By: Aditya Dharmawerndra Barki, Secondary 2

'I'll be leaving now' thank you so much for being a great friend.'

This was what Elisa said before creaking Nia's door shut. Nia didn't think much of it; she even forgot about it till it became relevant a day later. She even watched her walk up the steps of the bus before it drove off into the cold night.

It was only the next morning that Nia heard from the news, a familiar name, and a familiar face on the rigid ground of the pavement. A crash and splatter of coffee were heard just ahead of her tensed-up toes as her eyes widened and her mouth fell agape, her world shattering along with her.

Even if Nia were to impulsively blame and jump to conclusions impatiently, that wouldn't have fixed anything. It wasn't the first time Nia had imagined her last day alive but nothing would have made her imagine that Elisa wouldn't be watching her then or have that chance of seeing it in the far future.

Nia's fixed, gloomy, blank expression infected her face as if nothing would bring Elisa off her mind. Wherever she went, whatever passed her eyes, was filled with the same dark aura. Water seeps from the ceiling tiles, from the entrance of the arcade, and from the theme park allies. Even running from the water can't be done.

The idea of the mall being a distraction fell apart as she noticed the walls suddenly being shrouded in murky water before her eyes.

'Thank you so much for being a great friend', a voice calling her from the dark abyss of the alleyways reminded her of the memories of what could've been.

Dinner plate-sized eyes blinked wide open and pinned her to her spot. A colossal maroon tentacle swam through the void in the direction of her face, inching closer, and closer, and closer. In a blink of her eye and all that disappeared; and all that remained were the crowded halls of the mall and Nia's exhausted sigh.

Why, Elisa?

Nia gazed across from the open door of the floor overlooking the skyline as she sat on the fence, her legs dangling over the buzzing cityscape. A garish yellow sky swirled around a quickly falling night, just meters above Nia.

Did she ever get to notice how wonderful sunsets are?

Wouldn't she want to stick around further for her interest in marine biology, for everyone around her' did she not think of me?

Did she not trust me enough? Was there something stopping her from telling me further? Did I not give her enough?

Couldn't we have met up again at ten at the bus station or had a sleepover or something?

Maybe write me a memo? How was I supposed to know that was our last night?

You really could have told someone' it didn't have to be me. Write me a letter, anything. Come on, put it into words' I beg you to give it a voice'

Maybe you think I'm being stubborn or narcissistic but I'm trying my best to forget it all. I know I can't keep pretending forever.

Even if I could make my wish come true just this once, I'd be able to meet you on my last day of life, no matter when that would be. I'd sing my heart out for you and I'd express my gratitude for having you exist in my life, no matter how long that would be. I'd shout the lyrics out if I have to till my vocal cords give in, because you, Elisa, told me none of it was in vain.

I didn't want to believe that you wouldn't be here near my deathbed, physically or figuratively. And I still struggle to understand why.

Nia looked down at her legs as her dress flowed through the wind, the streets below her calling for her to reach them.

Let's meet again someday,

I'm sorry I couldn't realise sooner.