Linh's POV...
We hadn't spoken much lately. In fact, the last time we even had a conversation at the gym, he told me he'll be moving to another apartment which is closer to his office. Yet, for as I remember the times we met at the gym, he had always been in the background, a quiet presence with kind eyes who is always there to lend a hand. I remember him helping me and Minh a lot with some equipments. Maybe it's time I ask him for another help, but in a different way.
I sight. I'm starting to lose hope, but I realize that I can't give up. Not now. By that, I gather the courage to click the call button.
"Hello?" his voice rings through my ears in a warm manner.
"Hi, Xiaoyang," I say.
"Hi, Linh. How are you?" he asks.
I almost cry again just from hearing him ask me that.
"My mom kicked me out. I'm at Saigon Lane Mall. I don't have anyone else to call. I was wondering if I could stay at your place for a night?" I ask him, the tears in my eyes finally running down.
"What? Oh, that's bad. You stay there, I'll come to visit you in about 20 minutes," Xiaoyang says.
"Ok, thank you, Xiaoyang," I say, my heart felt relief that I finally found help.
"Ok, just stay there," Xiaoyang says.
He hangs up, and for the first time in hours, I feel like maybe I can breathe again. Though I still have no idea what's going to happen next, I just hope that maybe after talking to Xiaoyang, things would be better.
Twenty minutes later...
Xiaoyang's car pulls up in front of the glass doors. I see him get out, his eyes scanning the crowd until they land on me. He walks over, not saying anything at first, just gently guiding me to the passenger seat.
"Hey, how are you?" Xiaoyang asks.
"I just, had an argument with my mom," I say.
"What happened?" Xiaoyang asks.
"She found out I was texting a male friend. She got mad about it and kicked me out," I state, tears begin to fall from my eyes again.
"Woah, that's bad. But why doesn't she let you have any male friends?" Xiaoyang asks.
"I don't really know the exact reason. Maybe it's related to her past traumas or whatever," I say.
"I see. Do you want me to call her and maybe talk things out? Maybe I could help you," Xiaoyang offers.
"If I had to do that, I'll do it on my own. I don't want to put you into this trouble regarding her," I state.
Xiaoyang continues to drive through the night. We continue to talk, where he told me that he is terribly sorry that despite him wanting to help him, he couldn't let me stay at his apartment since he is sharing it with some of his co-workers, and the fact that his wife often calls him just to check on him at some points. Yet, he told me he was going to look for a hotel for me to stay.
"Xiaoyang, I feel really bad. Can I just stay at your place and help you clean your apartment?" I ask.
"I'm really sorry, but that's not quite possible. We already have a maid for that. For now, let's just get you a place to stay for the night," Xiaoyang says.
A few minutes later, he pulls into a nearby mid-range hotel. Nothing fancy, but safe. Clean. Warm.
At the front desk, he takes care of everything. I try to protest, but he ignores me. I told him that I didn't have a job at the moment, since my work before was not even stable yet. 
"Xiaoyang, I can't thank you enough," I say.
"You don't have to. We're friends. I wouldn't mind to give a hand when I can," Xiaoyang states.
We stood at the hotel lobby, staring at each other. No words could describe how thankful I am for his kindness tonight.
"It's late. I should go now. You get some rest, ok," Xiaoyang says.
"Ok. Thank you," I say.
He gives me a soft look, then leaves through the main door of the hotel. I watch from a distance as he enters his car, with a feeling of gratitude in my heart.
30 minutes later...
I lie down on the bed, my body feeling not just physically but mentally exhausted. My mind is still running about what I should do tomorrow. I tried to asking Xiaoyang for a job earlier, though he said his company isn't currently looking for a new employee, he'll try to see if there are any available jobs.
Slowly, a tear begin to run down from my eye. I feel like I'm at my weakest point in my life. I feel lost, depressed, but mostly, I feel broken. Though I knew well about my mom's character, I didn't expect her to kick me out for no valid reason. That's a hard pill to swallow, but it is what it is.
Suddenly, my phone rings a notification softly from beside me. I grab it out of wonders, and see who did I receive a message from. Turns out, it's Minh.
"Sister, where are you? Please reply." - Minh. 
"I'm fine. Just tired. I'm at a hotel now, I'm ok." - Linh.
