We are in progress

Prolouge

It is only a few seconds until they announce the inevitable. I lean against the white walls beside my cousin Zuhair, noticing passersby glancing our way in sympathy.

"She's only 15, the elder daughter," I hear someone say sparing me a look.

I turn my head towards my little sister, who has fallen asleep resting her head on our elder brother's shoulder.

"Ree?" I hear someone call my name. It's Mamu, my mother's brother.

"Yes, Mamu?"

"I think it's time. I'm sorry." He says with a sad smile, fighting back his own tears. His sister was clinging to life only merely as well, wasn't she?

I walk up to my brother and take a seat beside him, resting my head on his other free shoulder. Zafar clutches my hands in his.

Zuhair wraps his arms around his father, who hugs him tightly—his shoulders shaking. It was time. Time, to hold onto each other as our only family left passed away.

-*-

8 months later

He is packing his bags when I come into his room and stay rooted in my spot when I realize where's heading off to. He must have felt my presence, because he turns around to look at me to shoot me an uneasy smile. "Hey, Ree. Come in."

I don't move and just stare at his moving hands putting his clothes inside his backpack. He notices my stiffness and sighs. He walks up to me taking away the plate of food I have brought for him and sets it on his bedside table and takes a sit on his bed, staring at the floor, or his feet? I don't know.

"So, this is it then?" I ask him, a few moments later.

He doesn't say anything and continues to stare at the ground. I turn away to leave his room when I hear him mutter almost inaudibly. "I can't do this. I'm sorry."

I don't turn around. What's there to talk about when he's already made up his mind?

"Goodbye," I say and leave him to be.