Whisked Away

Untitled Part 4

"Hey, Tanya. Wake up."

"Mm..." Tanya nuzzled against the soft pillow. "Pete..."

"It's me, Tanya." A voice replied, "Wake up."

Tanya woke up to a blur figure in front of her. Rubbing her eyes, Rose was standing there with a look of sympathy. It wasn't Pete. Disappointment and pain shot through her every cell.  

"Hey," Tanya managed as she forced herself up.

"I got you some food," Rose took out a noisy plastic bag of food from her ebony Michael Kors handbag. "it's your favourite Chinese takeaways- fried noodles."

Tanya smiled weakly, knowing that she would not be able to stomach it. "Thanks, but I don't have the appetite."

"Listen," Rose held Tanya at her shoulders, "you have to eat. All of us don't want to see you this way. Okay?"

"FOR WHAT?" Tanya burst out in hysteric sobs. "HE'S GONE, SO WHY SHOULD I LIVE?"

Taken aback, Rose hesitantly took a step forward and hugged her best friend. Tanya, a once lively and beautiful lady had now been isolating and neglecting her health; she was frail, pale, had dark, sunken eyes and her hair was a mess. The devastating news had hit her hard and she was being too harsh on herself. 

"I cleaned up the house," Rose whispered, enveloping her with heads over each other's shoulders, "and there are microwave food in the fridge if you feel hungry. I'll come back tomorrow, okay?"

Sniffing, Rose left the apartment and with a click of the doorknob, Rose was gone. Tanya knew she had hurt Rose's feelings, but she was too tired to worry about that... For now, she had to give in to her ferociously growling stomach. A tragic mess made herself to the kitchen. As she opened the fridge, the light from it made her squint. It had been days since she cooped herself up in her room without stepping out of the house. With a heave, she poured herself a cold cup of milk and tossed a box of microwave food into the oven. Taking small sips, she reminisced the good times with Pete; she replayed every laughter and tears she went through with him. Dates were never a bore as he loved goofing around. You have a beautiful smile and I would love to see that on your face as much as possible. Pete's voice echoed in her head, once a voice, now, just a figment of her memory.  Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to push the thoughts to the back of her mind as tears welled up. 

TTTTIIIINNNNGGGG! The microwave beeped, startling a crestfallen Tanya. Frantically rushing to remove the packet food she had left in, she scalded her hands. OUCH! The hot box of her favourite curry chicken released the pungent smell of char. She had left the food in too long and she hadn't even realised, just like how she had failed to realise how dependent she was on Pete and had grown onto him like a sight of vines. Without him, she drooped in sadness without anyone to pick her up from the dirt she had landed upon. She aimlessly chucked the burnt chicken which missed the bin and landed on the floor, curry flowing over the white tiles of her kitchen. She went to bed again, exhausted and hopeless.