Hollow

One | Hurdles

Miami, Florida

Zahra POV

'It's dark as I walk along the street. I feel as if something is behind me, I look back and don't see anything. I continue my trance, throwing caution out the window and pick up my pace...maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Then I hear it: a noise. It sounds like the cry of horse and turning around, I see a black horse a few meters away from me. Like the scaredy-cat I am, I do the rational thing any person in my situation would do; I march forward and caress the horse.

Unfortunately, even I, am not that brave. If there's one thing I've learnt, it's to never face death directly. If you can prolong the hours until your death then stay alive as long as you can. So yeah, I run. I run as fast as I can.

I don't consider myself to be a clumsy person but how I failed to noticed my shoe lace was lose proves exactly that. Looking over my shoulder, I notice the horse getting closer and sigh in defeat knowing I don't have enough time to make a run for it without tripping again...'

I am pulled from my slumber by the irritating sound of the alarm. Groaning, I sit up and pull the covers from my body, turning it off in the process. I look at the time and let out an exasperated sigh before getting out of the bed and heading straight to the bathroom.

Clean and ready to go, I head straight to the kitchen and roam the various drawers, pulling cereal and pour its contents into a bowl and pour the milk right after. I settle on one of the stools and start eating as I scroll though Twitter. I hear footsteps making their way inside the kitchen and seconds later, my brother Luca storms in and sits next to me.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Your phone has an alarm, doesn't it?"

He diverts his attention from his cereal, shrugging. "I was up late and forgot to set it."

"Too bad." I chuckle, placing my bowl in the sink and reach for my bag before walking out the door.

I hop in my car, connecting my phone to the sound system as I wait for Luca. Looking at the time on my wrist watch, it's already 8:45 A.M. After forever; 10 minutes to be exact, he storms out of the house. He settles in and we speed off with Wizkid blasts in the background.

It wasn't always just Luca and I. We had adoring parents that loved us and gave us their all but we lost them to a car accident one fateful day, three years ago. They had gone out for their wedding anniversary but some drunk driver hit their car, the collision instantly killing them instantly. Nothing was ever the same after that. I was eighteen and in my first year in college so I could perfectly take care of my brother and myself, after all, our parents had left us with enough money to last us a lifetime.

For the rest of the way, no one says a thing until we finally reach the college building. We get out of the car and start walking towards the main door. I walk into my first class and notice that the professor is not here yet. Sighing in relief, I take a seat at the back of the class, placing my stuff on the desk before pulling out my phone. I place my airpods in my ears and finally rest my head on my arms on the desk, tuning out everything. A tap on my shoulder interrupts my little moment. Opening my eyes, I come face to face with my best friend who greets me with a knowing smirk.

I've know Jasmine since we were little; her family moved here from Eritrea few years after her birth. She has jet black hair that goes all the way down her back, and curves in all the right places —effortlessly gorgeous is one way to put it. Anyways, our parents met at an investors' party and hit it off really well, and the next thing I knew, our families introduced us to each other and we've been basically been inseparable since then. The Hassans have always been like a second family and even offered to live with them after our parents passed; an offer that I politely declined but nevertheless, will always be grateful for.

"I hate you."

She waves me off. "No, you don't. Besides, Philips is already in class and I just saved your ass from a boring pep talk."

I sit up straight and divert my focus to the front where the professor starts his lecture.

Business Management is not really a course I'd say I enjoy. Firstly, because I am an Aerodynamics Engineering major and business it's not exactly my cup of tea, and secondly because I don't really have a choice. However, since Keith Philips looks extra fine today, I'm willing to make an exception.

"Since it's my birthday this weekend, I'm letting you guys off easily this time." He says in his thick British accent, his gaze looking specifically my way. "I don't want any drunk late-night calls again."

For a second, I think he's staring at me but I notice his eyes are trained on the person next to me. I turn my head to find Jas fidgeting in her seat.

"Something you wanna share, Jas?" I tease.

"Girl, shut up and let's go." She groans, ushering me out of the class.