Red lights

Present day.

My dad’s phone rings a quarter past two.

We know it’s a bad thing when somebody calls past midnight. It either your aunt from America or somebody is dead.

It was the police. Mom wakes up too, half of her still asleep. “Hello?” dad said turning the bedside lamp on.

“Mr. Lian, we are so sorry to inform you, that your daughter’s body has been found at the woods near her high school”

“Mr. Lian?

I think my dad is still waiting for the morning to come so he can wake up from this night mare.

“Mr. Lian, we understand it’s a tragic loss for you, but please cooperate with us” the police officer said.

“She’s gone?” was all that he could manage to say.

 “Yes sir, we are still trying to learn the cause, can you come down to the station and confirm it’s your daughter?

Dua wa