[center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/627389932335529985/643301088086327297/image0.jpg?width=375&height=375[/img] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/12606d51-d406-43b2-9e02-ddd4234dbfc4.png[/img] [Color=#dcd0ff][i][h1]September 9th[/h1][/i][/color] [hr][/center] [center][i]Why is it so hard to get up today?[/i][/center] Nothing felt right anymore. Nalini stared listlessly outside her bedroom window. Tides of morning fog had rolled through the streets and trapped every building in a thick haze. Rooftop spires vanished into a layer of looming, grey smears. Her own thoughts too were lost in a bitter fog and desperately trying to find a way out. It was hard to think, let alone get out of bed. She heard her phone chirp with a new update. Out of habit, her hand hand fumbled for it. She brought it closer and squinted at the bright screen. The alert began: “Memorial Service at City Hall. Mayor to give...” She groaned. [Color=#dcd0ff][i]“I barely knew any of them.”[/i][/color] She couldn’t finish the thought, even if she wanted to. The memories still haunted her: Bobby’s cheerful expression slowly twisting into something pale and desperate, watching her own reflection in those steel grey eyes slowly dull as Bobby became breathless and still. Nalini’s chest tightened as hot tears warmed her cheeks. She turned and buried her face in her pillow. [Color=#dcd0ff][i]“I don’t know her…”[/i][/color] She didn’t sob, but the tears flowed all the same. She felt a wailing scream rise in her throat and make a muffled escape into the quiet of her room. [Color=#dcd0ff][i]“I don’t know her!”[/i][/color] She repeated the words. Over. And [i]over[/i]. Like a prayer that might save her from the pain. [Center][H3][s] | : [/s][[b]○[/b]][s] : | [/s][/h3][/center] The minutes marched by with the slow and steady precession of time. The next thing Nalini remembered was the thumping of footsteps coming up the stairs. [Color=#e0b443]“Nalini, I’ve been shouting your name for the past fifteen minutes. Now, I told you-”[/color] Her door swung open in a fierce rush. She opened her eyes weakly and stared at her father, his broad frame filling the doorway. Her face was warm and swollen, and her eyes still burned. The shocked expression on her father’s face told her she probably looked terrible. She stared at him quietly, her lifeless gaze burrowing through the silence. Despite racing up the stairs in a fit, all of Andre's bluster had evaporated. He took a cautious step back and froze, frightened by his daughter's hollow stare, but it didn't last long. His expression softened as he calmly stole the distance between. Nalini looked up at her father as he bent down wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. It was solid and warm, and she clung to him like a child. She felt her cheeks swell again, but no tears came. She wasn't sure she had any left. [Color=#e0b443]"Tell me… What must a father do, if his daughter has such a face?"[/color] Andre asked in a low, consoling tone. His Afrikaners accent hanging on each word. Nalini hugged him tighter, not knowing what to say. [Color=#e0b443]"It's ok. It's ok. I'm not going anywhere."[/color] Andre breathed in a deep breath as he felt tears dampen his shirt. [Color=#e0b443]"What can I do? Name it, and it's done."[/color] [Color=#dcd0ff]"Nothing."[/color] She whispered hoarsely. Andre clicked his tongue defiantly. [Color=#e0b443]"Bah! Your father is a great man, remember? Great men can do anything! Come on. Tell me, so I can make it better."[/color] [Color=#dcd0ff]"You can't." [/color]She whispered again. [Color=#e0b443]"Is this about that boy?"[/color] He was grasping at straws now. Even as Andre embraced his daughter tighter a sinking feeling in his gut was rapidly stealing his confidence. Fresh memories of her and Morgan arguing stabbed at her, but she was too tired to cry anymore. [Color=#dcd0ff]"No."[/color] She said, her voice somehow smaller than before. Realization furrowed Andre's brow. A brewing storm of helplessness, frustration, and worry conspired against him. Slow and deliberate, he took a breath and heaved deep and somber sigh. [Color=#e0b443]"Do you remember when you were little?"[/color] He began. [Color=#e0b443]"When we were in Johannesburg to visit your Oupa?"[/color] The mention of her grandfather stirred old memories of dusty roads, blistering heat, and a sore bum. [Color=#e0b443]"You walked into the yard where the boys were playing rugby and threw a half-dead pofadder at them. No one knows how you got it, but you did. You scared all the boys and your auntie too. And got me in plenty of trouble with your uncles, yeah? Your oupa used to tell us that if we didn't keep you tied up, you would run into the bush and beat up the lions."[/color] He chuckled at the memory. Nalini felt a grin tug at the corners of her mouth ae she sank into the memory. [Color=#e0b443]"You may be bigger now, yeah, but when I look at you, I still see that fearless little girl who would rather play with vipers than dollies."[/color] Eventually Nalini pulled back, and wiped at her eyes. Andre gave her a solemn look, still worried. He kissed her head and got to his feet. [Color=#e0b443]"You can't be sad on a full stomach."[/color] He said with a grin, and turned to leave. [Color=#e0b443]"I'll bring you something."[/color] [Center][H3][s] | : [/s][[b]○[/b]][s] : | [/s][/h3][/center] After eating breakfast, albeit late, the rest of the morning wasn't too much of a struggle. Her face was still a little puffy, but after an hour in the delicate work in the bathroom , she felt safe to go out in public. She was sipping tea in the kitchen when her phone chirped again. She eyed the message. It was one of her old classmates, Rheanna. [b]"Hey, r u comin? There's a memorial thing at City Hall…"[/b] [Color=#dcd0ff]"Maybe? I haven't decided. "[/color] [b]"Fair, but it's totally worth seeing in person."[/b] The message had a picture attached. In it, a gazebo stood in an open courtyard and everything was bathed in sunset hues of orange and red. It took a moment for Nalini to recognize it. It was a picture of the courtyard outside city hall, less than a hundred feet from the white arches framing it's entrance. Small portraits, flowers, laurels, and candles had been placed neatly beside along the walls lining the sidewalk. In the evening light, the darkened silhouettes of the visitors looked more like patrons offering their prayers at an ancient shrine. She stared blankly at the message, trying not to get lost in thought. [Color=#dcd0ff]"Yeah, I'll be there!"[/color] [Center][H3][s] | : [/s][[b]○[/b]][s] : | [/s][/h3][/center] The crowd was even larger than Nalini expected. Dozens of faces swarmed the sidewalks and park tables. She recognized some, but not many. Standing in the courtyard in her light jacket, skirt and tights, she felt both comforted and lonely being around so many people. Any other day they would be strangers to her, but today they were familiar. In each expression, she saw her own feelings reflected: anguish, despair, frustration, helplessness. She looked for any of her classmates to keep herself distracted.