Scene 1: A Heart Full of Pain

EXT. LUXURY HOUSE — GARDEN TERRACE — AFTERNOON

The afternoon sun shines over the beautiful terrace. A gentle breeze moves through the trees as WAYNA stands near the railing, lost in thought.

Footsteps approach from behind.

SHAYLA walks toward her slowly. Her eyes are tired, and her face carries the weight of sleepless nights. She tries to smile, but the sadness inside her is impossible to hide.

WAYNA

Shayla? Hey, what’s wrong? You look like you haven’t slept properly in days.

Shayla stops a few feet away. She opens her mouth to speak, but the words refuse to come.

SHAYLA

Wayna… can I talk to you for a minute?

Wayna immediately turns toward her. She notices the trembling in Shayla’s voice.

WAYNA

Of course. You don’t have to ask me that. Come here. Sit with me.

Wayna gestures toward the outdoor sofa. Shayla sits beside her, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground. Her fingers nervously twist together.

For a moment, neither woman speaks. The silence becomes heavier with every passing second.

WAYNA

Is this about Eman?

At the mention of his name, Shayla’s expression changes. Her eyes fill with tears. She quickly looks away, hoping Wayna will not notice. But Wayna has already seen them.

SHAYLA

I miss him, Wayna. I miss him so much that I don’t even know what to do with myself anymore.

WAYNA

Tell me what happened. You can tell me everything.

SHAYLA

Everybody keeps telling me to be strong. They keep telling me to stop thinking about him, to move on, and to pretend that everything is fine. But how am I supposed to do that? How am I supposed to forget someone who still means so much to me?

WAYNA

You don’t have to pretend with me, Shayla.

Those words break through the last of Shayla’s defenses. She begins to cry.

Scene 2: The Tears She Could No Longer Hide

EXT. GARDEN TERRACE — CONTINUOUS

Shayla covers her face with both hands. Her shoulders begin to shake as years of unspoken feelings seem to pour out all at once. Wayna gently places a hand on her shoulder.

WAYNA

Hey… look at me.

SHAYLA

I can’t.

WAYNA

Why not?

SHAYLA

Because if I look at you, I’ll start crying even more.

WAYNA

Then cry. You don’t have to hold everything inside.

Shayla lowers her hands. Tears roll down her cheeks as she looks at Wayna.

SHAYLA

I keep remembering the little things, Wayna. The conversations, the way he used to look at me, the moments when I thought everything would work out.

SHAYLA

I keep asking myself whether he ever thinks about me the way I think about him. Does he ever remember me when he’s alone? Does he ever miss hearing my voice? Or am I the only one sitting here, trying to understand how everything fell apart?

SHAYLA

I don’t even know what hurts more anymore. Missing him or not knowing whether he misses me.

WAYNA

Shayla, I wish I could give you an answer. I really do. But I don’t want to tell you something just to make you feel better for five minutes. I want you to know that whatever you’re feeling right now, you don’t have to face it alone.

SHAYLA

I tried, Wayna. I really tried to be okay. I get up every morning and tell myself that today will be different. I tell myself that I won’t think about him so much. Then something reminds me of him, and suddenly I’m back where I started. I’m tired of pretending that I’m not hurting.

Wayna opens her arms slightly, offering comfort without saying another word. Shayla looks at her for a brief moment, then leans forward and rests her head against Wayna’s chest. The moment she feels Wayna’s reassuring embrace, she begins sobbing uncontrollably.

Wayna wraps her arms around Shayla and gently holds her.

WAYNA

It’s okay, Shayla. Let it out.

SHAYLA

I miss him so much. I just want everything to make sense again.

WAYNA

I know. I know this is hard. But you are still here, Shayla. You’re still the same person who deserves kindness, happiness, and peace. Don’t forget that just because you’re hurting.

Shayla closes her eyes. For the first time that afternoon, she allows herself to stop fighting her feelings. Wayna continues holding her as the breeze moves softly through the garden. Neither woman notices the two figures approaching the terrace entrance.

Scene 3: Unexpected Witnesses

EXT. GARDEN TERRACE ENTRANCE — SAME TIME

Two women, TANYA and BIANCA, step outside onto the terrace. Tanya is dressed elegantly, carrying a handbag over her shoulder. Bianca walks beside her, scrolling through her phone.

They are talking quietly until Tanya suddenly stops. Her eyes settle on the sofa. Wayna is holding Shayla close. Shayla’s face is buried against Wayna’s chest, and Wayna’s arms are wrapped protectively around her.

BIANCA

What happened? Why did you stop?

BIANCA

Wait a minute. Is that Shayla?

TANYA

Who else would it be?

BIANCA

Why is she crying in Wayna’s arms?

TANYA

That’s exactly what I’d like to know.

Wayna notices a movement near the entrance. She lifts her head. Her eyes meet Tanya’s, then she sees Bianca standing beside her.

TANYA

Well, well. What an interesting scene.

