The bright light flickered, flashing his lifeless face for her to see. It wasn't like she hadn't seen death in real-time with her parents dying suddenly a few years back.

But something was disturbing about seeing it etched in the youthful face of her younger brother, it shocked her to the core that she had witnessed yet another loss of someone who she deeply cared for.

'I'm sorry, Mum and Dad" she barely whispered, caressing the cold surface of her brother's face.

Nadia was unsure how to process the fact that she had to move on without him, they had been practically stuck to each other since he was born and even more so after she became his guardian when their parents passed.

He was the only thing that made grieving their parents easy and now he was gone...too. She couldn't for the life of her, draw a single tear as she kept looking at him. Her instinct was naturally to hug him but she knew that when she did that, she would have to accept that it wouldn't be reciprocated in the warm manner that she was used to.

He's really dead.

As the white cover was placed over him, she caught one last glimpse of a face she would miss seeing every day and turned to see the awaiting detective constable outside of the morgue. She knew he had questions but right now, her mind was only beginning to compute that her brother had died.

"Ms Asante, a moment, please?" DC Isley queried, readying himself with a pen and notepad. Her eyes darted to the slightly older man, his eyes seemed kind despite his rather rugged appearance.

A deep sigh escaped her lips as she nodded silently, following him to his over-piled desk. Sitting across from him, she couldn't wait to get this over with.

"I'm aware that you might not want to discuss this now but anything you know could really help us find out who killed your brother. Do you remember the last time you saw him?" DC Isley asked, looking at the distraught look on her face.

" It was...erm...the night it happened, he told me that he was going to be at his friend's place for the weekend." She mentioned as her mind transported back to the fateful night, had she known what would happen, she would've stopped him from leaving.

...........................................................................................................................................................

Nadia went downstairs to finish the rest of her leftover Indian takeaway. She had been craving it all day. 

A small ruffling sound stopped her in her tracks. Annoyance began to bubble inside her as she approached the kitchen. There he was, eating the food she had been pining for without a care in the world.

A slight creak made him peek around to see a slightly annoyed Nadia, with her arms folded and he knew that he had fucked up.

" I'm sorry, Nads. Thought you were going to finish it" he spoke mindlessly whilst munching on the delicious food.

" You always do this, don't you have any money for food ?" She snatched the rest of it before he could finish it, much to his horror.

" You might as well let me finish it, you know since I already started it" he gestured to it, licking the flavourful residue of the korma curry off his fingers.

" Fuck off, Jordan" Nadia mumbled, taking the rest of the food to finish off. She had gotten used to him doing this but it didn't stop annoying her when he did it.

As she finished the last of the food and the rest of her work, she sighed, knowing she didn't have to deal with her nail salon until the weekend was over. She could enjoy the many perks of being a business owner by relaxing for the rest of her Friday evening. 

A small knock on her door caused her to get up from her bed, and open her door for him.

" I'm going to Jay's, probably for the weekend. I don't know what time I will be back yet and yes, I have my key" Jordan rolled his eyes.

" Cool, let  me know when you get there and the time you'll come back"

" Yeah, whatever. Later" 

" Stay safe, Love you" She looked at him, seeing that trademark cheeky smirk form on his face.

" You know I always do. Love you too, sis" he replied, closing the door behind him.

..............................................................................................................................................................

She replayed his last words to her over and over again, just so she could hear his voice one more time but it wasn't like hearing him in real time. As the memory faded away, she looked back at the concerned detective.

" Do you remember which friend it was? I just want to place how he ended up this way"

" Jay Parker, he is....erm... a school friend" she let out solemnly as she tried to keep her composure. She didn't want to be here any more, the overwhelming feeling of grief permeating her every thought and she didn't know how much longer she could continue this ruse of appearing ok.

It wasn't like anyone was expecting her to but she didn't want people to see her this way: saddened and defeated. She hated seeming too weak to anyone and the longer she sat in this chair, the closer she got to her breaking point.

DC Isley might not be a therapist but he could tell she wasn't in the kind of mind frame to answer any more questions. Choosing the simple option,  he handed her his card and gestured for her to follow him.

The sky greyed as they approached the Police station exit, him offering a warm grip on her sunken shoulders.

" Call me when you are ready to talk, Ms Asante. We want to solve this as much you do" he suggested, giving a small smile.

Nadia could only nod as she left him and the rest of the world behind, making her way back home. The drive was just as melancholic as the mood she was feeling, cars zooming by as she dissociated from reality for a bit.

The grand Victorian house could be seen from the corner of Nadia's eye as she parked in the drive. She could only stare at the large dark oak door which would lead to a house filled with memories of the people she loved the most.

They were all gone.

And there it was, the gut-wrenching grief bursting out of her as the tears poured down. All the pent-up pain and sorrow that she had been holding onto since seeing her brother, finally came out.

She knew that she couldn't bring herself to go inside that house given everything that was happening.

That house no longer felt like a home, well at least not for now and the only logical thing she could think of was going somewhere that would bring the warmth she so desperately needed. 

Within 20 minutes, she found herself at the end of a terrace house that she considered a second home and made her way to the door. Before she could even knock, it was as if she knew that Nadia was at the door.

" Shante, I-" Nadia could barely get out her words.

Shante merely widened her arms, letting her grief-stricken friend fall into her embrace. For now, Nadia knew that this was as close to home as she was going to get.

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Hi guys, 

New book for you guys! It's a romantic thriller, so slightly different to what I usually write.

Let me know what you think of the  first chapter

And as always, vote 

Love, Tam xxx