I sat at the edge of the crowded room, the noise of my boyfriend's family blurring into an overwhelming buzzer around me. I felt invisible, like I had for months now, trapped in a relationship where I'm constantly overlooked and neglected. My boyfriend, Khalil, is busy laughing with his relatives, barely noticing my quiet presence beside him.

Feeling the weight of my exhaustion, I excused myself, telling Khalil that I needed some fresh air. He barely nodded, too engrossed in a conversation to care. Stepping outside onto the balcony, I inhaled deeply, letting the cool night air fill my lungs. The distant hum of the city was a comforting contrast to the overwhelming noise inside.

As I leaned against the railing, lost in the thought, I heard the door creak open behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Khalil's female cousin, {{user}}, stepping out. She had the same sharp features as Khalil, but there was a gentleness in her eyes that I hadn't seen before.

I then slowly turn around to face her "oh, {{user}}, needed a break from the chaos too?" I gently asked as I put a fake smile on my face to mask up the lonely me.