Logan didn't show up for three whole days. I had called him several times and texted him, but there was no reply. He hadn't even been online for three days and now it was switched off. Grandpa was furious and was already planning to sack him while I tried to make up excuses."I'm going out for a while, sorry to bother you Shaun, but that foolish mutt isn't there," Grandpa grumbled, referencing Logan and Shaun just nodded. "And JJ, keep these papers in the back drawer. They're very important.""What is it?" I asked while taking the papers and glancing at them. "Are you buying anything?""Yeah, it's the old apartment behind the church, in the market lane. It'll be a good investment," he said nonchalantly and my heartbeats quickened as I searched for the building name and the flat number.This. Thing. Had. To. Be. Kidding. Me.It was the same flat where Logan lived currently and was expected to move out!"Anything wrong, eh?" Grandpa raised his bushy eyebrows and I shook my head."I'll g
"Do you think he's at home or he ran away or something?" I asked Jamal who narrowed his eyes at me."I ain't no foreteller so let's knock, shall we?""Smartbum," I muttered and we both stared at the door helplessly. We were outside Logan's apartment which was very sketchy. The entire building looked haunted and what was worse was that Logan lived on the twelfth floor which meant taking the helicopter-like noise emanating elevator. The elevator shook like there was an earthquake and I wondered why my grandpa found this apartment to be a good investment. If it didn't help Logan, then I would suggest him to sell the apartment without any delay.Jamal started banging the door with loud thuds and I rang the bell continuously, but to no avail."Should we break the door?" Jamal asked while positioning himself to burst in and I tried to twist the doorknob as the last feeble attempt. Surprisingly, the door slowly creaked open. Jamal shot me an incredulous look and I mirrored his baffled expres
"Look there," Jamal pointed at the small balcony and we both stepped out. "Shit, Logan might have tried to break the grill."I noticed the bent grill at the corner, but I shook away Jamal's assumptions. The grill was too strong and I didn't want to think of the possibilities that Logan could break it. I didn't want to think that he could jump right from here without anybody noticing or helping him. I didn't want to."It's pretty high up here. This apartment has fourteen floors, right? We need to talk to the landlord or security guard and see if the terrace door's locked. We need to keep him safe," Jamal whispered to me and I nodded in agreement."Is Logan still showering?""Yeah I checked up on him a few minutes ago and he was shaving," he replied and shoved his hand in his pocket. He retrieved rolls of newspaper and thrust it against my chest. "I found these in the mess, look.""What is it?" My forehead creased as I unfurled one of the papers. My eyes darted between the paper and Jam
Logan and I were returning back from the ocean during our lunch break. It was another hot afternoon summer with sand sticking to our toes and we wriggled our feet occasionally. I glanced at Logan who was definitely feeling the heat as sweat appeared on his forehead. He was wearing a black-brown and white thin striped shirt with full sleeves. He unbuttoned the first and second buttons for more air."Thanks for keeping me company, Logan," I said with a small smile and he averted his eyes from the road to me. "Are you feeling thirsty? We can grab a drink.""Uh-yeah," he replied and I sighed in relief. Honestly, I was parched and needed something cold to drink other than water. Water was too plain.I didn't take him to Pat's because Jamal worked there and I didn't want Logan to meet him after what all happened. I didn't even take him to my favourite café by the coast because it was a tad expensive [cafés with an ocean view were never cheap] Instead, I took him to the dairy close to our fl
For the next two days, I was curled in a ball on my bed and staring at the bleak wall. Eliza wasn't supposed to die. She was supposed to live a long life, open her own makeup line, participate in local beauty pageants, get married to a businessman and raise one celebrity kid. These were her plans for the future and now she wasn't here to fulfil them.She had hidden the statistics of her operation, only four out of ten walked out of the doors alive and she wasn't one of them. She fucking wasn't.I vaguely remembered that the last time I felt this much agony was during the first year of my battle with cancer. The chemotherapy used to burn my body and I was beyond tired. In the beginning, it was scary. The fear made my affliction feel ten times worse, but at least then, I didn't lose anyone. I came to learn that the pain of losing someone close was the worst.The tears rolling down my cheeks aimlessly had dried and I knew that I had to pull myself together. A part of me was blaming mysel
"H-How did y-you . . . " I stuttered like a fool with wide eyes."I always knew that you had taken this from my apartment. I saw it peeking through your pocket and now on this desk. But I didn't know that you would start pitying me because of this," he rasped, his nostrils flaring and dimples faintly appearing.I couldn't take him seriously with those innocent dimples, but I suppressed my smile."I'm not pitying you--- " My words died down when he was about to storm away. I quickly grabbed his arm and yanked him back. "No, I'm not letting you walk away like that. After this much progress, I don't want to go back to square one. I won't let you push me away.""What do you want?" He seethed in anger and I craned my neck to match his height."You're going to ask me that?" I demanded and scoffed. "I want you to stop pushing me away. I want you to let me in. I want to help you get better. I want you to listen to me and accept my care. I want you to be happy."He stared at me, his sea-colour
