Being forgotten is a feeling that is worse no matter how well you describe your loneliness. Who can rescue you from the constant feeling of being drowned and not pulled up? Aliya doesn't ever remember having someone to rescue her. She rescued herself through her constant painting. The forgotten feeling forebode over her head as if someone constantly telling her that happiness is long gone.
As usual, the lonely days keep passing by for Aliya. Ever since her parents got into a horrible accident when she was young, her life hasn't been very fulfilling. People offer their comforting words, but words can be said by anyone. She often feels a big part of her life is missing. Her survival only depended on earning and having a healthy life. Her mother often told her to take care of herself, she's special, she's her little princess, but in her head she often knew that princesses dealt with situations like these all the time. Aliya would always say she was not a princess and her parents laughed it off, every single time.
10 YEARS LATER
Aliya is now a college student, she studies art as it helps her release trauma and emotions she does not want to burden people with. Her art is the one thing she is proud of in her life, yet hearing people show their works proudly is something she cannot afford to do. The students there know her situation and not all are very sympathetic about it. There have many incidents where Aliya had to repaint her works over and over again. The lecturers question it and she holds back.
Sometimes she thinks there could be more to this special life she has.
"Aliya, Tia is calling you."
"Huh?" Replied Aliya.
The infamous Tia wanted to talk to Aliya at college. The situation with Tia is a bit iffy for both of them to say the least. Aliya had been taken in by the Camera family and Tia was their special youngest daughter. However, Aliya was now twenty and she did various jobs to help her move out. The Camera family would often send her allowances and help her as they were in fact, at some point her guardians. Tia was fond of her, as they grew up together. Rumours spread that Aliya liked Keith. He was Tia's crush ever since they both came to this college. A misunderstanding between them had caused Tia to distance her from Aliya. The only good person, the only presence in Aliya's life is also gone.
"I told you to come ten minutes ago." Tia sighed.
"I'm sorry, I just had to pack my things."
"Fine. I had to tell you something."
"Oh, what?" Confused Aliya took a step forward.
"Well, the painting you made."
"What about it Tia?"
"It's gone."
"What?"
"Well that's all, my friends found out and I just wanted to let you know that's it." Grinned Tia.
Aliya's last project was about her parents. The theme of fond memories and it was gone. She spent days painting it, because that was the only piece she had trouble starting with. As she heard the news, she couldn't help but tremble.
"Tia, was it you?" Aliya asked on the verge of tears.
"Aliya, don't talk to me."
Running off to the studios, she realised it was time to move. Tia would not tell her what rumour she heard and it was troubling for Aliya to constantly put up with her antics.
"Aliya, your painting is not here?"
"Um, I just need a little more time to-"
"Deadline is up Aliya, I'm sorry, but you can ask for a referral and extended deadline."
After hearing all that, Aliya decided to go home. Nearby she felt an eerie feeling of being stared. She was on the bus going home and passed a cemetery. That cemetery was covered in vines and bushes that seemed pitch black no matter the time or day. It was said to be a peaceful place, but no one had seen people there. It was almost abandoned, but not. The cracked gates pulled in all that was trying to escape. There was a strange story about this cemetery, but Aliya was too young to remember her parents would often come here to pay their respects.
Whilst on the bus, she realised that she would have to go back to the Camera family house and that was not what she needed now. She headed over to the nearest cafe and sat there drawing.
Her feelings were pouring out like the pitter-patter of the rain outside. She couldn't draw, she couldn't understand why everything was going wrong after her parents left. How did they take all the happiness and luck away? It's just too much for Aliya, she couldn't hide, she couldn't live anywhere. The cafe was as quiet as the cemetery almost. She wanted to stay longer in the dead silence of the chilly, warm seat.
"Are you okay?"
"Oh sorry, is it closing time?" Jolted Aliya.
"It is, yes, but I was wondering are you feeling okay?"
"Oh, am I?"
The man was the cafe owner, wearing a thick black coat with a suit resembling the grim reapers. His face was prim and proper and he seemed fairly young for his role. He had a small ring that contained some sort of subliminal shadow that could be mistaken for having eyes. The cafe workers knew he never makes an appearance, but today he was there unexpectedly. He sat next to her, while disregarding time.
"Do you perhaps want a hot chocolate?"
"If it's alright."
She continued drawing as she realised the cold eerie feeling from when she passed the cemetery had lurked back in. The door was closed, the windows were closed and all she could help but notice was the cafe owner and the workers. The windows blurred from the rain and fog was holding onto the glass as if it were protecting everyone in the cafe. She drew the cafe.