Family Ties

Seeing the amount of messages form my sister I was surprised. 

Years ago, we had a good relationship — perhaps too good, leading to problems and we didn't talk much since then.

"She was worried about my life, that's all."

Trying to convince myself while saying this, I decided to read her messages last.

Mother was just being her overly worried self. My five years younger brother sent me a report of his well-being and asked about mine.

With his personality, it's also nothing new.

But seeing the last name Max, the only friend that I still have, I was reminded of my hometown and my school days.

Being the top student of my school and having a lot of friends.

I was reminded of my cheerful personality back then, not like the gloomy one now. But maybe being the center of attention back then was also one of the reasons that I couldn't get accustomed to living here in this new environment.

Seeing that his messages were also about my health.

"I'm okay."

With the thought of sending the same dry reply to all of them, I was writing it.

Shaking me off was my mother's call.

Seeing her name as the caller, I hesitated a little, but maybe the awakening changed something within me, my gloomy and unconfident self was getting better so I decided to answer.

"Ellis!"

Shouting my name aloud with that worried tone, I was forced to distance the phone from my ear. She started to ask all kinds of questions, but even without hearing them.

"I'm fine, like what could happen?"

I replied gruffly.

"It's afternoon now, the chaos started happening from the morning. What were you doing? Do you know how much I was worried that maybe something happened to you? Even your father asked about you."

Hearing the reprimand she was saying I didn't give a shit about it, I was actually more astonished that I could sleep till now. And thought about my housemate in the next room with his girlfriend that I haven't heard a single sound from , maybe they were done for.

But hearing her mention my father, made me frustrated even if her tone was on the verge of crying.

"So you are worried now?"

I couldn't help but give her a harsh reply, even though my problems have nothing to do with her, but her gullible character and indecision when I was in my last high school year was not helping it at all. She didn't pressure me like my father about choosing medicine department in university. But her not standing and helping in my time of need was equivalent to it.

Even if she started to talk or console me a lot after that.

Like I couldn't feel her presence at any important point in my life, and her naive character didn't help at all. Even if she has a lot of affection and love, everything in the world has a right timing, and hers was always wrong.

"Why are you saying it like this?"

Seeing how she started to cry, I was starting to feel annoyed.

"Anyway, I was sleeping and just woke up, so I'm fine now."

"And don't mention father again in front of me."

While saying so and making sure my point was reached. I continued.

"What about you? How is the situation on your side?"

Hesitating a little, 

"What about Clara?"

I continued to ask.

"We are fine. You know how your father is a major in the military, and there being a military camp not too far from the city was helpful. So we and some families of high-ranking officials in the military were transported from the start."

"Clara is fine. You know how strong-willed she is. When this blue window first appeared, she was the first one to come to her senses and give instructions."

"Even after that, on the way to the camp, she managed to take care of everyone, like helping in calming the families down. And she even helped the soldiers with killing the zombies."

"It feels like the tomboy in her is returning."

She laughed while saying the last sentence, her crying stopped at some point.

Hearing this, I felt a mix of emotions: pride in my sister's competence and achievement, but at the same time jealousy.

"Well, that's good then. Just tell her to take care and not do anything dangerous that she can't handle,"

While replying so, I tried to suppress the longing in emotion. To not make it apparent in the tone of my voice.

"Don't worry about us. Where we are now is very safe. So you should take care of yourself."

"there are gatherings of survived people everywhere, so you should go to one. Surviving with groups is always better than being alone, just make sure to stay away from the criminal and gang groups. And when the military in your city makes a shelter, go there immediately."

As she continued to give instructions, I started to get bored. "Okay, okay. Is there anything else? I'm about to hang up."

"Wait, there's something they didn't mention in the news that you should know about,"

she said, making me pause.

"What?" I asked.

"The network coverage for phones and the internet is getting worse and worse. Even the electricity isn't working efficiently. They might stop working at any moment."

Hearing this, I wasn't surprised. It matched my expectations. "Oh, well, I had an inkling something like this would happen," I said, noticing her surprise at my nonchalant response to her super big news.

"Well, take care," I said and hung up.

Holding the phone, I replied to my friend and brother before reading my sister's precious messages.

I was almost disappointed by her lengthy greeting and normal questions, like she was trying to make sure i don't misunderstand anything.

"I miss you."

But seeing her final message and noting the time gap between it and the previous ones, happiness surged within me, feeling as if all the good things were coming at once.

It felt like the desert in my heart was finally welcoming its first rain in ages.

The joy that I felt was that immense.

"I miss you too,"

As I wrote back, I wanted to ask about many things — her well-being, about the things that happened in the past, our relationship.

"No, I should wait."

But after reconsidering, I decided to save these discussions for when we could speak face-to-face.

I can say that after after seeing my status window, I got a dose of confidence.

"But one dose isn't enough."

After awakening, I grew greedy, and started to want many things. one of them being overflowing with confidence when I meet her.

With that thought, I stood up. It was time to take action.