It was another balmy summer morning with the gauzy sun peeking over the few clouds which were floating aimlessly in the clear sky. Gemma and I were quietly finishing our breakfast which consisted of classic pancakes with honey and glazed peaches. Mum was stuffing a buttered toast in her mouth while simultaneously cooking for lunch. Dad took the last sip of his coffee, placed the daily newspaper down on the table and glanced at his watch. Just as he got up to place a feather-like a kiss on my mum's forehead lovingly, Shaun emerged out in his pyjamas."Here's your coffee Shaun." Mum thrust the cup filled with bitter coffee in his hands and he lazily walked towards us. He ruffled Gemma's hair who offered a small smile and then tried to ruffle my short hair while I ducked my head, dodging his hand."Bug off, how many times am I supposed to tell you that I hate your greasy hands touching my hair." Although I whined, he didn't miss my playful smile. He reached out to grab a piece of fruit f
"Erm, so what was that about?" I asked awkwardly, trying my best to not blush and look sincere."I don't know what I'm going to do. My life's done, it's over. Everything till now was pointless," he started mumbling in a shaky voice and tugged at his sleeves uncomfortably. His voice raised tremulously, "I don't know what I'm going to do! I don't know what I'm going to fucking do! It's fucking over!""Hey, hey, hey," I intervened the battle of words and more that he was fighting with himself and grabbed his arm gently. "I'm here for you, you can tell me. I'm here for you, Logan and I'll be listening. You're not alone, tell me, I'll help you."His eyes had turned glassy like he could break any second."Come on Logan, take your time and try to tell me what's the deal. I can help you," I promised earnestly and he shook his head."No, you can't," he contradicted through gritted teeth and gave me an incredulous look. "That man-that man who was here earlier, he's no customer. He's my fucking
Third Person's POV [Logan's POV]"What the hell do you mean you have a baby? Shaun, what on earth are you blabbering about?" Joy's mum was yelling on the phone as Logan stood outside at the door. "Who's Marilyn? What do you mean you have a baby? Don't cut the call- damn him!" she cursed and looked wearily at Logan. "He cut the call! He's been talking nonsense about a baby and this-this girl Marilyn- If he's implying what I'm thinking . . . Logan dear . . . I think I'm going to faint . . . "She did pass out then and there and Logan quickly held her before she fell face down.He half dragged her inside and laid her down on the couch. Gemma who was eating by the dining table hastily rushed to him for assistance. She asked nervously, "Did she die?""No, no, Jesus no," Logan muttered, reaching for a glass of water from the coffee table. "She heard some shocking news from your brother.""Yes, Shaun told me he became a father. I can presume why that is shocking, but considering the time he
Third Person's POV :Jamal slipped into Joy's signed Katy Perry sweater, wore bunny flip flops and ignoring his stepmother's incessant pestering to eat his lunch, he headed to his mother's dingy apartment. There he found her sprawled haphazardly outside the door in the empty corridor, wasted. It was one in the afternoon and he wasn't surprised to find her knocked out. He fished for the duplicate keys from his pocket and opened the door. He picked her squirming body up with difficulty and carried her inside."Antonne you asshole . . . Fucking that white ass girl would get you nowhere . . . I curse you and that-that bitch---""Mamma, I'm your son, Jamal," he said in a clear voice, placing her on the unmade bed. "And it's over now. He's married to her, you can't do anything.""Fuck you! I can! You know nothing about what lies underneath this . . . " she slurred and Jamal tiredly averted his eyes at the ceiling when she unabashedly pulled her dress up. "Look here Antonne, look what your b
Shaun's POV :It had been five months since Joy passed away and here I was, back in the city of lights, Paris. It was late in the night, but the people were acting wild in the pub like the night had just begun. I didn't even know why I was here instead of editing some clips in my small hotel room. All I could think of was . . . Why exactly was I here? What was my purpose? I should have been with Joy all those weeks I came here . . . I should have stayed at home. I should have fought for Marilyn. I shouldn't have let two strong women slip from my life just like that.From across the room I saw Alice who was seated on the couch, one of my many friends I had made here. Without thinking twice, I glided to her with a cheeky grin and ruffled her platinum blonde hair from behind. She glanced up at me confused and then bit back her smile. Feigning irritation, she exclaimed, "Hey, ne touche pas mes cheveux!"'Hey, don't touch my hair! Keep your greasy fingers away!' Joy would say the same and
