---

Every day, I found something out of place.

A cup in the sink that I was sure I hadn't put there.

Did I really move that chair infront of the TV?

Why is my bedroom door slightly open? I remember shutting it before I left for work...

But it kept happening.

---

I'm Anira. I work in a hosiery factory. My parents live in the rurals. I had come to the city for a better future and had worked my ass off to have the life I was living now.

I had made some friends along the way, and maybe a few enemies too. But what do they say? Everything is fair in war and love. For me, leaving behind that tattered place and those sweaty days was a war I was going to win at any cost.

In these ten years, I had come a long way, from being a worker to holding a position in management. I had planned to invite my parents over once I was settled.

But maybe I didn't want that anymore...

I loved the freedom which came with living alone and was actually enjoying every bit of it.

So whenever they called, I would make one excuse after another until they eventually stopped asking to come and live with me. Days went by, and I wouldn't even call them back, let alone call them myself. I was so consumed by city life that I had completely forgotten about them.

They were somewhere in the background of my life.

I would send them some money occasionally, and that was that.

---

Life was really good or at least I thought so, until now.

At first, I blamed myself.

Maybe I was tired. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.

But it happened again. And again.

---

Maybe it was just my imagination afterall.

I had stayed up late with my friends last night. Maybe I hadn't gotten enough sleep...

That night, I checked every window before going to bed.

Locked.

I checked the front door twice.

Locked.

Satisfied, I switched off the lights and got into bed.

Just as I was about to fall asleep, my phone buzzed.

A message from my mother.

Are you alone?

I stared at it for a long moment.

Then another message appeared.

Don't open the door.

I took my phone in my hand and tried opening the message again, but they weren't there. There was no message from her in the last three months. Not even a call log that showed that either of us had called eachother.

What was happening to me? Maybe I really was more tired than I thought. I needed to rest. I told myself I would definitely call my parents in the morning. I was really ashamed of myself.

I decided to get some sleep.

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of tea.

For a few seconds, I smiled.

It smelled exactly like the tea my mother used to make.

Then I remembered.

My parents weren't in the city.

They had never come to visit me.

At least, that's what I thought.

I walked into the kitchen.

Two cups of tea were sitting on the table.

One was still warm.

And beside it was a small piece of paper.

Three words.

“We're here Anira.”

---

Part 1

_{To be continued}