I woke up from that dream, and as I looked around, they were already packing their things.
"I already packed your clothes, Em," Kat said.
Kat? Is she alive? Did I prevent that tragedy from happening?
I need to keep an eye on her until we leave here. I washed up and went downstairs first to see what food we had for breakfast.
When I came downstairs, I saw Gray and Blake sitting at separate tables, eating. I approached Blake first and apologized.
"Blake, I'm sorry for what I did last night. I had my reasons for doing it," I said.
"I should be the one apologizing, Emily. I said some really shallow things that I had no right to be angry about," he said, looking down.
"So, are we good now? I don't want the three of us to be enemies. Speaking of three, we need to apologize to someone," I said, and we went to Gray.
"Ahem, may we join you?" I asked, but before he could answer, we sat down.
"Tsk," Gray muttered.
We sat in silence for a few minutes before Blake spoke up.
"Sorry, dude, for what I did last night. I know my reasons for being angry were petty, so I apologize," Blake said.
Gray sighed and said, "It's okay, bro. Apology accepted."
"So?? Are we friends again?" I asked, smiling.
"No, only blake and I are friends because you didn't apologize to me," Gray said seriously.
"What? But I didn't do anything wrong to you," I said.
"Hahaha, just kidding. You're so quick to get worked up," Gray said, and Blake laughed.
After a few minutes, Phoebe, Jane, and Kat came downstairs.
"Well, well, well, the ugly people are friends again," Phoebe jokily said.
"If we're the ugly , you're even uglier," Blake responded, teasing her, and they started arguing.
Jane and Kat just shook their heads and sat down, and we all ate and enjoyed each other's company.
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The van that will pick us up is already here, and I've been secretly following Kath for a while.
"You're so weird. We've noticed what you've been doing for a while now," Phoebe said as we entered the van, and I just laughed.
"Hahahahahah," I awkwardly laughed and sat next to Kath.
"Hi, Kath," I greeted her.
"Oh, hello, queen Emily. Just wait miss, it will take an hour to arrive to your castle" she jokingly asked, and I just laughed.
We felt the van start moving, and during the journey, we chatted. Some of them were listening to music until one by one, they fell asleep while I stayed wide awake, keeping an eye on all of them. I didn't want that incident to happen again and experience the feeling of having a meaningless life every day.
One by one, we were dropped off at our houses. Jane was the first one, followed by Phoebe and Blake since they were neighbors. Then it was Gray's turn, and finally mine. Before I got off, I hugged Kath.
"Take care on your way home, Kath," I said and bid our goodbyes to each other. Is this it? Did I prevent it? I couldn't hold back my excitement as I headed home.
I wanted to see my mom and sibling. When I was in prison, I refused to let anyone visit me because I was ashamed of how I looked. I only found out months later that my mother had passed away due to a heart attack, supposedly caused by the stress I brought upon her. I also learned that she didn't believe I was the one who killed, so she conducted her own investigation, but she suffered a sudden heart attack during the process.
As soon as I entered the house, I looked for my mom and hugged her.
"Did water enter your head while swimming, that's why you're acting like that?" my sister, Gella, said sarcastically, but I still hugged her. I missed them. By the way, we no longer have a father; he passed away when we were young.
She hit Gella on the head and said, "Maybe Emily just missed us. She stayed there for 2 days."
"Ouch," Gella said.
"What's for lunch, Mom? I missed your cooking," I asked.
"I knew you were coming home today, so I cooked your favorite, stir-fried beef," she said.
"But you took so long to arrive. I've been hungry since earlier," gella said.
"You're always such a chatterbox. It's a good thing I have a lot of patience," I said.
"Hehehe, but sis, do you have any gift for me?" Gella asked.
Mom hit her again. "You're sister attend a birthday party, why would she have a give" Mom said.
I just laughed. "I have some food in my bag. Get it later," I said. Earlier, we made a stop at the mall because Phoebe invited us to choose some food, and she paid for it.
"I love you, sis," gella said. Her attitude depends on whether they need something from someone, but I know she become successful in the future. It's her dream to become a model, and she achieved it, so I didn't bother her in the future.
I spent time catching up with my sister, Gella and my mom. It was refreshing to be surrounded by familiar faces and feel a sense of belonging once again. I knew I had to cherish these moments and make the most of the second chance life had given me.
The three of us slept together. They were already asleep while I was still chatting in the group chat.
Jane: I'm excited to see you guys. It's only been one day since we last saw each other, but I already miss you.
Phoebe: Such a hypocrite.
Blake: HAHAHAHAHA
Kat: Hey guys, did you already answer the assignment
Me: Huh? There's an assignment?
Blake: That's my line, why did you take it, em? did you forget? Are you experiencing amnesia?
Kat: Sent a photo.
Kat: These are the assignments, em.
Me: Thanks, Kat.
I quickly got up and started working on the assignment. Oh no, why are there three of these and all essays? It's already 11 o'clock.
I hurriedly wrote down the questions and answered them.
"How can one overcome fear? - Identify and understand your fear: Take the time to reflect on your fear and try to understand its root cause. Sometimes, fear stems from past experiences or a lack of knowledge about the object or situation causing the fear. By gaining a deeper understanding of your fear, you can begin to address it more effectively."
I'm running out of time.
"Should people experience extreme suffering for the rest of their lives? And how can one find meaning and purpose in life after experiencing a life-altering accident?"
I paused, my mind went blank, and I didn't know how to answer. Whatever, let it be.
"First and foremost, it is crucial to acknowledge that everyone's journey is unique, and healing takes time. Each person copes with their experiences differently, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to overcoming extreme suffering. However, there are several strategies that individuals can employ to navigate their way towards a more fulfilling and purposeful life. It is crucial to practice self-compassion and acceptance. Accepting the new reality, along with its limitations, is an essential step in the healing process. Self-compassion involves treating oneself with kindness, forgiveness, and understanding, recognizing that everyone faces challenges and setbacks. Embracing self-compassion can help individuals find peace within themselves and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead."
I just laughed at my answer because I couldn't apply it to myself. I put the papers in my bag and went to sleep.