บท 2: 1 | the night before
4 years prior
It was almost midnight, and the sounds around the houses were louder than ever. Maybe it was the nerves, the excitement, and the fear of starting my new life in Julliard.
The sound of a car rolling in brought me back and I realized it may have been my sister, Aiza. Rolling my eyes, I took my phone and sent her a quick text asking if she needed help to get inside. She tended to leave and do her "late-night drives" as a way to drown out her thoughts. Or that's what she would say every time any one of us asks.
The quick knocks on the door answered my question. Guess she forgot her keys again. Why leave without keys? What was the point?
But this was our routine. Aiza would never come home past midnight. She'd stay out after dinner and comes back clean just before 1 am. Aiza would never drink or smoke, based on the multiple sniffs and questions she was given every time she returned. She would say again and again. "I just needed some quiet. Why would I do something that would only make them louder?"
Everybody left her to do her thing after that. I always thought it wasn't normal. And that no one in her twenties should be left alone at night. Especially a woman.
But Aiza barely talked, and this was the only activity that we do as sisters. I'd get her from the door, she'd walked with me upstairs to my room, and she'd stay by my side brushing my hair until I fall asleep. Then the next morning, she'd be smiling making everybody breakfast. Aiza was maybe a little different, but we all loved her kind of different.
And I always looked forward to her chocolate chip pancakes the morning later.
Except when I came down, red and blue lights reflected through my windows. And all I remember after was the screams, the broken cries, and the warmth I was offered from the last person I would've thought of.
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Michael was awoken from his sister yelling at him to get up and get ready as soon as possible. The grogginess in him left as soon as he heard about what had happened. Quickly grabbing a hoodie, he ran down the stairs to see his neighbor. To check on Aria.
He saw the girl that he had grown up with, the strong, fierce-eyed girl with her fiery red hair, now crouched by the porch as she watched her parents hug each other while the cops explained what had happened.
She looked cold. Her hair was in a bun, and she was just in a long tee and shorts.
Immediately shrugging off his hoodie, he covered her body with it and sat by her side with his arms around her. "I'm here." He whispered.
But all she did was stared, her gaze empty, distant.
Her parents and his left to check on the body. He suspect his parents only went along as a support system.
Leaving behind Michael, Aria, and his sister behind at their place. He left Aria on his bed before taking a cold shower, hoping to wash the sleep off him so he could be there for her.
He especially didn't like the distant look in her eyes. The eyes that no longer had the fuel he loved riling up so much.
Aria wasn't anywhere when he returned in a towel. He felt his heart race and quickly pulling on sweatpants and a sweater, he ran downstairs and outside with his keys. Ready to go on a hunt for her. He didn't have to though, she was back at the porch.
"Let's go back." He said looking down on her. There was a reaction from her this time. He noticed she had her phone with her, and she was listening to her sister's voicemail.
"I keep thinking this is all just another dream you have. Just another dream to remind you to cherish what you have. But I'm here and no one's inside. I'm here and I know soon her room will no longer smell like her. I'm here and now I don't exactly have someone to prove my music to."
He couldn't say anything. What could you say to someone who had just lost a family member? What can you say to make someone felt comforted?
He remained silent.
"Am I selfish for asking why it had to be tonight? The night of what was supposed to be my last time to make one good memory of when I was 18?"
She gave him a bitter smile, stood up abruptly, and pushed her door open. Michael followed behind absently.
For some reason she had taken hold of his hand, leading her up to her sister's room. This isn't right. I should tell her to stop. We should sleep. She has to rest. He still couldn't understand why he hadn't pushed her hand away.
But he did none of those when she looked back at him, the pain and guilt evident in her eyes. The silent "please" she had muttered when she pulled on his sweater.
So he followed.
That was the first time he had ever let her lead him.
And that was probably her first time leading someone too.
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this is probably obvious but... none of the artwork belongs to me.
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