2 Wrong Outcome

If there was a time when Layla started realizing that she loved her family, it was at this point. She had always been reserved and preferred her own personal space. She just wished that her bad situation was over already. To Layla, she thought of herself deserving of royalty and wealth, a pitiful life was an insult to her and she hated herself for not being able to do anything. The evening that Ria had summoned courage to confront her parents about their situation and what could be done about it, Layla’s presence was absent from the conversation. That was what they thought, they didn’t see her around so they thought she had already gone to bed. This was a normal thing for everyone in the house, once they had eaten or yet to eat, they would go to bed in other to prevent their minds from being troubled by their situation. If they had eaten, they slept to avoid unnecessary exhaustion of their energy. And if they were yet to eat, they slept to avoid overthinking that stressed their minds. They’d sleep and hope that the next day would be better. Layla had overheard their conversations when she got out of bed. She found out that it wasn’t only her who wanted to change their situation so bad, her older sister as well. Layla sneaked out of the house, her mother wasn’t yet back from the daily hustling. Her dad was still in his study room. She needed to support the family so bad. Her heart beat fast, she knew she was about to do something really against her parents teaching. But she was going to do anything she could to support the family bills. She slowly closed the front door but the old door still creaked. She stepped out of the house, it was a very old cottage. She didn’t like the sight of it. Layla stepped onto the worn-out path that led away from their cottage, her determination outweighing her fear. The night air was cool, and a soft breeze rustled through the trees, whispering words of encouragement. She glanced back at the dimly lit windows of her home, hoping her family would understand her intentions. She knew she had never gone out alone, late at night. But if it was for the good of her family, she could take the risk. “I don’t want you ladies going out in the night, the night is not a place for ladies. There are sick men out there who aren’t familiar with self control.” Layla recalled what their dad would occasionally tell them whenever they were tempted to go out. To Mr. Raymond, he was afraid of losing his daughters, he couldn’t prevent his dear wife from staying out late but if it was for the sake of the family, he could risk it. He had given up on working when he was framed by his boss for stealing a jewelry. This greatly affected his reputation and nobody in the streets trusted him enough to employ him. As she made her way down the path, Layla's thoughts raced, contemplating the best course of action. She knew she had to find a way to contribute to their finances, but she also didn't want to burden her parents with worry. She wrapped a scarf around her face in other to hide her identity. Deep down, she yearned to make her parents proud and alleviate some of their struggles. Just as she was about to take her first cautious step forward, a voice called out from behind her. "Layla, wait!" Lost in her thoughts, Layla almost didn't notice the figure approaching her from the shadows. Startled, she paused and squinted to see who it was. It was Ria. She was running towards her. Her eyes widened with concern, and she struggled to catch her breath. "Layla, what are you doing?" Ria asked, her voice filled with a mixture of worry and confusion. "Where are you going at this hour?" Layla's heart sank as she realized she hadn't been as discreet as she thought. She didn't want to burden her older sister with their family's struggles, but she knew she couldn't hide it from her any longer. "Ria, I... I overheard Mom and Dad talking," Layla confessed, her voice quivering slightly. "They're struggling, and I want to help. I need to find a way to support our family too." Ria's eyes softened, and she placed a hand on Layla's shoulder. "I understand your desire to help, Layla. But we can't risk your safety or compromise your education. Mom and Dad always stressed the importance of education, remember?" Layla nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. She knew Ria was right, but the weight of their family's hardships pressed heavily on her young shoulders. She wanted to do more for the ones she cared so much about. "I promise I won't do anything dangerous," Layla said earnestly. "I just want to find a way to contribute, even if it's something small. We're a team, Ria, and I want to be there for our family too." Ria sighed, her expression torn between worry and admiration for her sister's determination. "All right, Layla. But promise me this: whatever you decide to do, you'll let me be a part of it. We'll face these challenges together, okay?" Layla's face lit up with a mixture of relief and gratitude. She hugged Ria tightly, grateful for her sister's support. "Layla, you're not alone in this. We're a team, remember? We'll find a way together." Layla's eyes glistened with tears, touched by her sister’s endless support. She squeezed her hand tightly, drawing strength from their bond. "You're right, Ria. We'll face this together, I’m sorry for wanting to do this alone." Layla said, her voice filled with determination. "But promise me you'll keep this a secret from Mom and Dad. I don't want them worrying about us even more." Ria nodded solemnly. "I promise, Layla. Our secret is safe with me. Let's find a way to lighten their burden without adding to their worries." Layla and Ria set off into the night,