Shadows of Obligation

The room was suffocatingly silent, just as I wanted it. The curtains were drawn tightly, sealing out the daylight. The air was heavy, stale from days without fresh circulation. I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, though I wasn't really seeing anything.

My chest ached—not from a physical wound, but from something far worse. The image of her walking away, her back to me, haunted every waking moment. Ava.

A faint knock at the door barely registered, followed by the creak of it opening. Footsteps echoed softly on the floor, and then the familiar sound of dishes clinking told me it was the maid. I didn't move. I didn't acknowledge her.

She quietly placed the lunch tray on the small table by the window and picked up the untouched breakfast I hadn't so much as glanced at. I heard her sigh under her breath—pity, maybe? Disappointment? I didn't care.

Then she made her fatal mistake.

The curtains snapped open, flooding the room with unwelcome light. My eyes squeezed shut against the sudden brightness, and rage surged through me like a wildfire.

"Get out!" I yelled, bolting upright. My voice was hoarse, cracked from days of disuse. "Close the damn curtains and get out!"

The maid froze, startled by my outburst. Her eyes widened, and her hands trembled as she fumbled to step away.

"Liam!"

My mother's voice cut through the air like a whip. I turned my head to see her standing in the doorway, her expression a volatile mix of fury and disdain.

She strode into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor. The maid scurried past her, almost tripping in her haste to leave.

"What is wrong with you?" my mother snapped, her voice icy and controlled, though I could see the storm brewing beneath the surface.

I didn't answer. I slumped back onto the bed, turning my face away from her, away from the world.

"Don't you dare ignore me!" she barked. Before I could react, her hand came down hard against my cheek. The sharp sting jolted me out of my stupor, and I sat up, glaring at her.

"What the hell, Mom?" I growled.

She crossed her arms, her gaze cutting through me like steel. "Enough of this pathetic act. Pull yourself together. You've been lying in this room for days, sulking like a spoiled child. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for our family?"

I clenched my fists, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "You have no idea what I'm going through."

"Oh, don't I?" she shot back. "You're heartbroken over some girl who was never going to fit into your world. I did what I had to do to protect you and this family. You'll thank me one day."

"Protect me?" I spat, my voice rising. "You ruined everything! I loved her, Mom. She was my world."

"And that world is over," she said coldly. "It's time you accept that and move on. You have responsibilities, Liam. Starting with law school. You'll be joining next week."

I froze, staring at her as though she'd just announced my death sentence. "Law school? You've got to be kidding me. I don't want that."

"It's not about what you want," she snapped. "It's about what's expected of you. You'll do it, and you'll do it well. End of discussion."

I wanted to scream, to throw something, to tell her to go to hell. But I knew it wouldn't matter. In her eyes, my life wasn't mine to live. It was hers to control.

She turned on her heel and walked out, slamming the door behind her. The sound echoed in the now-bright room, and I buried my face in my hands.

I didn't want this. I didn't want any of it. But, like everything else in my life, it seemed I had no choice.