In The Silence Between

He's Dead.

"How is he dead?"

"Why is he dead?"

"Who killed him and why would they kill him?"

These questions kept running in my head as I sat at the corner of my room holding up my legs together. I couldn't cry anymore, tears stopped flowing. I couldn't feel anything anymore.

I heard the landline ring by 9pm on Tuesday. I just got back from school a few hours ago and I wasn't expecting anyone to call. In fact, who even calls landlines when you can call my cell phone, I thought we didn't use it anymore.

My parents were on a business trip and they won't be back till next Saturday. They traveled to South Africa, they had a business contract to seal there. It was just me and Bun, my dog. I picked up the phone and waited for the person to speak up.

"Hello. Good evening, am I speaking to Mr. Daniels?" A lady asks. She sounded older, in her sixties or so. I wondered why she was calling this late in the evening.

"Good evening ma, Mr. Daniels is my dad and he's unavailable at the moment." I answer politely.

"My name is Mrs. Alexa. I'm calling from Saints College in Australia. I am the Deputy Chancellor in the college. Hmm... I don't know if I can tell you this information, I'm supposed to tell it to his father first," she responds.

At this point I'm a bit weary. His father? What happened to my brother?!

Why would someone call from his college?

Why would the Administration call?

My brother is the best in his school work and everything so what happened?

I spoke to him three days prior and he sounded okay. He even joked about his friends and told me what had been happening.

"Excuse me ma, what happened to my brother? Is he okay? Please tell me. I'll let my dad know." The words left my mouth in a rush. I didn't even think, a lot of things were running through my mind.

She hesitated before saying "I'm sorry but Samuel Daniels is dead. He was found inside a burnt building. The laboratory building caught fire last night and he was there working on a project with his teammates. His remains will be sent...."

She kept on talking but I wasn't listening anymore, I couldn't hear anything. The only thing I heard was enough to make me traumatized. Sammy is dead?! I couldn't utter a word.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" She asks.

"Yeah, I can. I heard you" I murmur.

"I'm really sorry" she said before she hung up.

My mum came into the room, seeing me sitting in the corner, she signed. She kept the black dress on my bed, the burial was tomorrow. The dress was knee length and long sleeved, it had simple designs at the front. She wasn't crying today, she had already cried her heart out and was trying to be strong for me and Dad. Dad had been silent, I guess he was thinking about losing his only son.

I couldn't believe he was really dead until I saw them lowering the remains of his body into the ground. It was an event I never thought would happen so soon. His life was over. I won't see him smile again, he won't joke about how he's a few inches taller than me. It just dawned on me that I won't hear his voice again. Tears slipped down my cheeks.

I don't know what I'm feeling, either rage or sorrow. I'm angry because I didn't know what happened, what could have possibly happened? I'm angry because my twin brother just died. I'm annoyed because of a lot of things. We were so close, even if we fought and argued most times, I loved him so much.

The event went well. Everything was okay, my friends came around. I'm so quiet, I was still processing things. I don't even know what to think nor say.

A week later my parents had to go back to South Africa. Our lives had to continue, I know my brother would want the best for us. I picked up my phone for the first time since the death and burial of my brother. I had 30 missed calls and some messages, from my friends, Katie, Dave and Chloe. I called Chloe and she picked up after the phone rang twice.

"Hi love, how are you?" she asks.

"I'm fine. Can we have movie night today?"

"Well... yes of course. I'll call Dave and Katie. We'll head over after school. We'll get your favorite snacks. Don't worry."

"Okay. I'll be waiting. Bye"

"Bye Darling" she replies.

I hadn't gone to school since the burial. My parents were patient with me. I just needed a little space but I was better than before. I went to prepare for my friends. I made Spaghetti and ordered Chicken wings from Wings ville, cleaned up the sitting room and kept blankets there.

It was around 4pm when I heard the bell ring. I opened the door and my friends were there. Dave walks in and gives me a big hug. He's wearing shorts and a blue hoodie and black Nike shoes, his black hair was a bit messy cause he had probably used his hand to run through it a couple of times. He has the body of a model and a dimple at the corner of his mouth. He is carrying a big white bag from Best Buy ShopRite. I guess they bought popcorn, drinks and desserts. I smile at him and hug him back.

"Hii big guy. How are you?"

"I'm fine Gabby. I hope you're better now. I miss the sarcastic you, you are annoying, you know."

I laughed "I'm okay now. I'm actually better. Things happen, I know he would want the best for me and I will start annoying you again." I said, poking his chest.

"Okay... As long as you don't pull my hair," he winced, his lip was tilted upward.

"I'll think about that, no promises though," I say.

Katie is wearing a brown crop top and black jean trousers and sandals. Her pale skin glows in the evening sun and her brown long hair is up in a messy bun. Chloe, our fashionista, is wearing a big pink shirt and black cargo pants with canvas. Her brown shining skin also glows as always and her black shoulder length hair is packed at the back. They both have beautiful bodies, you know, slim waist and small hips. We hug and enter the living room.