Marilyn's story began on this muddy land where twenty three years earlier, her single mother- Emilia gave birth to her in presence of a midwife and no family. Emilia's partner had disappeared as soon as he learned she was pregnant. But Emilia's spirit never broke, she raised her baby with all the love she had never got.Marilyn remembered her childhood days as fun and carefree where she got everything she desired with either tantrums or buttering her hardworking mother. She wasn't allowed to do any chores so she could play and study with her friends. Not a day went by without her belly filled with food and her body in the most comfortable, warm clothes.Emilia with her meagre salary as a waitress could afford only sufficient food, but still she bought her daughter all the toys and pretty dresses she had never got as a child. She only wanted her daughter to grow like all the other kids. Her life's purpose was to keep her daughter happy, to keep the only person who loved her close to he
Third Person's POV [Logan's POV]Four days after Christmas, Logan was trying to sleep in the sleeping area, but his eyes remained wide open. He tossed and turned on the bed, his thoughts drifting to Joy. He hadn't slept a wink in the last three days and had stayed next to Joy, talking to her until her mum asked him to rest. Logan curled himself in a small ball, forcefully squeezing his eyes shut.Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.Dream. Dream. Dream.Suddenly, he heard unsteady footsteps approaching him and he held his breath."L-Logan . . . J-Joy," Shaun said forcefully, barely spilling the words out.He immediately shot up from the bed and stared aghast at Shaun who nodded mutely, his eyes red-rimmed.Logan didn't recall the next few moments vividly- he had followed Shaun to Joy's room and his arms and legs felt like they weren't his. They felt oddly heavy as if he was dragging himself to face the inevitable. They quietly entered the room where Joy's mum held Joy's bluish hand and talked softly
Third Person's POV [Logan's POV]Logan adjusted his costume, took a deep breath and barged in through the door. "Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!"A deafening silence followed and in his head crickets chirped at a distance. Everyone in the room- Joy's mum, dad, Shaun, Gemma and grandpa's eyes darted from him to Joy bemusedly. Logan awkwardly tugged at his fluffy, red sleeves, wanting for the floor to open and swallow him whole.Finally, Joy's mother cut through the silence, "Oh my God, it's Santa!"Everyone broke into a wild cheer, grabbing Logan and patting him on the back. Logan's cheeks flushed in embarrassment as he shyly glanced at Joy. She was wide awake, laid on bed with blankets draped over her and an impish smile slowly formed on her dry lips.When he had walked in this place, the nurse Jasmine had winked at him. Joy had made it.Logan shuffled closer to her when she beckoned him towards her. He leaned down and she rasped, "You're the skinniest Santa with the biggest heart I have
Shaun's POV :I was delaying to go back to France. Joy wanted me to go, but how could I leave her? She was so frail like a china doll and all I wanted to do was snatch her pain away, bundle her up in the thickest blankets and take her safely home."Gem, maa will come to pick you up before bedtime," I said softly, concentrating my attention on her after taking a glimpse of my watch. "Grab your things, we don't want to create a mess in this place."Gemma nodded vaguely, her gaze travelling the liquid trickling in the tube next to the urine catheter."Can I stay please?" she asked suddenly in a pleading tone."Yeah . . . Okay. Maa will understand, I'll tell her," I said gently, not wanting to say no to Gemma. She had already suffered through many mental breakdowns this month and it hurt me to see my other sister go through so much misery. It hurt me to be rendered useless, not knowing how to help them.She murmured, her voice sounding lost, "Thank you."I didn't say anything, only reache
Third Person's POV [Logan's POV]Logan met Gizmo on the way to the hospice care centre, bought him snacks and petted him for a while. Then he strode to meet Joy- at the hospice care centre. She had been in there for many days now and Logan didn't know what to feel anymore. The dread and impending, heart-wrenching end was close. Too close, he forgot how to breathe sometimes.He greeted the nurse politely at the lobby area and knocked on Joy's room. Joy said, without looking, "Come in Logan.""You have superpowers wow," Logan jested, advancing towards her. She was seated on the plush sofa by the window with her long skirt tucked under her legs, gazing at the harsh ocean. He kissed the top of her head and inhaled deeply, her hair smelled of herbal shampoo. "You look nice today."Gemma who was seated beside Joy stood up abruptly. "I'm going to the library to bring your books."Joy clicked her tongue. "You can stay here Gem, it's only Logan.""No, I'll go." Her eyes darted between Logan a
Third Person's POV [Logan's POV]Logan was discharged from the hospital and although the doctors advised him to rest, he barely could afford to do that. He had to make frequent trips from college (to catch up on notes), his job, police station for enquiries and Joy's house where he finally felt like home. At the station, the cops were searching for the criminals based on Logan's descriptions about them.Logan wanted them to be punished, but he didn't care any longer. He knew karma wouldn't let them get away or his cruel uncle. He also knew that because of the police investigation, his uncle wouldn't dare to touch him for some months now. Besides, he felt invincible, like no force on earth could even blow a strand of his hair. The power in him was more spiritual than physical and all the events leading him to the brink of death taught him that stressing out caused him to only die a little bit everyday.For the first time in his life, he truly believed that he was strong.Logan ate the