Chapter: Laughter That Embraces

It was Friday afternoon, and the sky felt especially blue. One of those days when the weather seems to give you permission to feel a little better. Gloria, Merlyn, and Alejandra had invited me to their house for a quiet night. Nothing big. Just us, some food, and plenty of bad movies to make fun of.

When I arrived, the smell of popcorn and pizza was already in the air. They welcomed me with soft hugs—the kind that ask no questions but say everything. I felt at home.

"I have a list of movies so bad not even your tears could defend them," Gloria said as she handed me a blanket.

"We'll see about that," I replied with a smile. "Maybe I'll become their number one fan."

We settled on the couch, each of us with a cup of tea, and the session began. Between every absurd scene, the ridiculous comments, and the bursts of laughter, I felt lighter. As if the laughter were cleaning out the corners of my soul.

"Do you remember when we skipped rehearsal to get ice cream at ten in the morning?" Merlyn said between laughs. "And you, Olivia, ended up with the ice cream in your shoe."

"Because you pushed me!" I replied, laughing for the first time in days without any shadow behind it.

"I had never laughed so hard," added Alejandra. "That's when I knew I was going to be your friend forever, even if you're a total mess."

We looked at each other, all of us, with that expression only shared among women who've seen each other's broken parts and stayed anyway.

Then, without thinking, I said it.

"I found a letter. From Tom. A few days ago."

The silence was immediate, but not uncomfortable. Just expectant.

"I don't want to read it out loud... not yet. But he told me to keep going. Not to stay stuck. And for the first time... I feel like I can. Not completely, but... little by little."

No one said anything for a second. Then Alejandra hugged me from behind, holding me tight.

"Tom loved you. And he also knew you deserve to live."

"We know that too," said Merlyn.

"And we're here. With popcorn, bad movies, and all the love in the world," Gloria added.

I snuggled into them, the blanket covering us all like a shared refuge. The movie kept playing on the screen, but it didn't matter much anymore.

I was surrounded by laughter. By silent hugs. By love—the good kind.

And for the first time, I didn't feel alone.