The Captured

Season 02 Episode 19

I miss being active here and connecting with y'all but my exams are really keeping me occupied. But i'd come around soon.

Sylvia's greeting as I entered the living room elicited a sigh, though I couldn't help but inwardly balk at the word 'dead.'

Yet, here I was, alive and well.

"A zombie?"

I offered, trying to inject a bit of humor into the exchange.

"Haha, yeah.," she chuckled in response, and I settled onto the couch beside her, joining her in watching the movie playing on the TV.

As the night before Christmas approached in the year 2009 everyone was gathered at my parents' house for dinner. Sylvia and I had been close friends back then, but the dynamics shifted when Rim was born. Suddenly, I found myself gravitating towards my younger cousin, spending much of my time with her.

I recall one particular incident when, in the dead of night, I slipped downstairs to place gifts for everyone. On my return to my room, Sylvia had emerged from the shadows, and her reaction had been utterly unexpected—she screamed, her terror palpable.

I was left to spend the night in the chilly living room, the heating having failed, while she locked herself in my room.

The next morning, she sheepishly apologized, admitting she mistook me for a zombie under the dim hallway lights. Despite my amusement, that Christmas was spent battling a fever and a cold.

Now, the living room was filled with people, all engrossed in the movie playing on the screen. Rim's reaction to a scene drew laughter from me, though she shot me with a playful glare. Tamimi, ever the sage, pinched her cheek affectionately before offering his insight.

"Not every hero survives," he mused, his words striking a chord within me.

There was a depth to his voice, a hint of longing in his gaze that hinted at his own experiences of loss and struggle. Perhaps that's why he understood my pain so well—because he had faced similar trials himself?

"Heroes will always be remembered as heroes," he concluded, bringing me back to the present moment. I nodded in agreement, grateful for his wisdom.

"The hero died, that means he lost. Villain won."

Alex chimed in from his rocking chair, offering a different perspective on the narrative.

I tilted my head in his direction, offering my perspective. "Doesn't mean he didn't try," I interjected, meeting Tamimi's gaze.

His smile, though present, seemed to lack its usual warmth, leaving me to furrow my brow in concern.

"Enough heroism for now, I'm starving. Can we go eat?" Olivia interrupted, breaking the tension.

"Let's go out for pizza." Barron suggested eagerly, but Tamimi quickly intervened.

"Hey, it's 40 degrees outside. Let's not risk heatstroke, especially with Barron being sick. Why don't we stay in? I can ask Nancy to make us some pizzas and burgers instead. How does that sound?" He proposed.

"Sounds like a plan." Sylvia chimed in, and Magnos flopped back onto the sofa in agreement.

As others dispersed into different rooms, I offered Tamimi a grateful smile, noticing the subtle tension lingering in his demeanor. Something was definitely off with him today.