Kiara

Kiara stirred awake, groggily reaching for her phone on the cluttered nightstand. 5:27 PM. Another slow start. She stared blankly at the screen, letting the haze of sleep fade. A message notification from her parents caught her eye: 'Could you please feed the cats? We’re going to be home late today.'

With a weary sigh, she tossed the phone aside and forced herself out of bed. After a quick, lukewarm shower, she threw on a few clothes not bothering too much with her appearance. Feeding the cats wasn’t urgent—but it gave her something to do.

Stepping outside, she was greeted by an eerie stillness. The night had already fallen, draping the neighborhood in heavy shadows. Thick clouds smothered the sky, allowing no light but the dim, flickering streetlamps. The cold air bit at her skin, sharp and relentless. She stuffed her hands deep into her pockets, head down, as she walked the familiar path toward her parents’ apartment—a short, lonely five-minute trek.

The streets stretched silent and deserted, not a single soul in sight. The only sounds were her steady footsteps and the occasional rustle of wind through the barren trees. A distant chill prickled the back of her neck, though she dismissed it as the cold.

Reaching the apartment, she unlocked the door with practiced ease and stepped inside, the familiar scent of home wrapping around her. She pushed the door shut with a soft click before freezing in place—her eyes locked on something unsettling.

The living room light was on.

Her breath hitched. Her parents were supposed to be out late. They never forgot to turn off the lights—not like this. A sudden wave of unease swept over her as she cautiously reached for the umbrella resting by the door—a flimsy but better-than-nothing form of defense. Fingers tightening around its handle, she inched toward the glowing light, her steps slow and measured, her heart pounding louder with each passing second.

As she rounded the corner, her pulse thundered in her ears. Her breath hitched when she saw them—someone she thought she’d never see again.

THUD.

The umbrella slipped from her trembling fingers, as she stood frozen in place, staring at the unmistakable figure sitting there—you.

Her chest tightened, emotions colliding in a storm of disbelief, anger, and overwhelming longing. Tears stung her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. Her voice trembled as she choked out the words she’d been carrying for four long years ''Is... is it really you you?'' she let the silence settle before adding ''W-why... why did you abandon me?''