I stood there, frozen, staring at the disappearing vehicle in which sat a person who just a moment ago brought back the memories I barely recall in order not to feel the agony I felt years ago.

Sudden hurt and other different emotions build up inside me which slowly but surely deepened the wound which was never healed.

Forgetting about the breakfast I was out to eat, I sat in my car and taking a u-turn I drove to the place which holds a special place in my heart.

I stopped the car in front of one story, big house that holds the memories of my childhood. I walked on the pavement which made me recall my little self who used to practice cycling on the pavement. I glanced at the lawn where I saw myself holding the hand of my sister, running on our small feet in order not to be caught by our father who was trying to catch us; our mother laughing at our father who was unable to catch us no matter how hard he tried. When I grew up, then only I got to know that he used to do that to make us win.

I swallowed hard before opening the door of the house. As I opened the door, a sudden rush of emotions hit me when the non-existing sound of faint giggles and laughter reached my ears which I yearned to hear but couldn't hear anymore.

Taking slow steps inside I halted them in front of the large photo frame hung on the wall, holding my family's portrait. My heart became heavy and my eyes started to moisten up when I looked at the happy faces of my parents and my younger sister.

It's been years since they left me alone. I never knew that the flight they took to come to meet me in college would become their last flight. I still remember the news of the plane crash that left me devastated. The plane crash that left no intact bodies, the plane crash that took my family away from me.

With teary eyes, I looked at the image of my father. "Why did you take that flight? I told you that I would come to meet you then why didn't you listen to me?" I whispered then glanced at the picture of my mother. "Why didn't you stop him? You always used to stop him from making rash decisions then why didn't you stop him that day?" I raised my voice a little.

"I was torn; I couldn't even see you all last time. Hell, I wasn't even aware that you were coming to surprise me. And see what happened... You did give me a surprise... a surprise that no child would ever want to receive from their parents." I again looked at my father's picture "I never wanted to receive a call from your secretary to hear that horrifying news... But I did."

"You used to say that you'll hand over your business and this house to me when I'll grow up and I happily waited for me to grow up; daily, I used to check my height to see how much I had grown. But what I never knew was that you won't be the one handing it over to me... but your lawyers."

"I don't want it, dad, I don't want all this. I want you all back in my life." I cried. "Mom, please tell dad to take all this away from me..." I cried. "Just come back to me..."

My eyes fell on the smiling face of my little sister's picture whose dream of becoming an artist remained a dream. With teary eyes, I brushed my fingers on the picture. "I'm sorry my baby sister, my Princess... Because of my delay to meet you all forced you to take that flight. It was my mistake. Please forgive me, if you can."

Suddenly my phone rang, I wanted to ignore it but a voice inside my head compelled me to take that call. I slumped on the floor when I saw the name "princess" flashing on the phone screen.

Princess, Ariana Knight, wife of my best friend, Xavier Knight who came into my life as a sister two years back. I call her princess because she reminds me of my sister.

I glanced up at the picture of my sister and whispered. "It feels like you're always around me."

Before answering the call, I wiped my tears and cleared my throat. "Hey, Princess."

"Don't 'hey princess' me, Daniel. I've called to scold you. You again sent a new toy for Amara? I told you not to. Her room in which she hasn't stepped yet has no space to set a foot." I soft smile glazed my lips when her sweet rambling reached my ear. Not just her appearance, even her scolding sounds the same as my sister.

I thought I wanted to be alone to spend some time talking to my family but her voice reversed my thinking. After all, she too was my family.

"Princess," I whispered over the phone.

"Dani..."

"I don't want to be alone." I finished in a cracked voice. I couldn't hold it.

"Daniel? You okay?" She asked worriedly.

"No!"

"Where are you?" She asked.

"Home." A tear slipped my eye.

"Pa....parents?" She asked in a whisper. I stayed quiet. And as if she understood my silence, she spoke,

"Stay there, I'm on my way."

After almost twenty minutes she came. I was still sitting on the floor. When she came to me I didn't look up to her because I couldn't. Silently, she first squatted in front of me then sat beside me.

"Daniel." She whispered.

"I miss them," I mumbled, not looking up to her.

"I know." She gently patted my shoulder then wrapped her arm around my shoulder to console me.

"It was my mistake. I delayed my visit to them that's why it all happened. I should have visited them when they were asking for it. I still can't forgive myself."

She slightly pulled away and looked at me. "Daniel, whatever happened wasn't your mistake. No one can be blamed for the accident. It was written in destiny. I... I know my words won't give peace to you no matter what I say. But I can assure you that I'll be always here to listen to you, to share your pain but please don't blame yourself. You will only hurt yourself."

I couldn't control myself, engulfing her in a hug I cried on her shoulder. "I don't wanna cry." I sniffed.

"Crying is not always bad. Sometimes, crying is all you can do to heal the pain you feel. Crying is the first medicine for emotional pain. Let your tears fall, let it all out through the tears. When you can't express your pain in words, letting your tears out is the only way to make you feel better." She mumbled softly as she patted my back.

Her words felt so consoling. I was pleased that she was there to fill the empty space of my sister. I don't know for how long I cried but when I pulled away I saw moisture glistening in her eyes.

"Hey, why are you crying? It is me who is supposed to cry, not you" I cupped her face between my palms.

"I'm not crying." She stated, swatting my hands away she wiped her eyes.

"Oh yeah? Then why are you wiping your eyes?"

