DANIELLE'S P.O.V."This tastes sublime." Azra exclaimed after taking a bite out of her cheeseburger.We were at the school cafeteria for our lunch. Having settled our little brawl of sorts, I had let Azra drag me with her to the cafeteria, all the while she was eagerly talking about her excitement for lunch and high expectations from the cafeteria staff that afternoon. I was just as excited and expectant as she was- I could barely wait to relive my first experience with the delicious cafeteria food.We had trooped into the cafeteria, alongside several of our other course mates and colleagues, and joined the already long queue that was lined up in front of the food. For my meal, I'd opted for a cheeseburger, fries without the ketchup, some chicken, and a can of soda. Azra had chosen to take the same food that I had chosen saying that the food looked like the type of meal she needed at that moment.We had then looked around for an empty table to seat at, and our luck shone on us as we f
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.The rest of my first week as a full time MBA student at the Leonard N.Stern School of Business, the business school branch of the New York University, went by in a blur of enduring different introductory classes from several professors during the day, having lunch with my two new school friends, Azra and Melody, returning to an empty and dreary house in the evening, binge watching tv shows and movies while stuffing my face full of exquisite Italian cuisines.I woke up, day after day, only to repeat the same cycle over and over again. It was hectic and sad- that was how pathetic my very living had become.Slowly and unbearably, Friday morning came, and as the first rays of the morning sunlight casted itself across my room and fell on my face, through the open curtains, in a dull glow, I could not wait to get the day started and over with it. That morning, after I had opened my eyes, I exited the cocoon of warmth that I had placed myself in the night before by pushing
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.On hearing Madelyn accept Azra's invitation to have lunch with us, my hopes of avoiding her for the rest of the day were, once more, dashed. I released the breath I had not even noticed that I had been holding, and felt my shoulders deflate in disappointment at her acceptance.I had been too preoccupied in my misery to notice Madelyn watching me, and by the time I caught her gaze, it was already too late- she had seen my disappointment. I felt a surge of guilt wash over me as Madelyn looked away from my gaze, a saddened look in her hazel eyes. It seemed we were the only ones feeling the sizzling tension as both Azra and Melody were too caught up in their awe of seeing Madelyn and having her join us for lunch to be aware whatever was going on in the room."Yes! I'm so excited!" Azra said giddily. She threw her arms in the air, and the action caused her loose cropped tee shirt to ride up higher on her torso."I think we should go now, before all the good food and seats
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.It was calm and still- the darkness I was enveloped in. It was gentle, warm and peaceful- well, it was peaceful until it was not.A sharp shrill pierced through the quiet of my deep abyss, causing me to be pulled out of my deep sleep. I winced at the shrilling that shrieked from within the folds of my slumber. Soon the shrilling stopped, and I went back to sleep. A few seconds later, as if whoever was calling was hell bent on disturbing my sleep, the shrilling of my ring tone started again. I decided to let it continue its wailing while I would try to adapt to the noise until I was able to go back to sleep once more.My plans, however, were unfeasible as the phone continued to ring loudly, hindering me from any further sleep. Seeing as the caller was not letting up, I had no choice but to pick up the call.Reluctantly, I pried my eyes open and unplugged the phone, which was sitting on the bedside drawer, from its charger and checked the caller ID before picking up th
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.It was cold, and it was dark- very dark. It felt like I was in a room with no windows, no light bulbs, no lamps, not a single form of lightning, and the cold made me recall the feeling of being in a swimmers pool for hours, the shuddering that the body makes when it has been exposed to the outdoor air while still in the cold water of the swimming pool. It was nothing I had never recalled happening to me before, but at the same time, it was vaguely familiar.It was just this overwhelming sense of deja vu that seemed to crowd me.I tried to open my eyes, but they wouldn't open. One, Two, Three times, I tried, but they still would not budge. At my unsuccessful attempts at prying my eyes open, I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I could feel my body shudder from the fright, and I continued to try; I tried as hard as I could to open my eyes but not matter how much effort I out into it, they just would not budge.I willed all my strength, my being into prying open those o
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.Adrian!My stomach wrenched in pain at the flurry of butterflies that appeared and flew around my belly at the mention of that name. My hands quivered nervously, and my heart palpitated at the mere thought of hearing his voice after several days of being estranged from him.Ever since he had broken the news of his travel that evening, I had neither set my eyes on him nor heard his voice. The thought of finally hearing his voice after a long week sent my heart thumping.Alisia held her phone up, Adrian's phone number, saved as 'Big Brother', flashed on the device's screen. I gave her a quick nod before she then picked up the call."Hello, Big Brother." she greeted, a smile on her face.She looked up at me for a few seconds, listening intently to whatever Adrian was saying on the other end of the line while Layla and I stared at her curiously."She's awake." Alisia said to him, obviously referring to me.Adrian must have been informed of the accident at home- probably
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.I ended the call.I said what I had to and pressed the red button, displayed alongside a green button on the phone's screen, to end the video call, but not before revelling in the shocked expression that had been painted so clearly on Adrian's face. I guessed he had not expected for me to call him out with just two words.For the upteenth time, at that moment, I felt the nearly overwhelming urge to plant a stinging slap across my own face, although I also wished I could plant a much more damaging slap across one of Adrian's cheek- maybe even both of them.How could I have made the mistake of getting carried away?When my heart had started to flutter, and butterflies had started to fly in my belly, and my cheeks had started to grow hot and red; when all of these things had started to happen, why hadn't I cautioned myself?Why hadn't I berated and cautioned my heart when it started to feel things that it had no business feeling?Why hadn't I given myself a severe pep t
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.I was nervous.That much was obvious with way my hands shook, and my legs quivered. My face was not exempted, as it was hot and reddened from the uneasiness that stemmed from deep down in my mind."You look like you've seen a ghost." Alisia said, "Or you're about to see one.""I wish I were merely on my way to see one." I said, causing her to erupt into a fit of laughter."Don't tell me that you are scared." she teased, a jestful twinkle in her eyes."Me? Scared? No, not at all. I'm not scared- I am terrified." I said, wringing my hands in my lap."Oh My God!" she exclaimed, erupting into another fit of laughter."My predicament must be funny to you, but trust me. It is not in the least bit a comic experience for me at the moment." I said."You're really scared of my father?" Alisia asked, unbelief lacing her tone."Point of correction, Alisia. I am terrified of your father. If there were another word that described fear beyond being terrified, that word would be bes