The whole place becomes silent as a voice speaks from the speaker.

“People of Hani. For a few years now Vala has been a potential target for Paykan attacks. To prepare for this potential scenario, we must have drills. Please listen to my instructions, and follow them carefully. When I say so, you may take action”, the voice coming from the radio says.

Kamilla sighs, annoyed. Drills do tend to happen at the worst time.

The woman announcing the drill tells us to follow the instructions of people in charge. Don’t take anything that’s out of arms reach. Move silently. Kamilla and I stand up slowly, taking our drinks with us as we follow the employees downstairs into the bomb shelter.

Drills always make me nervous, because I know it would be so different in real life. Some people would be in cars, unable to stop in time. Now, everyone moves leisurely, whereas in a real attack, I doubt we’d remember what to do.

I realize Kamilla is talking as we sit down on a couch in the corner of the room.

“-That, do you?” She says.

“Sorry, what?” I ask. She rolls her eyes.

“I said, there was a drill while you were in the hospital, but you probably don’t remember it. They’re having quite many. At least three this...” she drones off like she does sometimes, not caring if anyone listens. I think about what she said. There was a drill at the hospital. I remember. I was there...

...must we? it could be dangerous... if we want her to live... in the tunnel, we'll...

Little snippets of memories enter my mind. I know somehow that was the day I woke up fully. The day I found out. The day I started slowly dying, melting into a sad heap of nothingness...

I can be way too dramatic sometimes. We sit in silence for awhile, which I’m grateful for. Though it may seem otherwise, Kamilla knows when to stop talking.

“Will you drop me off at the harbor?” I ask out of the blue. I know she understands what I mean.

“Won’t your family be there?” She asks.

“Maybe. The ship leaves at five thirty in the morning. They’d prefer to sleep in”, I say, half joking.

Kamilla nods. “If I don’t, this will be the last time I see you until October. That’s a good enough excuse for me”, she says with a smile.

The speaker turns back on and a voice tells us that it’s safe to leave the basement. We walk outside together and Kamilla turns right while I take a left towards the Tube station.

The underground train system is ancient. It has been renovated and reconstructed many times, and each station looks like it came out of a different time period. The one I’m headed to, Mantabarry, is still quite new. It was only renovated 10 years ago.

Luckily for me, a train arrives almost instantly. It slows down to a stop and opens the doors. I get on and sit down. There aren’t many people on it right now. There usually isn’t after a drill.

...:::...

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I step inside to the smell of eggs burning. I wrinkle my nose at the stench, annoyed.

“Mom, why did you let Bran cook?!” I shout, in the general direction of my mom’s office.

No one answers. “Mom?” I say again. This time Bran answers.

“She’s not home, she went to get dad from work”, he says from the kitchen.

“You could’ve told me the first time I asked”, I say half-heartedly.

I quickly take off my shoes and put my bag down. Walking into the kitchen, the smell intensifies.

“Max, please take that off the stove!” I shout, seeing the burned mess of an egg on a pan.

He turns off the stove with a smirk. “I can’t wait until you’re gone and I can finally be free.”

I glare at him. “Whatever”, I say, already heading towards the stairs. I struggle up the stairs with my crutches and eventually just leave them leaning against a wall. I don’t really need them if I have my brace on, but Jenny says I’ll recover quicker with them.

I close the door to my room and sit on the edge of my bed. I know I should start packing, but instead I lay on my bed for awhile, just staring at the ceiling. For a few weeks after the accident, I thought I wouldn’t be able to go to Avera after all. Then I got a new doctor, Jenny, who said if I worked hard, I’d be able to go abroad in a couple weeks.

I sit up. For awhile, I sit in silence, not really thinking about anything, not really doing anything. I jump at the sound of the doorbell. Getting up slowly, I make my way to the stairs, where I left my crutches. Dad doesn’t like it when I go without them. I stumble down the stairs slowly.

“Hi”, I say.

“Hey, Rhea. How was Physio today?” My dad asks.

I shrug. “It was fine.”

“Good. Here, let me put my stuff down and I’ll help you pack.”

“I can pack my own things, I just need you to bring my suitcase upstairs”, I say to Dad.

He sighs. “Alright then. I’ll be right up”, he tells me, and opens the door to the storage. I head upstairs. A few moments later, Dad brings a small suitcase to my room. I’ve had it since I was thirteen. Dad leaves my room, closing the door. I unzip the suitcase. I gasp.

Inside is a piece of folded paper, and a bag of small, flower-shaped chocolates wrapped in foil.

Jason. Somehow, he got this in my suitcase. I know it’s him.

I take out the paper and unfold it. It’s covered in writing.

Rhea

Good luck on your trip. I thought I’d leave this here in your suitcase so you could read it whenever you feel lonely in Avera.

I think you’re sort of angry with me right now. I mean when I’m writing this. I’m not sure why. It might be that speech-thing. I know you didn’t want me to, and I didn’t want to either, but I did. Will. Whatever.

I love you. I’ll think of you every minute while you’re gone, and when you get back, I’ll have something special waiting. You know, I’m thinking of visiting Bayree for awhile in September. The official story will probably be that I have some sort of meeting, but really I just want to see you. That sounds so cheesy.

I’ll drop you off at the harbor. If you want. I wish I could go with you.

Please don’t stay alone the whole time. Make friends. I know it’s a bit hard for you, but trust me, trips are better when there’s someone with you who knows about your destination. If you want, you can try to meet up with Narcissa Miller. I met her on my last trip to Avera. To be honest, I find her kind of annoying, but I think you’d like her.

I’ll send messages, of course. Don’t worry. Tell your grandmother I said hi. She was very kind when she visited us last year.

Well, I’d better go. Good luck.

Jason :)

I finish the letter in tears. My breathing is ragged and uneven. I struggle to stop myself from screaming. I cry for awhile, clutching the letter in my hand. Eventually it’s like I have no tears left. I know my face must be red and blotchy.

I fold the note back up and put it back in my suitcase. I pack in complete silence.