Operation PHOENIX

Getting Acquainted

I thought about what to say next. I racked my brain to say something.......anything. Thank God!!! Kiara helped me out there. "I don't think we should stay outside at night. Let's head for my place," she said. Serena agreed to stay with us. I led the way towards Kiara's house. Both of them followed me. Kiara was talking to her about something. But they were whispers so I couldn't quite make it out. I tuned them out and prepared myself for the days to come.

I realized the gravity of the situation for the first time. Until now, I was always dependent on my family for everything. For the first time in my life, I had no one to depend on. Instead, Kiara and Serena depended on me now. They were my responsibility. How am I going to protect them? How am I going to survive? Mom once told me, "There will come a time in your life when me and your father won't be around and you will have to take on life's challenges on your own. You will have to take decisions that won't just affect you, but also others around you. But do not doubt your capabilities when that time comes, just believe in yourself and everything will become a lot easier." I don't know if I am capable of taking on such a huge responsibility, but I know that I will never stop trying.

We were sitting in Kiara's living room after having some of the biscuits we brought from the supermarket. Kiara asked Serena to tell us her story. Serena started with a calm voice, "Me and my dad were driving through the 122nd Street towards our home, when all of a sudden, I heard numerous crashes down the road. Before I could even think about that, Dad crashed our car directly into the building to the right. The airbags opened instantly and saved my lives. But I was knocked unconscious by the blow. After a few minutes, I woke up and tried to get out of the car. But the door won't budge. I realized that the windscreen was shattered, so I used it to get out of the car. Once I was outside, I went to the other side and I got my dad out. I tried to wake him up, but he didn't respond. I checked his pulse and his heartbeat. There was none. I didn't know what to do next, so I just sat there and stared at his lifeless body." Tears flowed out of her eyes and she stopped speaking. Kiara went close to her and wrapped her in her hands. I didn't know what to do, I felt useless. She started speaking again, "After about an hour I started walking, I didn't know where I was heading towards. I didn't really care because I had no one to go to. My mother had left me when I was 3 and now my dad too. I was alone. I didn't know for how many hours I kept walking. Then all of a sudden the tall man came running towards me. At first, I thought he wanted help. But as soon as he reached me, he just attacked me with full force. I somehow managed to dodge his attack and run. He started following me and that's when you saved me."

By the time she was done, Serena and Kiara were drowning in tears. I composed myself and told them to get some rest. The girls went to sleep in Kiara's bedroom while I had to choose between the living room and Kiara's parents' bedroom. It felt weird to sleep in a room with a dead person in it. So I made my way to the bedroom. I just collapsed on the king-size bed and sleep overtook me instantly.

I woke up to the sweetest voice in the world calling out my name. I grumbled, "Let me sleep, MOM!!!!" The voice called again, "Alex, wake up its me, Serena." I just jumped up at that name. A beautiful young girl was sitting beside me and she got startled. Then it dawned on me. It was all real. I apologized to Serena for scaring her. I asked her to give me some time to freshen up. She agreed and left the room. I went to the bathroom and entered the shower. I never got the chance to wash off the blood on my hands and face. I freshened up, wrapped a towel around me and left the washroom. I texted Kiara on her cell, "Hey, I kind of need something to wear. Please help me out." Within a few minutes, there was a knock on my door. I figured it to be Kiara with clothes for me. I opened the door. Serena was standing there wearing a short green dress. She looked like a meadow. She even smelled like a meadow. I caught her staring at me. I suddenly realized I was half naked. I took the clothes she had in her hand and quickly closed the door.

While changing into the blue denims and the black t-shirt Kiara had sent me, my mind replayed the scene with Serena that happened a few moments ago. That dress was really going to be a problem for me. It would not let me focus. I texted Kiara again, "Change into some t-shirts and denims".

I headed towards the living room. Serena was sitting there on the couch, still in the green dress. I just couldn't take my eyes off her. I sat beside her and tried to make small talk. I failed to utter a single word. Finally she said, "You sleep like a baby," and went to Kiara's bedroom. I just sat there, blushing.