FOR a split second it was as if the whole world revolving around Xaniyah was at a stand still. She just couldn't believe her ears, as she stood there in disbelief staring back at Ermis, the tears which had gathered already streaming down her beautiful face.

“Oh my world!” She exclaimed, “Mum? Dad?” She called as she staggered back, Salma ever ready to get hold of her, quickly wrapped her arms around her in comfort, pacifying her. She was crying as well.

“Xaniyah," Ermis came in gently, his voice cracking under the weight of his own grief.

"I'm so sorry. They didn’t make it. The plane... it went down. There were no survivors," he added.

Her knees buckled, and the room around her blurred as tears filled her eyes. Everything felt distant, unreal, as though she were trapped in a nightmare she couldn’t wake from.

She shook her head, the words refusing to make sense.

"No, no, they can't be gone. They promised they would be back for me, for us. They promised —," she broke down into uncontrollable tears.

“It is okay sweetheart,” Salma said in a bid to pacify her, the grief was much.

Her cries increased, she hoped it was all a bad dream that she couldn't wait to wake up from, but it was the reality, and the reality was inescapable. The looks on the faces around her, the sorrow that filled every corner of the room, there was no denying it. Her parents were gone.

The house, once filled with warmth and love, now in a twinkle of an eye felt cold, empty, a hollow shell of the life Xaniyah had known. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Her wobbling legs couldn't carry her weight anymore, and she felt the urge to walk away, like she could walk away from what stared hard at her, and so she began walking towards her room. Salma followed.

“Where are you going to dear?” She asked as they trudged along.

Xaniyah kept her mute, sobbing and said nothing, but just kept her pace. It didn't take Salma up to two seconds before she could realize Xaniyah was headed for her bedroom, and she sighed deeply.

They got to the room and Salma quickly opened the door, and they entered.

“You really have to take heart my child,” Salma said as she closed the door behind her, then led Xaniyah to the bed, where she collapsed into and fell into another round of uncontrollable tears, crying her eyes out.

Salma was so moved that she joined in the crying, feeling so heartbroken and downcast. This was her friend, her very best friend and her husband, it was too much for her as well.

Soon she couldn't hear the cries anymore, instead what she could hear was hiccuping, and instantly she knew that Xaniyah had fallen asleep. The poor girl had cried herself to sleep.

Salma shook her head sadly and got up, then tucked Xaniyah under the duvet, and walked out of the room, into the living room. It was already deserted as all who were present had already left. It was only Ermis, now sitting on the couch and having his had bowed that was present.

“She is asleep now,” Salma announced as she walked up to him. He slowly raised up his head.

“She has?” He asked as though he didn't hear her well.

Salma nodded.

“Yes. Let me get into the kitchen and make a little dinner, I will stay up for the dinner before I leave,” she said.

Ermis heaved a sigh of relief.

“Ahhh. How happy you have made me,” he said, “you have just eased a burden Salma, thank you so much,” he said.

Salma nodded.

“You are welcome. Fiona was my best friend, so I don't mind, I can do anything for her,” she said.

Ermis nodded.

“Thank you again. Meanwhile, my family would be here shortly, they are already on their way so please, do make more food,” he said.

She forced a smile and nodded.

“No problem, I will,” and then she left for the kitchen.

Ermis watched her leave, his thoughts filled with the death of his elder brother and the occurrences that gonna follow. How was he gonna do this? He had been thinking.

***

Thalia watched her phone dialed a contact for the upteenth time and still there was no response, her worry and anxiety increased a great deal.

Looking at the time bar on her phone it told her 17:35, she sat up on her bed immediately.

“What the hell could be going on?” She questioned herself.

For the past four hours since she got home, she had been dialing her best friend's contact, trying to reach her but it all just went void. There is nothing she hadn't done to reach her. She had called, texted, and even messaged her on all social media handles but yet, there was still no response.

She sighed deeply and leaned backwards, resting her back on the wall. The door to her room opened and she turned to it, it was her mother.

“She is still yet to reply?” Her mom asked as she closed the door behind her.

“Ahh! Yes mom,” Thalia said and looked away.

Her mom began walking up to her.

“I do not think she is in a great danger,” she said, “just keep on trying, she surely gonna pick up,” she added.

“I hope so mummy,” Thalia said.

Her mom smiled.

“You worry too much Thalia.”

“She is my best friend mummy,” Thalia replied.

“I didn't say she isn't,” she attacked back, “dinner is ready, do come down and eat,” she said then turned to leave the room.

“Okay mom, thank you,” and she sighed deeply.

As soon as her mom left, she reached out for her phone and dialed Xaniyah's contact one more time, and this time, she answered it.

***

The sweet smelling aroma of lobster rolls filtered into Xaniyah's room through the slightly opened door, coupled with the aroma of freshly made potato chips. It laced her nose and she opened an eye, closed it back, then opened the two at once.

Her eyes darted the room in a flash and she sat up, still inhaling the aroma coming in from the kitchen. The room was quite dark as the night was coming gradually.

“Mmmm,” she mouthed then dropped her legs on the floor.

She was about getting up when she felt a slight headache and she reacted to the pains, it reminded her that she had been crying. The instant the reason for the cry hit her, tears gathered in her eyes again.

She was now sobbing, and sobbing quietly. She was still crying when she noticed something lit up in the darkness on her dressing table, and a jolting sound followed. That sound was familiar, it was her ringtone, her phone was ringing.

She dragged herself up and lazily dragged her feet to the dressing table, where she picked up her phone. She looked at the caller id and found out it was Thalia.

Now sniffing, and wiping the back of her left palm across her face, she answered the call.

“Oh my!” Thalia exclaimed, “I have been calling dear, I hope you are fine?” She asked.

Xaniyah couldn't help it, she cried out, and Thalia heard it through the phone.

“Oh my! You are crying. What is it? Tell me,” Thalia said.

“It… it…” she tried to find the right words.

“It is what? Go on, talk, I'm here,” Thalia said.

“It is mum and dad,” she said.

“Okay, what happened to them? Are they back?”

Xaniyah shook her head like she could see her, crying all the more.

“They never will,” she said.

“Huh! What do you mean?”

“They are gone!” She let it out.