BOUND BY FATE

I hear the honking and passing of busy cars and the sounds of people walking hastily to get to their destinations as I lie on my bed. Hmm... the busy and regular basic life! I moved to New York City temporarily, away from my parents, to stay with my friend Camila.

After so much persuasion, I finally obliged and came over. It's been quite lovely, the people, the food, and how beautiful it is here, unlike the middle-class neighborhood where my parents stay.

I stay home, relax, and wait for Camila to return from her occasional babysitting job, then we gist and have fun together. I've been here for a while and everything has been a bliss.

The sun went down before I knew it and Camila would be home soon. Speaking of the devil, I hear her voice just as she opens the door.

"Hi, baby! How was your day? I ask like an excited housewife.

"Same old same old, nothing much," she says with a smile.

"Oh, I know that smile, what or who spoiled your mood? Wanna talk about it?"

"I'm fine, I'm just tired," she said with a sigh.

"Nonsense! I know something's bothering you, let's take an evening walk, maybe it would relax you."

I rushed upstairs to change into something simple and appropriate for the walk, put on some shoes, and went back downstairs, where Camila was waiting.

Thankfully her house was not far from the park she brought me to the first day I got here, we walked in silence till we got there. I got us two cones of ice cream, her favorite vanilla, and chocolate for me.

We sat on the bench, her head on my shoulder while we enjoyed each other's embrace, enjoying the bright lights, the cold air, and the beautiful view in sight. We watched a couple kiss not far from us, and a stray cat running around. I could tell that her mood was lifting.

My phone rang and interrupted our silence. I pulled up my phone from my pocket to see a strange number. I ignored it because I didn't like calls with unknown numbers, so I sat my phone down on the bench to silence the call.

I kept on feeling my phone vibrate from the persistent caller. I decided to answer the call, to find out who was calling and what was so important.

"Hello," I say lowly but sternly.

"We've been trying to reach you but it's been going straight to voicemail, I'm glad this went through. I believe this is Angel Baker right?"

"Yes, this is her" I answer in a curious tone.

"I'm sorry ma'am, this is the fire department, there's been an accident at The Bakers Shop."

"What?! What accident? Are my parents okay? Please tell me if they're okay." I questioned with a crooked voice.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that, that's why I'm calling, the fire outbreak was called in from the neighborhood, we got there as quickly as we could and put out the fire but it was already late. Your father is in terrible shape, your mother, we found her supposedly wedding ring and some ash residue, I'm sorry ma'am, we believe she's gone."

"We'll need you to come as soon as you can, your father might not have much time."

I sat there dumbstruck, my eyes filled with tears as they began pouring down, my body shaking with the loads of emotions going through my veins.

From my shocked state, I see my friend, on the phone, speaking to the person on the other end. I had to go, I had to go home.

- - - - -

I took a night train back home, so I could get there in the morning. My mind was shattered on my way there, my mum was dead and my father was in the hospital. I got to the hospital where I was told my father was, my heart racing with fear.

The doctor's words were like a punch to my throat. "I'm so sorry Angel. We did everything we could, but... your father couldn't make it."

Absolutely nothing is compared to the pain of losing your family, my world shattered before me, in one night, death took not one but both my parents from me.

My mind went numb as I processed the news. I remember the last time we spoke, our laughter together, the plans we had for the shop. I couldn't fight the tears pouring down my eyes.

Two weeks after the tragic night of the call, today was my parent's funeral. My eyes were full of tears, and heavy grief I was feeling, my world was smashed, and I was alone and lost.

I stood by the gravesite, my eyes fixed on my father's coffin being lowered into the ground, beside it was the little ash that was left of my mother.

As the service ended, I couldn't still believe my parents were really gone. The pain was suffocating, and the thought of living without my mother's love and my father's guidance seemed impossible.

Amidst my grief, Camila, my best friend, has been with me, trying to be strong for me in between our pain. Now I have to look out for myself and be strong without my parents.

I went to our home, so many memories flashing back, my parents' portrait on the wall, portraits of me with both my parents, I went to my dad's study to feel his presence but it felt empty and void. I walked to my mum's room, her perfume filled the room as I walked in, I could still smell her, and tears shimmered in my eyes.

I cried uncontrollably before the funeral, and even after the funeral, the tears were still pouring out. A never-ending pain, the fire that took my parents left an unforgettable mark, and the warmth of my parents' embrace was now a distant memory.

The house I grew up in and loved now haunted me and caused me pain. I knew I had to leave the house, it would only cause me more pain and suffering. I need space and time to grieve and heal.