‘Hello, you’ve reached Rosie here! I can’t answer the phone right now but I’ll call you back as soon as possible. Thank you.’   I sighed as I was answered by the voice mail for the nth times. I haven’t heard anything from Rosie today. She said she would attend an interview for a newly opened book store in the morning. I was eager to hear from her how it goes, but she didn’t reply any of my texts nor calls. Guess I’ll just visit her at work later. “What’s with the long face?” I looked up, only to find Bryan placing several documents then proceed to sit above my table. Ever since I got promoted, I got my own room which just a floor above Bryan. He often comes here for coffee or just chilling. “Got into a fight with your girlfriend?” He didn’t even bother to hide his teasing smile. He must have heard it from Ayle. News do travel faster than light. “Nope,” I loosen my tie and lay my back on the leather chair. I glanc

“Ayle?”My sister turned towards me and gasped.“What are you doing here?” We asked in unison.I fasten my pace towards my sister who just pressed the lift button to the ground floor. She looks surprised then whispered something to the man beside her, which I assume is her assistant. The man nodded and step aside, giving us space to talk.“What are you doing here?”“Hi to you too, Alex.” She rolled her eyes before proceeding to hug me. I was the first one to let go of the hug, because I was curious to what she was up to.“I’m here just for monthly check up.”“But you never do monthly check up?” I quirked my eyebrow.“I’ve been a bit stress lately, you know, work stuff.” She shrugged. “What about you?”“I just accompanied Rosie here. Her mom got hospitalized.”“Oh I see,” she

“Good evening, Ma’am. I brought you some fruits.” I greeted as I entered the room. I just got off work and decided to pay Rosie’s mom some visit before going to bed shopping.“You don’t have to, young man. I don’t want to trouble you even more.”Rosie’s mom quickly tries to sit, but I stopped her from doing so. “No, please don’t say that. Oh, and you can call me Alex. I’m…” I stopped mid-sentence, not sure if Rosie has introduced me as her boyfriend. Wait, has she even introduced me to her family?“Rosie’s boyfriend?”I looked up to find her mom smiling softly at me. I scratch my nape and let out a sheepish smile, “yeah.”“Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”I smiled, not really knowing what to say. I glanced over Milly who is looking at me, like she wants to say something.“Hi Milly, have you eaten?”“Yes, I just finished my porridge just now.” She answered while pointing at an empty bowl on the table.“Oh I see. Here, I bought you an ice cream.”Hearing the word ‘ice cream’,

Everyone is busy with their own tasks. There are several nurses walk in and out from that room where Ayle and mom are being kept. Also a few policemen keep running here and there. Dad and his wife, also some other people I might or might not know, tried to talk to me. But everything felt like some muffled mess voices.Everything happened too fast. One second I was at home, then in a blink of an eye, I’m here. At the morgue. Waiting for my turn to see my sister and mom for the last time. Honestly, I feel numb. No more tears coming out from my eyes. I’m exhausted. And confused. And… numb.What exactly has happened? Is it even possible to loss two family members at the same night? Or maybe, at the same time?Why? I know life has gone wrong at some points, but do they really need to do it? What has gone really worst to the point they committed suicide? Is it easier to leave this world behind, than to strive together?The worst part is, why didn’t I notice it before? They might have given

I’m awake.But I don’t want to interact with anyone.I choose to keep my eyes close, with ears wide open listening to all the murmurs.This place smells like shit. And drugs. Also, omnipresent smell of antiseptic. It doesn’t require an Einstein to know I’m at a hospital.“He suffered from severe dehydration. But you don’t have to worry. We have given him some medical treatment and he should be waking up anytime soon.”That’s the one who treat me.“Thank you, Doctor.”That’s my dad.Several footsteps are walking further and I could hear the faint sound of door closing.“You should get some proper rest, Rosie. You have been watching over him since last night.”“I’m okay, Uncle. Besides, the doctor said Alex will wake up soon. I want to be here when he wakes up.”That’s the sweet voice coming from my girlfriend.Dad sighed, knowing he can’t do anything. “I will get some food for you, okay? You can text me if you need anything in the meantime.”Rosie hummed in response. She also said than