WAYNA

Tanya, this isn’t the time.

TANYA

Oh, really? And when would be the right time? Should we come back later?

BIANCA

We walk out here for two minutes, and this is what we find.

Shayla hears their voices and slowly lifts her head from Wayna’s chest. Her cheeks are wet, her eyes red from crying. The moment she sees Tanya and Bianca, embarrassment washes over her face.

TANYA

What exactly is going on here, Shayla?

SHAYLA

Nothing. I was just talking to Wayna.

TANYA

Talking? Is that what we’re calling it now?

WAYNA

Enough, Tanya. Shayla is upset. She came to talk to me, and she needed someone to listen. That’s all that happened.

BIANCA

Then why does everyone suddenly have to be so secretive about it?

WAYNA

Nobody is being secretive. You walked in while we were having a private conversation.

TANYA

A private conversation that apparently involves a lot of tears and a lot of hugging.

Shayla looks down at her hands. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her vulnerable. Now she feels as though she must defend herself for having emotions.

Scene 4: Anger Takes Over

EXT. GARDEN TERRACE — MOMENTS LATER

The atmosphere changes. The gentle afternoon suddenly feels tense as Tanya moves closer to the sofa. Bianca remains beside her, watching every expression. Wayna positions herself near Shayla.

TANYA

You know what bothers me? It’s not even the fact that she’s crying. It’s the fact that everybody seems to have a different story every time something happens around here.

WAYNA

You’re making assumptions without knowing anything.

TANYA

Then explain it.

WAYNA

Shayla misses Eman. She’s been struggling with her feelings, and she needed someone she could talk to without being judged.

TANYA

Eman again?

SHAYLA

Yes, Eman. I miss him. I haven’t hidden that from anyone.

TANYA

And you think crying about him is going to change anything?

WAYNA

That’s enough. You don’t have to agree with how she feels, but you don’t get to mock her for it.

TANYA

I’m not mocking her!

WAYNA

Then stop speaking to her like she’s done something wrong.

BIANCA

Everybody calm down. We’re not going to solve anything by shouting.

TANYA

I’m perfectly calm.

BIANCA

Tanya, you’re clearly upset.

TANYA

Of course I’m upset! I walk outside and find them holding each other like nothing else in the world matters.

WAYNA

For one moment, nothing else did matter. Shayla was hurting, and I was trying to help her.

A heavy silence follows. Shayla looks at Wayna with gratitude. She had expected to be embarrassed, questioned, and judged. She had not expected someone to stand up for her so firmly.

Scene 5: Shayla Finds Her Voice

EXT. GARDEN TERRACE — CONTINUOUS

Shayla slowly rises from the sofa. She wipes the remaining tears from her face and takes a deep breath. Her hands are trembling, but she forces herself to meet Tanya’s eyes.

SHAYLA

I don’t understand why you’re so angry with me.

TANYA

You don’t understand?

SHAYLA

No. I came here because I needed someone to talk to. I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. I wasn’t trying to create a scene. I wasn’t trying to make anyone jealous. I was simply having a difficult moment.

TANYA

Then why didn’t you go somewhere else?

SHAYLA

Because Wayna listened to me. She didn’t tell me to stop crying. She didn’t tell me to forget Eman. She didn’t make me feel foolish for missing someone who mattered to me. She just let me talk.

The words hang in the air. For a moment, even Tanya seems unsure how to respond. Wayna watches Shayla quietly, allowing her to speak for herself.

SHAYLA

I know you don’t like seeing us together right now. I can see that you’re angry. But please don’t turn the worst moment of my day into something ugly. I have enough to deal with already.

BIANCA

Maybe we should give them some space.

TANYA

You’re taking their side now?

BIANCA

I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m saying that Shayla is obviously upset, and this argument isn’t helping.

Tanya looks away, frustrated. Wayna reaches for a glass of water on the nearby table and offers it to Shayla. Shayla accepts it with a quiet nod. The simple gesture only makes Tanya’s expression tighten again.

Scene 6: A Warning Before the Storm

EXT. GARDEN TERRACE — LATE AFTERNOON

The sun has begun to sink lower in the sky. The tension remains, but nobody is shouting now. Tanya adjusts her handbag and takes a slow breath.

TANYA

Fine. If that’s what you want to call it, I’ll leave it alone for now.

WAYNA

Nobody asked you to approve of anything.

TANYA

Don’t push me, Wayna.

WAYNA

I’m not pushing you. I’m asking you to respect a situation you don’t understand.

BIANCA

Come on. Let’s go.

TANYA

Just be careful, Shayla. Sometimes people get involved in situations they don’t fully understand.

SHAYLA

I think I’ll decide for myself what I understand.

Tanya turns sharply and walks toward the terrace entrance. Bianca follows, but pauses to look back at Shayla.

BIANCA

I hope you’re feeling better.

SHAYLA

Thank you.

Bianca disappears through the doorway. The terrace falls silent again. Shayla watches them leave un