Solace

Chapter 6- fragile

Uncle Abrahim took me to his home. I asked him to drive me to my home first, so that I could pick some stuff up. Amber was in the car already. She helped me out of the car and I hopped towards the main gate. My phone was lying outside the gate. I bent down to pick it up but the pain on my side, which was now a big blue bruise, stopped me. Amber quickly picked it up and handed it to me. She had a very fragile frame but her facial features had different story to tell. They were sharp and strong. Strong but kind.

"Thanks Amber." I smiled at her and hopped aside for uncle Abrahim to unlock the door. They helped me inside and I quickly picked up mom's locket. My handbag, charger, laptop, some clothes and leena's notes on blood physiology. I took half an hour for just that. Amber helped me but it was as fast as I could do with my current state. I went into the living room. Where uncle Abrahim was seated comfortably reading my notes. Eliza was probably in the kitchen checking my fridge for something to eat. She was very strict about the stuff she ate. She sometimes gave me her special herbal tea and homemade spice mixes.
"Ah! I see you're taking your studies seriously. Atleast more than me, when I was in first year of my medical school." Uncle Abrahim said, impressed.
I laughed,"Medicine is hard. You have to take it seriously from day one."

"I know but you need to go out and have friends and not get suffocated at home with all the books around you. Kid, you need to live too."

"Yeah I have friends and I go out too. Trust me I'm not studying as much as I should be."

He then lectured me about how people are dangerous and I'm old enough to know it. He scolded me. Again.
I just kept my head down and nodded.

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I texted Myra, as soon as I reached uncle Abrahim's double story beautiful house. His house wasn't that far from my home, but it had been more than a year since I last saw it. Garden looked much nicer. The apple tree, although without the fruit, still sat beautifully in the corner. There was no swing now. Eliza hated it. But uncle loved it. I think Eliza somehow convinced uncle Abraham to give it away. I hope the swing gave its new owner the happiness it failed to give me.

They had changed everything inside. Furniture, pictures on the wall etc. Uncle Abrahim closely noticed me.
"Like it? It's all Eliza's doing." He said.
"Yeah it's beautiful." I lied. It felt far from home. More like an ikea store.

He helped me walk up the stairs to my old room. It had been changed too. I changed my clothes and tied my hair into a high bun and observed the small bandage above my eyebrow near my temple. It'll definitely leave a scar.
There was a knock on the door and then Amber came in with a tray. My stomach growled in response. Amber giggled and I looked away, embarrassed.
"Sorry miss, if you want more just call me." I smiled sheepishly.
And I called her twice after that.

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"STOP THE FIRE! HEEELP"

"GET AWAY FROM THE HOUSE SOFIA!"

"AZMIR IS INSIDE, DAD!"

"WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY? AZMIR IS INSIDE? OH MY GOD AYBERK CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE! AERRIN TAKE HER AWAY, YOU FOOL!"

"Sorry dad I didn't mean to start the fire! Dad save Azmir please!"

"SHUT UP AND GET BACK SOFIA, LOOK WHAT YOU DID!"

"I'm sorry dad I'm sorry." -

I woke up with sharp pain in my knee and no oxygen in my lungs. I tried to breathe but no air entered my lungs. It was dark but the moon shone brightly enough from the terrace glass doors to make out the room. The edge of my vision begin to darken and my brain was on fire.
I panicked and got out of the bed, ignoring the throbbing pain in my knee. I didn't know where to go. I went towards the terrace doors and tried to open it with my shaking, sweaty hands. The door opened and I ran out into the fresh air. Falling on the floor, as my knee gave in. I tried to breath again and again, trying to push any oxygen inside me. It work and I closed my eyes. The oxygen reached to my screaming tissues, slowly calming them down. I lied on the floor and took deep breaths until my vision restored, my mind stopped spinning and my heart stopped drumming. Cold sweats on my neck were making me shiver now. It didn't matter. I was breathing again.