feel it.
"You don't have to fight this alone."
My chest tightened again.
"…why are you helping me…"
A small smile appeared.
Faint.
"Because someone should."
A pause.
Then—
"And because…"
His eyes flickered slightly.
Dangerous for just a second.
"…someone's going to regret this."
I didn't fully understand what he meant.
But—
for the first time today—
I wasn't scared.
Not of the accusation.
Not of the whispers.
Not of tomorrow.
Because maybe—
just maybe—
the truth wasn't as far away as it felt.
I looked at the flowers again.
They were still blooming.
Quietly.
Unaffected.
Just like Grandpa said.
"…then I'll wait too…"
Not because I was weak.
But because—
I believed.
"I didn't break."
And I won't.