Some people hurt you without even touching you, and the worst part is watching them laugh while you bleed inside.
Kaira was already thinking about what to do as she walked back home. She froze when she saw the door to their room open and heard the clatter of cutlery inside, stopping abruptly. She tiptoed closer, turning on her phone flashlight. Her heart thumped louder than her steps.
Pushing the door open slowly, she was surprised to see Alisha sitting on the bed, eating while watching a movie on her phone. Kaira let out a quiet breath.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you," Kaira said. Alisha didn't respond, focused on her screen, laughing softly as she scooped more food.
"Alisha, I'm talking to you," Kaira tried again. Alisha only laughed louder, ignoring her.
Kaira sank onto the bed, her heart heavy with sadness and disappointment. She knew that when Alisha got that angry, nothing could make her respond. Her mind wandered, wondering how she had ended up being so disliked even by her only friend.
That night, Alisha didn't sleep on the bed. She slept on the floor. Kaira couldn't close her eyes, her thoughts spinning until she finally drifted off around 5 a.m., hoping Alisha would wake her for their 7 a.m. class.
By the time Kaira woke, it was 9 a.m. The class was over. Tears filled her eyes as she realized she had overslept. She checked Alisha's bag and saw her books had been taken, leaving Kaira behind.Pain mixed with anger, but she forced a small smile.
"It's fine," she muttered. She bathed quickly and left the room without breakfast, walking to her next class alone. The streets felt empty without Alisha. Passing groups of friends laughing together, memories of herself and Alisha crowded her mind.
When she arrived at the lecture hall, it was full. Alisha wasn't in their usual seat. Kaira sat quietly, expecting her to come. She unpacked her books and glanced up, spotting Alisha at the front with some girls, laughing and chatting.
At first, Kaira decided to let her be. Watching from a distance was enough. Maybe the girls were just acquaintances. But after a few minutes, she couldn't stand it. She walked over, even though she hated being in the middle of such a group.
"Hi, Alisha," she said softly. Alisha hissed and continued laughing with her friends, as if Kaira were invisible. Her face burned with embarrassment.
The lecturer arrived, and Kaira returned to their usual seat, sitting alone. No one wanted to sit beside the quiet girl who kept to herself. Three hours later, she tried again.
"Let's go home," Kaira said.
"Did we come here together? Find your way," Alisha snapped, walking off with her friends. The girls around her smirked and whispered. One muttered, "Your lonely friend must really miss you," and they laughed.
Kaira adjusted her bag and walked home alone. Her phone rang. She trembled, looking for a quiet spot to answer.
"Mum, good afternoon," she said softly.
"You didn't even call me today," her mother scolded.
"I'm sorry, Mum. I almost missed class, so I didn't," Kaira explained.
"Missed class? That's how you always are?" her mother raised her voice.
"No, ma," Kaira said quickly.
"What am I even expecting from you?" Her mother hung up.
Kaira felt drenched in a storm of sadness. She wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come.
When she got home, she noticed Alisha's blanket on the bed. She realized how cold the floor must have been for her friend. Kaira spread her own blanket on the floor and put Alisha's on the bed.
A few minutes later, Alisha returned and jumped onto the bed happily, even seeing Kaira on the floor. That was how Kaira stopped sleeping on the bed and started sleeping on the floor.
She had missed many classes already, and her cough had returned, worse than before.
One morning, after Alisha left for class, Kaira woke to her usual coughing fit. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, but when she moved it away, her eyes widened in shock. Dark red stained the cloth. Metallic taste filled her mouth.
She coughed again. Blood. She looked at it as if she had been expecting it but panic rose as a loud bang sounded at the door. Her eyes darted around, heart racing. She quickly hid the handkerchief, trying to make sense of what was happening.