• “When you’re taken away from everything you’ve ever known and changed in a way that you can’t recognise the figure in the mirror, there are always two ways to go about things; you can lean on the person closest to you, or you could shy away from everything and be perfectly independent. In the latter, building relationships with the people around you is harder because you have to acquaint yourself with the person you’ve become first. It’s difficult, but somehow you’ve achieved that, Hania. Kam found comfort in knowing you were alright, and even though you only knew each other for a mere couple of months, you came to know he was there for you to depend on, even if you didn’t need him. Just knowing that is enough to become friends with someone. Kam was that kind of likeable person, he was there for you to lean on, yet he never asked for anything in return. Everything about him makes his loss even harder to understand or accept, but even throughout the pain, I know he wants us to move on.”
    “Kam was my best friend. I depended on him completely. Meeting in school when we were just five years old, that changed my life forever. I may have been the cowering semi-dependant, but I knew that there was something absolute in our friendship. We’d always be best friends and throw our punches for each other. We never turned our back on any challenge and we always stuck up for one another. Sure, we had some rough times, but we pulled through. Well, he pulled me through. I became more and more dependant on him, I did everything I could to be like him, but Kam was always the one pulling me out of the trouble I had gotten myself into. I’ve learnt to work around him, and he worked around me, I guess. I never thought that I’d have to be working without him. I’ve been trying my best to work more independently, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job. I still pray for him every night, I can do stuff alone. Even though I consider myself the closest relation to Kam, I think that you were the one who was worst affected by his passing.”
    “Kam had no family... His wife and daughter were attacked by the group as well... In the car that day, I asked him if he thought that taking you back to the city was a good idea. Did you hear his answer? I guess not... He told me that you reminded him of his little Hanako. He said that even though the two of you were very different in appearance, you were the same person inside. He was going to protect you with everything, so it didn’t matter if you were in the city or back in town, he’d be there every minute ensuring that you were safe. I agreed with him then, when he declared it his personal obligation to protect you and when he said you were like Hanako. I knew the little girl, she was sweet but stubborn. She knew her place, but it was the same place as everyone else in the world. A humble girl who loved her family and wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. It wasn’t until I saw you with Kam months later that I decided that I didn’t agree. It doesn’t matter that you were alot like Hainako, because Kam shone out of you more than anyone I’ve ever known. He laid down his life to protect you, I’m going to do do the same. His ashes were returned to me, and I know where I’ll scatter them. I won’t do it without you though, he’ll just have to wait.”
    “I’m back. I’ve been visiting every day, waiting for you to wake up. I guess I’ve only been speaking to you recently though. The doctors said that if people talk to you, you’re more likely to wake up. Before, I guess that maybe I couldn’t pluck up the courage. I was mourning Kam, but I didn’t think of how you were feeling. I supposed you needed to mourn too. I don’t know if you can hear me, but talking to you like this... I feel closer to him this way...”
    “Oh, the police also explained the flashy lights from before. They were flying small planes over your town, we had already rigged the machines with glowing lights so they could be seen easily from afar. Your mother had a fit about it, saying that they should have told you and we should have done something about it. I heard it was spread all around town, maybe you’ll have to explain it all to your neighbours when you return. They’re all very worried about you, your mother and your doctors have had to shoo away most of your school mates from coming in. It’s amazing that you have kept quiet about everything for so long, but your mother has given them a quick run down with what’s been happening. Again, I think you’ll have to explain in more detail later, they seemed a little restless…”
    “Did you notice? Your mum insisted on dying your hair back. It’s the familiar vibrant electric blue now. You look just like you did, that time months ago when we came to pick you up. Your blue overalls and your sullen expression. We much preferred it when you were smiling.”
    “Your mum said that your father dropped by today. She told me all about him... He sounded like a strong man, I’m sure he was very proud of you. Oh, here. She left this. It’s a picture of him. She spent the past three weeks turning the house upside down looking for it. I’ll put it in your bedside table. He was a handsome man, I’m sorry about his death... It must have been hard on you. More reason for you to join us then, eh?
    You can’t see the photo now, but it’ll be there for when you wake up. You better wake up you know. I know that Kam won’t pass on peacefully until you do.”
    “...Chad...” she murmured hoarsely, her eyes flicking open momentarily. Her consciousness temporarily regained, the heavy scent of disinfectant hit her from the ward, but she ignored it. She gave Chad a smile, had a quick glance at her bedside table before closing her eyes again. Resting calmly on her hospital bed, she drifted off into peaceful slumber before the doctors rushed in to her room. An ornate urn sat by the picture of the father, and it seemed to radiate a comforting aura towards her.