"Can you come home? Please? You don't have anywhere to stay. Please just go home." - Minh.
"Mom hates me, Minh. I can't possibly go face her again. I'm tired of always having to deal with her anger for years. She kicked me out, she didn't even bother to listen to what I have to say. She just... assumed the worst and threw me out like I was trash." - Linh.
I stare at my phone, tears slowly starting to run down my eyes again. At this point, I feel like I would just rather die. Just then, another notification rings.
"Sister, please listen to us. You belong here, not out there alone." - Hoang.
I swallow hard, my throat burning. Reading these messages from my siblings really broke my heart. How could I even dare to know that they are at home worrying about me?
"Sister, you know you don't have any friends. The only people you know are foreigners and they can't possibly help you out all the time. It's better you just come back and get through this." - Hoang.
I sit still while staring at the message from my younger brother. He had a point, even if I get through tonight, I would have to think of a way to survive for tomorrow, and the next day, and for the future. It's going to be hard, chances are my mom would even kill me after. But again, I only have two choices now. To go back, or to just let myself die. 
Another tear slide down my eye. Hard to even think to that I would come to this point, but if I don't have another choice, I just might as well commit suicide. Come to think of it there's not even a point I thought that makes me want to continue living. All my struggles these years, all worthless.
Flashback...
"You stupid kid!"
"Whore!"
"You are a ashame to this family!"
"You think anyone would ever be able to accept you?" 
"You are nothing without me!"
End of flashback...
Suddenly, all the flashbacks of screaming, harsh words, and even physical abuse came playing back inside my head. I thought I've buried these thoughts for way too long, but now, I feel after feeling like my life is falling apart, all these flashbacks begin to replay in my head.
I can't do it anymore. I can't take it. I couldn't believe I'm doing this, but other than replying to Hoang's message, I stood up from my bed. In a desperate manner, I decided to look for anything that would help me commit suicide. They don't have a balcon in this hotel room, so it's impossible to jump out from the balcon. Stressful, I walk over to the bathroom in hopes to find something to help me end my life.
I entered the bathroom, in a stressful manner. I scream at the mirror in front of me with tears running down my eyes. I was on the edge of breaking down, I hit the small table where I see two glass cups. In an impulsive manner, I grab one of the glass cup thinking of ways to use it harm myself, when I accidentally see a small paper that was place under the cup. 
Wait, was a small paper suppose to be placed there? With short breaths, I stare at the paper with curiousity. Despite already feeling lost with my life and already thinking about ending it, something inside me tells me that I should take a quick look at that paper. By that, I grab the paper to read it. 
"What the..."
My eyes widen at the sight of what I am reading. Like a miracle has been cast upon me, my eyes couldn't look away from the small paper. 
In all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:6.
My eyes literally couldn't blink at what I am seeing. I remember well that this is a proverb from the bible, even though I haven't read the bible since my parents divorced. Right exactly in this moment, I feel like something just touched my heart at the right spot. Like a miracle of bliss. Again, I feel tears running down my eyes again. But this time, it's not because of sadness. It's because I was touched by God.
My lips became silent, and slowly, the tears in my eyes also stop. My head starts to rethink about everything that happened, all the pain, the feeling of ashame. Despite failing to see a positive flashback of a reason for me to keep continueing, but this time, it was like the hope in my heart that encourages me to keep going.
I thought about it for a while. Maybe, this doesn't have to be the end. Maybe, there is still hope for a new story, if I keep trying, and put all my hope to God.
A few days later...
Days passed since Linh decided to return home that night. Her mother barely looked at her, and both of them barely had a conversation unless her mom suddenly gets mad at her. It's like Linh had become a ghost in her own home.
Linh stayed quiet, not wanting to start a fire at any moment. At night, she sat in her room, after praying for healing and strenght to get through life. She started writing in her diary again, and even creating new contents for her social media. She did a lot of rebranding of her image, and also decided to go with the name "Anastasia Linh", a combination of her Catholic name and nikname.
And though her mother remained distant, Linh figured that it was best for them to just keep their distance. She spent more time reading the bible and studying Catholic all over again. In a way, even though the wounds in her heart remains, she began to believe that healing didn't always mean going back to how things were. Sometimes, healing means still having hope for a better future.
To be continue...