Olivia stood by the kitchen counter, the muted hum of the kettle the only sound in the room, save for the occasional gust of wind slamming against the windows. Outside, the city was swallowed up by a relentless storm. Sheets of rain whipped across the streets, driven by the fierce winds that made the trees bend and sway, their limbs creaking in protest. It was one of those mornings where the weather seemed to mirror her mood—raw, unsettled, like a storm had swept through her and left a quiet chaos in its wake.
She reached for her favourite mug, the one with chipped edges from years of use, and began spooning in the coffee grounds, the rich scent already filling the air as the kettle clicked off. Her fingers trembled slightly as she poured the hot water over the grounds, watching the dark liquid swirl and steep. If she could just lose herself in the simplicity of this—this small moment of comfort, the warmth of the coffee in her hands, the quiet hum of the storm outside—maybe last night wouldn't seem so real.
But as she watched the steam rising from her mug, her phone rang, breaking the stillness. The screen lit up with Alex's name, and it pulled her back to reality, away from the fragile peace she'd been holding onto.
"Alex," she said, holding the phone between her shoulder and her ear, as she reached for the sugar. She poured it in without really measuring, the sweetness a small counterpoint to the bitterness inside her. "I was just about to call you."
"Everything okay?" Alex's voice crackled through the line, concern in her voice.
"No," Olivia sighed. "Please can you come by? I have a sensitive case I need to discuss with you before I bring it to the precinct."
There was a moment of silence on the other side of the phone before Alex responded. "I'm on my way."
"Thank you," Olivia said, then hung up.
She heard the familiar shuffle of footsteps behind her. She turned to see Alana standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes, her posture casual, as if nothing had happened the night before—as if that would erase last night. But Olivia could see the tension in the set of her jaw, the way her eyes darted just a little too quickly.
"Morning," Alana said, her voice steady, maybe a little too steady, as she moved into the kitchen. She grabbed a mug from the cabinet without hesitation, like it was just any other morning, but Olivia caught the slight tremor in her hand as she poured water into the cup.
Olivia forced a smile. "How are you feeling?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light, but there was no way to ignore the crack in Alana's voice when she responded.
"I'm fine," Alana said, her gaze flicking to the counter, avoiding Olivia's eyes. "I... about last night, I appreciate what you did," Alana said, finally looking up and holding Olivia's gaze. "I am okay now. We should all just forget that happened. I will be fine... I've been fine for a long time."
"For how long, Alana?" Olivia said in a breathy whisper as she moved closer to her. "How long have you had to be fine?" Olivia tucked a loose hair behind her ear as she bent over a little to meet Alana's gaze.
"You know I didn't mean it like that," Alana retorted. She chuckled dryly as she backed out of the kitchen. "I know what you're trying to do, but that's not going to work on me. You—you adults, you all think you can just come into my life and fix me, and then when you don't like what you find, you just give up and leave me. I am not a project," Alana said, her voice rising. "And I don't have to stay here. I want to go home now."
"Please," Olivia said, moving closer to Alana, who was now shaking with frustration. "I am not going to make you do or say anything you don't want to. I am here to help you, to listen to you, and to take down the bastard that did this to you," Olivia exclaimed as she pointed to Alana's body. "That shouldn't be happening to you or to anyone else. Ever! And I am going to make sure that we put whoever did this to you away." She held Alana's gaze, trying to make her understand.
"You think saying the right words is enough?" Alana snapped, her voice shaking. "That it'll undo everything?" She let out a bitter laugh before her expression faltered. "I've been fine for a long time," she repeated, but this time, it sounded more like a plea than a truth.
"Alana, please don't leave," Kat spoke up from the passage, startling Alana. Kat stepped toward her. "Please stay. My mum can help you. I know she can. I want to help you too."
"You can't help me, Kat," Alana whispered, her voice cracking. "No one can help me."
"Why, sweetheart? Why do you think that?" Olivia asked.
"Because... it's complicated," Alana responded. Kat was now standing right beside her, holding her hand.
"Try me, Alana," Olivia responded with so much certainty in her voice.
Just then, a sharp knock on the door cut through the silence. Olivia turned towards it, already knowing who it was. Alex had arrived.