Alliyah

Rayne was correct. When they pulled up to the place more affected by the tsunami, there was one word in Alliyah’s mind: devastation.

“Wow.” Slipped her lips.

Houses were torn down; cars were crashed, upside down; furthermore, she was afraid she was seeing dead bodies somewhere in the distance being carried to white vans.

Her heart ached in her chest, but she tried to not show how distressed she was. Like Rayne, who naturally inquired:

“Where are we starting?”

The group was divided: some would be clearing up space for more volunteers to stay at and other stands for medical staff to help the wounded. And others would be dealing with the wrecked houses.

“Remember to take a break every hour or so. You’ll perform better after resting.” The woman in command, Kayla, announced, with a smile.

Rayne and Alliyah were sent to clear up a deserted hospital, where nature had taken over - vegetation had entered through the broken windows, the paint was peeling itself off the wall, and Alliyah noticed that there were leaves all over the floor, right before someone directed her to start sweeping them.

She overheard Rayne receive instructions to cut up weeds on the outside, to clear the path that led to the hospital.

By the second time the moon rose in Kenya, Alliyah was exhausted, having had no sleep in over 24 hours. She was already tired the previous night, but just couldn’t fall asleep, seeing the devastation every time she closed her eyes. It probably didn’t help that she had taken one of the mattresses on the floor, instead of a bed.

When she turned to her left, she found the space next to her was empty - Rayne was gone… But so was her mattress?

Restlessness, combined with curiosity, made her get up and go search for the gone girl.

She found Rayne lying on her mattress on the ground of the roof… Very New Yorker of her, Alliyah thought. Soon she realized her friend was on the phone, so she stayed behind.

“Thanks again. You know I do not care for birthdays, but if it makes you call me, I like them a little more.” Rayne spoke low and tenderly. “Yes, yes, I know you are a busy boy. Ugh, sure, fine, go work… I love you too.”

A few seconds later, the taller girl walked over.

“What are you doing here?” She pretended not to overhear the conversation.

“It was too hot in there.”

“Sorry, I’ll try turning it down tomorrow.”

Despite rolling her eyes, Rayne smiled, looking away.

“So, who was on the phone?” Alliyah couldn’t resist the curiosity. She said ‘I love you’ to that person!

“You nosy, you.” Rayne glared. “It was my brother. What did you hear?”

“Just enough to say… Happy birthday.” She grinned.

“Ugh, thanks.“ Rayne's glare intensified.

“Why don’t you like birthdays?”

“Why does anyone like their birthdays?”

“Some of us like to think it’s worthy of a celebration that we didn’t die from riding the subway with all the rats and bad hygiene.”

“Never have I ever been to the subway.”

“What?!”

“I just take cabs. You do not make it seem appealing at all, anyway.” Rayne bit back a chuckle.

“Yeah, but it's part of the New Yorker experience.”

“I’ll pass.”

“I will make you ride the subway at least once in your life.”

“You will’nt.”

“I know contractions aren’t your thing, but that one is very much not real.” Alliyah teased.

Rayne’s phone rang before she could retort. She looked at it and groaned while rejecting the call.