Description
Monica never wanted to be brave - only to be left in peace with her grief. But when her father dies in the line of duty, and her mother begins to crumble, Monica has no choice. She becomes the anchor. The provider. The silence in place of mourning. By seventeen, she's juggling jobs, saving for college, and writing stories at night just to feel alive. Until the mask she wears becomes too heavy - and strange thoughts begin to surface: What if life as a boy would be easier? Safer? Less fragile? That's when Hayase appears - a quiet, observant cat who speaks with her voice. But Hayase isn't just a visitor. It's the name Monica once gave herself. A secret pseudonym. A second self. What begins as a conversation turns into a quiet unraveling of identity, memory, and the courage to be whole again. Some souls are born in-between. And some... must choose where they belong.
The Silence Begins