She again looked at me and again her eyes started filling with tears which gave me instant panic.

"No, no, no, princess. You are not supposed to cry. Xavier will throw me in the middle of the ocean between the hungry sharks if he finds out that you cried because of me." I stated playfully to cheer her up. She chuckled which gave me relief.

"What are you two doing sitting on the floor?"

Speak of the devil! I glanced up only to see my best friends, Xavier and Sean approaching us.

"Why did you tell them?" I sighed looking at Ariana. She smiled not so apologetically and patted my shoulder. I stood up and helped Ariana to stand.

Xavier and Sean embraced me in a comforting hug then pulled away. Xavier then faced Ariana and worriedly asked. "Did you cry?"

"No, but he did." She pointed her finger at me.

"Yeah, I can see that," Xavier said facing me.

"How many times do I have to tell you to never be alone in this kind of situation?" Sean scoffed at me.

"Do you know Ariana was so worried when she heard your low voice? She immediately rushed to you leaving everything behind." Xavier said pulling his wife in his arms.

"Sorry." That is only what I could say. I had made all of them worried.

"You okay?" Xavier and Sean asked in unison.

"Where's my queen, Amara?" I asked to distract them.

"I came here after leaving her with her grandparents," Xavier said and I scoffed.

"Instead of coming alone, you should have brought her here. Her presence would have brightened up my mood instantly because yours isn't helping." I commented and in return, I received a punch on my shoulder from Xavier.

"Shut up otherwise I'll never let you see my daughter again." He grumbled.

"You can't do that!" I gasped.

"I can 'cause she's my daughter and trust me at that time Ariana will also be of no help to you." He smirked.

"Are you threatening me?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

All of a sudden Xavier and Sean again pulled me hug and this time a tight hug. "You seriously okay?" They both asked. Slowly raising my arms I embraced them tightly and whispered,

"I am now."

"Don't do that again. Just come to us whenever you miss your family. We too are your family, remember?" Sean said. I just nodded my head as I was short of words. I couldn't be more thankful to them. How did I forget that I can't be alone when I have them as my family.

"Hey, I feel left out. I want a hug too."

We chuckled and pulled away. Xavier approached her and embraced her in his arms tightly. "You can never be left out. You're the most important member of this family. You keep us together." He said while kissing her hair.

Well, that's true, Ariana always makes sure to organize family gatherings so that we could share our feelings, our worries, and anything bothering us.

When Xavier made his distance from Ariana, Sean and I kissed her forehead.

"Thank you for being my sister." I ruffled her hair.

"Have you had your breakfast?" She asked.

"Not yet." I sighed.

"That's why you're looking so gloomy." She pouted. "Come on, let's get your tummy filled with delicious food so that I can get my all-time happy brother back." She gave her most famous, bright smile.

"Hey, you barely talk sweetly to me. Why with Daniel then?" Xavier grimaced. Ariana rolled her eyes.

"That's the difference between a husband and a brother," I stated.

"That's married life, Xavier." Sean laughed.

"You don't know anything about married life, so you better don't comment." Xavier shot back.

"Don't want to experience it yet. Don't want to be bound by responsibilities. And also I don't want to handle the tantrums of a wife." Sean raised his hands in surrender.

"That's rude Sean. I'm a wife and I never throw tantrums, right Xavier?" She looked at Xavier.

"Er... Yeah, you don't." Xavier stuttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You stuttered? Means you agree with Sean?" She asked in disbelief.

"No! I didn't mean that." Xavier gasped.

Guess Xavier would be getting an earful from his wife. Ha! He deserves it.

Xavier continued to try to talk to his wife but she gave him a cold shoulder. Their banter was so cute.

We decided to eat out, so we all went to a cafe to have our breakfast. After we were done with our breakfast Sean suddenly spoke up,

"Daniel, I'll keep my eyes on you throughout the day. And you'll sleep in my penthouse. Who knows you'll cry again!"

"No way! I said I'm okay. Please don't take my freedom away from me. I'm not a baby." I said annoyingly.

"Oh, really? You should have thought it before crying alone." Xavier snapped and faced Sean. "Don't leave him alone."

"Princess, please help. I won't be able to breathe under their watch." I pleaded to her. Xavier closed her ear by placing his hands on her ear. "She ain't listening."

"Sorry, can't help you this time." She gave me an apologetic look.

"Traitor."

Sean and Xavier went out of the cafe to bring their car, leaving Ariana to watch on me.

"They care for you a lot." She smiled warmly.

"I know. That's why I'm bearing them and accepting their punishment." I chuckled looking at the cafe door.

"Who was it?" Ariana suddenly asked.

I frowned. "Who was who?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't get to ask it before but now I'm asking, who's the person who made you cry."

"How do you know that it's a person and not anything else?" I asked in surprise.

"Instincts!" She shrugged which made me laugh.

"So?"

If cheerfulness is bubbling inside you then go and cheer your family, spend time with them. They must be waiting for your schedule to get free so that they can meet you.

Her words echoed in my head which made me clench my hands in a fist. She doesn't know that I don't have to especially visit my family in order to give them my time. My family is always around me.

"No one!" I stated.

"No one? I don't believe you!"

"Trust me, Princess, it's no one."

Yes, she's no one, she's just a person to whom I gave a little extra importance, my precious time and she failed to respect that.

Just don't bother me.

She doesn't want to be bothered?

Then let's keep it that way.

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