ME & YOU

It's time

Kayla was sitting on the edge of a rock watching the sunrise over the blue sea. Gurpreet saw her dark shadow from behind leaning over a coconut tree. He sat next to her on the rock. He turns to see her sunlit face from the side. Gurpreet slowly places his hand above hers on the rock. Her hands were cold. He strokes over it softly in circles. Kayla takes in a deep sigh inside and pulls her hand back.

"How long?" Kayla finally broke the silence.

"What how long?"

"How long should I wait actually to spend time with you? How long should I wait to laugh with you? How long should I wait for our souls to meet?"

"We have met. I am speaking to you right now?"

"My soul is not speaking to you right now, Gurpreet. I am your subconscious mind."

"What do you mean?"

"I am not real, Gurpreet. I am dying of loneliness. I can't live alone like this. Please... come fast." Tears dripped off her round cheeks.

"I am trying Kayla. Just a few days. Just in a few days, I will come and receive you."

"Then, I think it's time."

"Time for what?"

"Time for you to let go." She cried. She stood up from the edge of the rock. Gurpreet watched her as she slowly walked backwards towards the ocean, both with tears in their eyes.

"No, I am not letting you go." Gurpreet tries to grab her with his hand. It just passed through it.

"You have to, Gurpreet." She told.

Then slowly, all the trees, land, sun and Kayla converged into a white dot in the middle of black space. The white dot vanished and left Gurpreet in the middle of nothingness.

"Sir, Anything else."

Gurpreet wakes up from his daydream. The waiter arrived near the table noticing the fact Gurpreet had just ordered a coffee. Gurpreet shakes his head off to get back to his senses.

"No, thanks. Get me the bill."

***

"Sorry, Kevin. I couldn't do anything." Sally consoled him.

Kevin was sitting on a wooden bench opposite their house along with Sally. He watched the officers and crowd gather near his house. He had seen her face. Struck with terror her mouth wide open. The image was stuck in his face. Sally rubbed her hand over his shoulder to soothe him down.

"Sally"

"Yes?" She responded.

"Is there something you think you should tell me?"

"No. Why?"

"First, it was Amrit's uncle. Next, it was my mom. Now, the only one left is me. Are they after our family?" He asked in a surprisingly low tone. "Will they kill me?"

"Nothing of that sort will happen to you. Don't overthink. The police have promised to provide us with full security. If there's anything I feel like I should tell you then I will mention it. Fine?"

"Fine," Kevin said.

His heart felt a loss which he never thought he would feel. He regretted that he wasn't there for her during her last few minutes. He felt regretful for all the times he felt angry at her. He wished for another chance to tell her how sorry he was but that's not how life works. He had lost that opportunity. A stream of tears was flowing over his round cheeks and dripping off his chin.

"Kevin, I understand your situation right now but I wanted to know if you have some good friends. We need a house to stay. It would just make us feel sad."

"No one. No friends." He replied staring at his feet on the empty road for no reason.

Sally thought giving Kevin some time alone would make him feel better. She got up from the bench and walked over to Ranjan to know the status of the case. 

Kevin wipes the tears off his face. He was anxious to call Natasha's mom. He didn't have close friends. He had only friends who he could talk with casually but they were not real friends. They won't allow him in their house. He didn't know how to explain to her that they needed a place to live but he felt they were the only ones to understand the situation. He slowly breathes out with the phone in his hand. Then, he clicks on the dial button. With the sound of every ring, his heartbeat picked up slowly. Finally, she received the call.

"Hello, Aunty."

There was no response.

"Hello, Aunty."

"Kevin..." She whispered into the phone speaker. Her voice was low in angst and pain.

"What happened, Aunty?"

"Na...ta...sha." She spoke.

"What happened to her?"