Eclipsed Echo

CHAPTER FOUR

 SYHA

      Aafia dragged me out of the corridor to an empty room that looked like a bedroom. I got to know from her that there is a party going on in occasion of her graduation. She invited every friends from school and college tonight who graduated with her. She says she can't believe I'm here and thinks fate has brought me here. I explained how did I end up here except for the part about meeting Iyan.

"I think today is my lucky day." She says sitting beside me on the bed. Her long black grown spreading all around her. "Trust me, you were the last person I was expecting to show up"

I gave a warm smile to her and looked around the room. 

"You've entirely changed the look of this building, Aafia. It took some minute for me to realize that this is the same building where we used to hang out on our school days." I pause for a moment, "to escape". 

She left out a sigh.

"Those were the most beautiful moments of our life, weren't they?" I could see memories of that period flashing before her eyes, just like it did the moment I stepped inside earlier. "But I didn't do any of this, baba did. When you left"  She steals a glance of me. "We naturally stopped coming here. Then one day, he realized he can use this good for nothing building for greater uses. He turned this broken building into a penthouse so that we can visit it occasionally to enjoy holidays"

     Right, how could I forgot. Aafia's father used to own this whole area including this building. I still remember how one day Aafia just casually brought us to show this old shabby building and it turn out to become our happy escape. Every time we used to get upset we called each other and ran here to hide from everyone else.

    Aafia's phone beeped, interrupting my thoughts. She took a moment to check her phone and her eyes widened. "Oh shit. I totally forgot about the party. Taimur has been hitting up my phone for the last ten minutes but I didn't notice" By the mention of Taimur's name sent a anticipation to my body. 

"Taimur?" 

"Yeah, Taimur. He says the rain stopped so they are all heading to the rooftop and they want me there right now. Says it's an order." She rolled her eyes so hard that it made me laugh. "So, before Taimur comes downstairs and murders me for not responding him we must hurry to the rooftop" She stands up taking my hand and marches toward the door.

"We?" I stop her in the middle. "Aafia, I think I'm gonna skip." She raises her eyebrows. So, I continue. "To say, I only came inside because of the rain. Now that the rain has stopped, I think I should get back. " Aafia looked at me like she couldn't understand what I'm saying. "Why? Don't you want to meet everyone?"

"I do, Aafi. I really do. But__", I stare down to my palm poking it with my nails. "I don't think I'm ready, yet"

    Her hands found both sides of my shoulder as she drew closer to me. "Syha, you've no idea how much we missed you. They're all gonna be happy to have you back, I promise "

"But, I haven't been here for years. I'm just gonna make everyone uncomfortable. Besides, I'm feeling overly guilty for leaving without saying anything to anyone." I gulp, an ineffective attempt to shallow my shamelessness. "I even ghosted you guys for the last four years. But, I swear I missed you, I missed everything. It was really difficult for me to leave everything behind, but I had to. "

She pulled me in a hug as my eyes gets teary.

"I know Sy, I know"