Damian had been a guest at Aleena's house for several days now and was still adjusting to his new living arrangement.
 
On the first night of his arrival, Aleena's parents returned home early from work and discovered Damian sitting on the couch. They greeted him warmly and with kindness the moment they laid eyes on him.
 
Aleena explained Damian's situation, emphasizing that he had nowhere else to stay, and her parents instantly agreed to let him occupy her brother's old bedroom. Aleena omitted the part about his suicide attempt, for which he was eternally grateful.
 
Her parents took an immediate liking to the boy, even though their initial attempt at conversation had been somewhat awkward. They asked about Damian's family, and his expression automatically grew somber. Aleena leaned over and whispered discreetly that he was mute, causing her mother's eyes to widen in surprise.
 
She immediately apologized at least five times and rushed to embrace the poor boy, who appeared to be in shock. Damian stood stiffly before awkwardly patting her back. Aleena observed with a fond expression before intervening to extricate her mother from Damian's embrace. She sensed that her mother would adore Damian from the moment she saw him, so she decided to escort Damian away before she squeezed him to death.
 
Despite Damian's reticence, Aleena's parents quickly grew fond of him, grateful that they could provide him with shelter and support during his time of need. They didn't pry into his past, understanding that some wounds ran too deep for words. Instead, they offered him the comfort of their home, and Damian silently thanked whatever fate had led him here.
 
Damian appeared slightly startled but followed Aleena back to the room she had prepared for him.
 
"Sorry about my mom; she can be a bit overwhelming, I know," Aleena said sheepishly.
 
Damian shook his head, indicating that he didn't mind, and Aleena breathed a sigh of relief.
 
"Anyways, this is your room. This used to belong to my brother before he left for college."
 
As Damian looked around, Aleena noticed the cuts on his arm and shoulder once again when he turned slightly. Her brows furrowed, and she reached out to touch the cuts. Damian flinched and quickly sucked in a breath.
 
"Come on, we have to get those cleaned," Aleena said with a frown, leading him to the bathroom.
 
Damian glanced down at his arm, having momentarily forgotten about his injuries. Now that he noticed them, they began to lightly sting. He dutifully followed Aleena into the bathroom, where Aleena grabbed some alcohol and a cloth.
 
"This is going to hurt," she said, sympathetically.
 
Damian nodded before gritting his teeth.
 
After Aleena had removed all the glass bottle shards from Damian's shoulder, she disinfected and cleaned the cuts before bandaging his arm. She then went to the kitchen to get some ice for Damian's cheek before returning to find him sitting on his bed.
 
Aleena noticed that Damian was still wearing his tattered jeans, and the thin long-sleeve shirt he had been wearing earlier had already been discarded. The shirt had been cut several times at the shoulder and was lightly stained with blood.
 
Aleena handed the ice to Damian before rummaging through his brother closet to find a shirt that would fit him. Damian was about the same size as Aleena’s brother, only slightly larger, with broader shoulders.
 
Aleena selected a shirt and an old sweater and handed them to Damian. Damian didn't question why Aleena hadn't simply chosen some clothes from his duffle bag but instead slipped the clothes over his head. The hoodie was obviously well-worn but still warm and soft.
 
Damian couldn't shake the feeling that he might be taking advantage of Aleena's kindness and began to feel overwhelmed by the situation. They had never interacted much at school, and Damian wasn't even sure if Aleena knew who he was. Yet, here she was, extending a helping hand, allowing Damian to stay in her home.
 
A hint of moisture welled up in Damian's eyes as he looked back at Aleena. He mouthed a slightly shaky "thank you" to Aleena, who responded with a soft smile and a nod of her head.
 
"You're welcome," Aleena whispered, her voice warm and reassuring, a stark contrast to the silence that Damian had grown accustomed to.
 
Aleena sat down beside him on the bed and took a deep breath, as if gathering her thoughts. She began to write something on a notepad, then handed it to Damian. It read: "I hope you're feeling okay here. If there's anything you need or if you ever want to talk, I'm here for you."
 
Damian looked at the message, his eyes filled with gratitude. He took the notepad and wrote his response: "Thank you for everything. Your family has been so kind.”