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꧁ 𝔸𝕕𝕒'𝕤 ℙ.𝕆.𝕍 ꧂

⚠︎︎ [Trigger warning: I don't want to spoil anything in this chapter but I will say, if any form of death triggers you, especially when described in detail, I suggest you skip this chapter, and I will give a summary of this part in a less gory way in the next chapter part. So you can skip this, and to ensure you didn't miss anything, I will summarise it in the beginning of the next part I release. This my warning.] ⚠︎︎

I'm in a dark wasteland. There is a magnificent pearly, black sea washing up and down the grainy sand I stand on. The water roars, threatening a possible watery death lest one gets too close, in the more dangerous, rocky areas, but it is soothing and calmed at the shore. The water washes up to my toes, and it's warm and comforting. However, the water that sprays on my face from the more desolate area is ice cold. The sand is black too, and feels too light to be sand, more like woven silk, scattered all over this vast space. The wind is cool, but the atmosphere is hot. It is a world of contrast, a world built upon juxtaposition. And in this world, no matter how dark it is, is peaceful. More peaceful than a deep sleep. I walk calmly into the waters, and its warm silken arms wrap tenderly around me. Welcoming me.

Embracing me.

When I wake it must be nearly noon. The shadows have fled and the sun angles its rays at my sheets, baking them warm. Min didn't give me a specific time to arrive to my second day of work, and the whole café seems pretty easy-going, so I think she'll let me off, just this once. Just this hundred times. I rise and leave my sheets messy. A neat bed seems too unnatural to me, and I have to awkwardly slide beneath the wooden-stiff covers, afraid I'll make a flaw in the perfectly smooth surface. I immediately make coffee and just as I start boiling water, the doorbell rings. Who could it be at such an early hour? Who even knows where I live? I'm still in my woollen night dress when I open my door. "Min?"

"You're late by three hours loser," she asks, more than stating. I open my mouth in protest but she lets herself inside. "Nice room, too prissy though, you'll learn to loosen up your aesthetic once you live here long enough." She falls onto the couch and leans back. "The guepardos don't like trespassers," I warn, continuing with my coffee. "Yeah, right." She rises and opens the window, where I follow her to, sipping from my cup. I notice how young Min is. I usually see her as an older citizen to learn from and work for . Her dark eye makeup makes her look older, and her skin is greyish. She exhaled a puff of smoke and I decide to cut in, "You never gave me a time to arrive." She stares weirdly at me, like it's obvious, "Everyone arrives from seven to nine-ish. I'll excuse it if you arrive at ten, but twelve? Are you kidding?" I sigh, "I'm sorry." "I never asked by the way." "What?" "Your name." "Ada." "Ada..." "Ada Alexander."

Min lets me take a quick shower, and when I emerge, dressed and ready, she's cooking at my stove. I sit down and she passes a plate and fork to me. "Sorry, thought I'd just make use of the things in your fridge." "Aren't I like, late?" "Yeah," she murmurs. "So shouldn't we be rushing to the café now?" She raises an eyebrow, "Oh you don't know? My brother's the boss, I called and he said it's okay to arrive a bit later, as long as we work the evening shift." I fiddle with the metal  fork, "I'd rather arrive early." "Really? That's what you want?" "Yeah," I'd rather get my work done with than drag it out until night, which will risk sleep." She turns around and starts scooping eggs onto my empty, waiting plate, "Well you can't go without having some breakfast at least." "You cook huh?" "I'm no housewife, everyone knows how to make eggs." She sits in front of me with another cigarette lit in her mouth. "How... long have you been working?" "Nunya." "Is Min your real name?" She goggles at me, put off by the many questions I asked her. "Last one I'm answering, it's Jasmin, but that's too innocent for me, don't you think?" She takes a deep draw of her cigarette and sighs, then motions to my plate, still full of steaming eggs sprinkled with chives, "Okay busybody, I've answered your questions. Now eat."

We head to the café on her bicycle, there's a seat on the back for me to sit on. I lean forward the whole of the short journey, letting the wind rustle my hair. Since it's noon now, the sun is burning us, and I'm grateful to arrive at the café, where it's so much cooler. Min shows me how to use the coffee machine, and work starts. There are not as many customers as there are in rush hour, but there's a constant stream of people coming in the shop. My hands are constantly busy, taking orders, popping in different coffee powders and boiling lots of water and making lots of ice. I meet Sam, who delivers the coffee ground refills. Occasionally I do odd jobs like cleaning, wiping down the tables or kitchen and helping at the cashier when Min is busy back in the kitchen. That is, until my phone rings. I pick it up.

"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Ada Alexander?"
"Yes? May I help you?"
"Well... It's your uncle, George."
"Oh, hi. Is there something wrong?"
"Yes, very wrong."
"What happened?"
"I think you're old enough to know what happens
when someone is very, very down."
"I'm not a child."
"I never said that, it's just- after a while,
some people just get tired-"
"Tell me what happened."
"-of living."
"Oh."
"Like, wrist slitting and bleeding
out in the tub."
"Oh."
"And that someone is close."
"Close to death you mean?"
"No, close to us."
"So someone close took their life?"
"Yes."
"Does mom know?"
"That's exactly the problem."
"She doesn't know?"
"No, she knows it all too well."
"What?"
"Too well."
"Someone she knows too well... wait. Dad?"
"Just go home, you'll see."
"Wait uncle Ge-"
Beep

I look at Min, "I gotta go, it's very urgent." She looks at me for a moment, studying me. "Sure. Just don't be late tomorrow." "I promise." I start running, running and running until my feet are on fire and I can see The Solstice right ahead of me. Dad, are you okay? The trip up the elevator takes too long, and I keep jabbing the button and screaming. It's never this long. When I burst through the door after fumbling with the keys, I see my uncle, sitting on my couch, holding my computer. "What happened?" I'm frantic as I grab my computer and open it, keying in my passcode. "What?", I stammer. "L-Last night's message." He's shaking as I click on the messages icon. To reveal the text I ignored.

Mom || Please tell me I was a good mother at least. Just lie. For if I go.

And If I Erase.

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