I breathe out a heavy sigh as I sit down on the seat.

The day has been crazy for me.

I have been back and forth from the hospital and my home. My father already injured, admitted in the hospital and my frail mother falling sick from the shock.

And although, the doctor said that my father is out of danger, it will be taking him sometime to recover.

To say that my head was completely messed up from the events would be an understatement. I am worried that my headaches will start again.

Dr Kim told me to strictly avoid stress but here I am.

I let out a soft chuckle.

"Even if I want to avoid stress, stress won't avoid me".

Just then, my phone rings.

Thinking its my mother, I accept the call without looking at the caller name.

"Hello Mom? How are you feeling now?"

"..."

"Hello?? Mom?? Are you okay!?"

"Hey Lisha"

"?"

"It's Ray this side".

"Oh-"

"Are you coming or not?"

"Coming where??"

"I'm at XX town."

"Ah-"

I look over to the calender and I realise that it was already Monday.

"I have messaged you mutiple times since yesterday but you never really replied so I just called"

"I'm so sorry Ray, I completely forgot about it..."

"Well anyways, I have already landed and it will take me around 30 minutes to reach the town, so if you want to then..."

"I'll definitely be there!!!"

"Okay..."

He hangs up.

This is the same guy who innocently opened up so much to me, few days back when we first spoke.

But right now he speaks only so little.

It's obvious he is just being very careful.

I don't think he still trusts me.

But the thing is...

How do I leave my father like this??

Even my mom is...

Ugh...Should I say no to him?

But I have already come this far...

I gaze over to my father in the hospital room, through the glass.

He lay unconscious on the bed.

I gulp down a lump in my throat.

"Sorry dad...I promise to be back soon."

And I sprinted out the hospital.

I don't know what I am doing myself...

Even though I am really all they got...

Leaving my injured dad at the hospital...

And my sick mom at home...

I ran...

I ran to the town from my past.

The town that held transparent answers.

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

"Can you drive a little faster-" I urge the cab driver.

"I can do nothing, it's the traffic", the driver answers.

"Shit..." I rub my temples.

Then I remember, Ray said that he had pinged me many times yesterday.

I open my messages to find 13 unread messages in my inbox.

"Ahh...I didn't even check"

Ray had sent me his flight timings and the meeting location.

I opened the location link to find the images of a school.

Arora middle school...

I remember this place!

It's the same place I saw him in my dreams!!!!

But why would he...

Just then a message pops up in the chat.

"I am already here"

"I am on my way...Will be there in 10 minutes"

I wrote back to him.

Of course, the 10 minutes part was a lie. And it was obviously a stupid one.

It would be taking me atleast 30 more minutes given the traffic, but I don't want him to think that I am being late.

I sighed again.

Why is everything so tough...

My dad getting attacked, my mom falling sick...

And also...

"There was a huge fire in that town..."

I recall my mother's words.

Then the people from my past...

None of them are...

I bite down my lips.

I wonder how Ray will react when he finds out...

And then a message pops up again.

"I found him"

Ray was typing something.

"What?"

He was still typing.

But the message never reached me.

"Hey are you there??"

"Heyyyy!???"

I panicked and called him.

But he cuts the call.

What?

Even just a second ago he was...

Did something happen to him...?

I fear the worst as always...

Ray...you are the only hope I have left for me!

If you too...

"Arghh!!! Stop the car, I'll get out!!"

"What? But we are not even there yet" the driver says.

"How will we? We have been barely moving for the past 10 minutes! I would literally be reaching my destination by now even if I were to walk!!"

"Ma'am the traffic is really bad today, looks like somethinghas happened. How do you expect me to move in this??"

"Okay fine! Just leave me here!"

"Okay, whatever you wish"

I pay the driver and rush out of the cab.

I sprint through the army of cars as they honk at me loudly.

But none of that reached me.

All that I could think of was Ray...

Please be safe!!!

And without my knowledge, my legs carried me forward.

Sprinting through a less visited lane.

And since there were a few cars and less and less people on the lane, I could run very quickly.

And when I took a turn to the right, I was greeted with an old shabby building.

I stopped in my tracks to catch my breath.

And when I was finally able to look up...

I realised that I was at the school.

I wiped the sweat of my face and walked towards the front of the building.

"Arora Middle school"

It was really the school Ray sent me.

And also the same one that I saw in my dreams!

But wait...

How did I..?

I look behind to see a narrow path surrounded by trees that leads to a lonely road.

So I took that way...

But how did I know that it would lead me to here..?

Was it a mere coincidence?

Or was it...

Wait more importantly!!

Ray!!!

I pull out my phone and try calling him for one last time...

Please...please be safe!!

And to my surprise, I hear a phone ringing from behind.

The call is answered this time.

"Lisha?"

The voice from the other side of the phone feels so near.

Tears run down my eyes.

As I turn behind to see him.

"You are safe..."

Behind, was a thin looking guy in glasses along with another older man.

"Is that really you, Lisha?"