By the time Daniel got home, the sun was already disappearing behind the houses.
He dropped his bag near the stairs and loosened his shoes.
“Daniel!”
He hadn't even taken two steps.
“What?”
“Did you buy the bread?”
He looked toward the living room. His younger sister, Mia, was standing in front of the television with her hands on her waist.
“No.”
She frowned. “Mum said you were coming straight home.”
“I did come straight home.”
“So why didn't you buy bread?”
Daniel stared at her.
“Because nobody asked me to buy bread.”
“You should have known.”
His older sister, Tasha, laughed from the couch.
“Leave him alone, Mia.”
“I need bread.”
“Then go and buy it.”
“Give me money.”
Tasha burst out laughing.
Daniel smiled despite himself and walked upstairs.
For a few seconds, everything felt normal.
Then he reached his room.
He closed the door.
The smile left his face.
Daniel sat on the edge of his bed and pulled his phone from his pocket.
Four notifications.
He opened the first one.
**Outstanding payment reminder.**
His eyes moved down the screen.
There was an amount beside it.
He already knew the number.
He had memorized it.
Daniel locked the phone.
“Damn.”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
He had been telling himself he would figure it out.
He always told himself that.
But lately, “I'll figure it out” was starting to sound more like a lie.
A knock came at the door.
Daniel quickly put his phone underneath his pillow.
“Come in.”
His mother entered carrying a plate of rice and stew.
“You haven't eaten.”
“I'll eat later.”
She placed the plate on his desk.
“You said that yesterday.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I wasn't hungry.”
His mother studied him.
She didn't say anything for a moment.
Then she asked, “Are you alright?”
Daniel looked away.
There it was again.
That question.
He could have answered honestly.
He could have told her that school was becoming difficult.
That he was worried about money.
That he hadn't been sleeping well.
That he felt like he was falling behind while everyone else was moving forward.
Instead, he smiled.
“I'm fine, Mum.”
She didn't smile back.
“You've been saying that a lot.”
“Because it's true.”
“Okay.”
She walked toward the door.
Then she stopped.
“Your father wants to speak with you after dinner.”
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“He didn't say.”
She left.
Daniel stared at the closed door.
He reached underneath his pillow and looked at his phone again.
Another notification had appeared.
This time, it was from Michael.
**Bro, you disappeared again. Where are you?**
Daniel typed a reply.
**I'm home.**
He stopped.
Deleted it.
Typed:
**I'm good.**
Deleted that too.
Finally, he put the phone down.
---
After dinner, Daniel went downstairs.
His father was sitting in the living room.
“Come.”
Daniel sat beside him.
His father turned down the television.
“How is school?”
“Good.”
“Your mother says you've been spending a lot of time in your room.”
Daniel shrugged.
“I'm just tired.”
His father looked at him.
“You're nineteen, Daniel. You can't be tired all the time.”
Daniel forced a laugh.
“I know.”
His father leaned back.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
Daniel's heart began beating faster.
For one brief moment, he thought about telling him.
But then he looked at his father.
He looked tired too.
“No, Dad.”
His father nodded slowly.
“Alright.”
He turned the television back up.
That was it.
No argument.
No interrogation.
Just another opportunity Daniel had allowed to pass.
Later that night, he lay awake in his room.
The house had gone quiet.
His sisters were asleep.
His parents were asleep.
Everyone was asleep except him.
Daniel picked up his phone.
Michael had sent another message.
**You know you can talk to me, right?**
Daniel stared at it.
His fingers moved across the keyboard.
**I'm not okay.**
He read the sentence.
His thumb hovered over send.
Then he deleted it.
He placed the phone beside him and turned off the light.
In the darkness, Daniel stared at the ceiling.
He didn't know how to ask for help.
He didn't know who to ask.
And he certainly didn't know that tomorrow, someone new was going to walk into his life.
Someone who would notice the things everyone else had missed.
Someone who wouldn't accept “I'm fine” as an answer.
But tomorrow hadn't come yet.
Tonight, Daniel was still alone.
And for the first time, he was beginning to wonder how long he could keep it that way.