Through the white sheer curtains, a cool breeze comes that wakes up the girl sleeping on the bed. She watches as the birds outside her window feed on the grains she keeps in the balcony-turned-garden. She wakes up daily to a view with the sunrise, the birds, and the greenery—an epitome of peacefulness and calm.
She gets up from her bed, sits on the chair facing the window, grabs her diary and pen, keeps her legs on the windowsill, and begins writing...
Dear Diary, I saw that dream all over again. I just hope I am not going crazy. I thought of sharing it with April, but she will definitely make a fuss out of it. Who could say she is two years younger than me and yet behaves more maturely than me? She is the only one who gives me hope to live. Hell yeah... a funny irony. I love her... the most... she is the only family I have... now. I have decided I won't tell her about my dreams. I will come out of it eventually. Till then, my secret is safe with you. Okay? Gotta go. Bye.
"Eva, it's already 7:30! We will be late for school. Are you up? It's not the time for one of your pranks, please!"
Hearing April's voice, Eva hid her diary and started to get dressed just in time for when April opened the door, she was half-dressed.
"Thank God you are up!"
"That's not a nice way to wake your sister up like this, April. Is it?" Eva taunted her.
"Yeah, Eva, it's not. But because of you, I am daily getting detentions in the first class itself."
"Who gets detention in the first class itself?" Eva mocked her.
"I just hate your smirk. Get ready and come downstairs ASAP," April said, emphasising the word "ASAP."
April left the room, and Eva started combing her hair. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, exactly like her mother liked. She smiled sadly, and tears started to bulge in her eyes, remembering how ordinary yet beautiful those days were. Everything had changed since then. The carefree sisters had turned responsible, living all alone in the town, far away from their home.
It had been just one year since they shifted to this town, but it felt like it had been ages and had been their home forever.
Eva came out of her daydreaming, wiped her tears, and ran downstairs to the kitchen counter where April was preparing their breakfast.
She saw her admiringly and noticed how much she resembled their mom with those long brown hair, pink glowing face, and blue honest eyes.
It was only then April noticed her.
"What are you up to? I already served. I know you don't like sandwiches, but that was the only thing I could cook in such haste," April said, tucking her hair behind her ear with the opposite side of her palm.
"Oh! No! I was thinking about something else," Eva said absentmindedly.
"Are you okay?" April enquired.
"Yes, absolutely," Eva said and took the plate from the counter and sat at the dining table.
April, too, joined her and sat opposite her. She started eating but knew something was wrong with her sister these days, and she wouldn't tell her.
It's not that she didn't try to find out, but nobody at school had any idea about it either. Sometimes it felt like a normal teenager thing, but sometimes the hollowness of the silence in their lives is what brought her back to reality and forced her to think about all this. Their lives were no more ordinary and normal, and they were stuck in a life they could never come out of.
At last, she couldn't resist and asked Eva, "Is there something you want to say or discuss?"
"Huh! No! Ahh... today you were looking just like Mom while making sandwiches. I think it's only because of you I miss them less. I just can't imagine my life without you," Eva said and started crying.
"Heyy... come here... you know what, there is nothing that can separate us, and you better get that in your head," April said assuringly and hugged Eva.
"It felt good. You finally shared something after weeks. By the way, I was not asking about particularly right now... I was talking about these days. You have been acting strange. Is there anything you are hiding from me for the sake that I would be bothered?" April asked, concerned.
"No, April. I am not," Eva said, knowing very well that their lives were going to be uprooted. She knew day by day they were coming close... they would know where the sisters were hiding, and when they came, chaos would follow.