At the end corner of the hilly side village, a house with the red chipped paint wall loomed. From far, it is the perfect illusion of an old building with grief history under the dim light at night.   Indeed, it is...   Naomi could replay the little girl version of her running around what had been her playground when she was little. Then years after, the place she called home embarking into her battleground, she was in despair.    Since that day the law enforcement takes her father away from their house for murder charges, their life had been a misery with minimum financial support and the glare of the people around them as if they are criminals, life as a child had never been normal.    One day, while expecting their father's homecoming, instead they only got to hold his urn of ash instead of himself. They said her father was killed in a fight in the cell. With his death, the case closed, a

Nora's footsteps echoed on the floor that once had been a polished parquet. The abandoned house stood well over the years, beneath the flakes and dirt of years, the red brick walls and window frames still intact and still. A little spring cleaning is all they need to provide temporary shelter for them. The grand abandoned house is too luxurious for them, the spacious living area is more than enough for them to fit in a studio-type apartment. A single bed that held their hostage, a dining table at the center of the room, and by the doorway where they arranged the old fine upholstery leather couch and a coffee table. Halting to the man sitting on the couch who is packing the clear chunky crystals into a small plastic packet. With arms across her chest, she asked, "She mistakes me for Naomi, how much did you give her, Edward? It is almost ten hours ago and she is still asleep?" Edward looked up and stood up to face Nora, putting his business aside. His full stature draws attention to N

A man and a woman's sudden coming blocking the doorway had me almost screamed to the top of my lungs. The woman is clearly, Nora. Judging by their droopy eyes, they are probably high on drugs again. Nora had a past case of drugs abuse, it must be it, I assumed. I pushed them away at ease, anytime soon the man locked in the washroom will get his way out, every second is counted. The white minivan is my only motivation. In an instant I push the door lock button once I was inside. Insecurity and exhaustion messed me up for a while before I shake them away. Adjusting the seat, my trembling hand put the key to the ignition, luckily its starts in one kick. Manual transmission isn't my best, and my driving practice is only from the few session with Samuel. No valid driving license and it is even illegal to drive on the road

"Please forgive me for bringing you into this world only to see you suffer." "Please forgive me, Naomi..." Naomi's ears are filled with the dreadful whisper of her mother's final words. A teardrop has fallen and is glistening on her cheek, which she hastily wipes away with the back of her hand. Her mother's funeral took place a week ago. Naomi had to force herself to return to school today since staring at blank walls was no longer a viable option. Nelson longed for Naomi to be happy once more is futile. Naomi has few reasons to smile again. After all, she had predicted her ending from the moment Nelson showed up at her side. Nora had been missing for a few days, and she is the last family member she will have, but she was gone again. Nelson was the one who supported her. But what is the significance of this, given Nelson's knowledge of her deeds? He'll never look at her the same way again. Nelson will take her into his family, pay for her studies, and live happily ever after,

I genuinely miss him. One of my best childhood recollections, which I cherished despite growing up in a family where I didn't belong in, was Samuel Jin. Mom was emotionally spent on my younger brother's numerous long hours of treatment and preoccupied with his aggressive behavior. Sam stood in for the unrequited love. But it was the one that I never thought I'd lose in a heartbeat. While Samuel and I were returning from the study facility, two men in black masks who were thought to be part of a kidnapping ring attacked us. In exchange for Samuel's life, I had deceived the Grim Reaper in that very encounter. In light of the incident, my family made the decision to relocate to the City of Granata, a place rich in distinctive and ancient myths that endure for as long as the city does. Even Naomi, my best friend and someone who I think of more as a sister, I had to say goodbye to without a word. I disappeared overnight. Mom claims that the tabloid makes it impossible for us to live