Alliyah

A week into volunteering, they were sleeping better and getting used to the work. Alliyah had even made a few friends - she got closer to Kayla, learning the story about how she created her organization, after losing her wife in a natural disaster in the Philippines.

“Will you stop talking to everyone? It's annoying.” Rayne blurted out, in a graveled tone, after lunch, as they exited the place serving as a cafeteria.

Alliyah was saddened because of the adjective Rayne used, yet she didn’t reply. She frowned, and they quietly made their way back to the motel to rest until the weather became less hot and they could continue their tasks.

At the building, Rayne told her she was going to the bathroom to check her makeup. Alliyah nodded and kept walking to their room.

When Alliyah got to her mattress and grabbed her phone, she saw a few missed calls and texts from Mariam. Finding it strange, she promptly called back.

“How’s Lamar?!” Mariam asked frenetically.

“What do you mean ‘how’s Lamar?’ I assume he’s well.” She lied down on the mattress.

“Do you not know what’s going on at his school?”

Alliyah held her breath and felt her hands clam up.

“I- What- What’s happening!?”

“There’s a shooting.”

Alliyah’s heart tightened and her surroundings blurred. She got up so quickly, it looked like the mattress was going to swallow her if she didn’t.

“Mariam-”

“I’m sorry to be telling you like this. I assumed you knew.”

“I’m in Kenya! I- I can’t talk to him. I need you to find out if he’s okay, find him for me, okay?”

“I’ll try, darling.”

“You’re going to do it!” Alliyah spoke rougher than she expected, through gritted teeth.

“Please, stay calm. God will keep him safe.”

“God..? God?” Alliyah paced around in the small room. “What God? Where is this thing you speak of? Where is it when tsunamis hit countries, children starve and die? A kid took a gun to a school, and you’re telling me to calm down, Mariam?"

“Alliyah?” Rayne called from the door. “What’s wrong?”

She allowed her body to fall back onto the mattress and started crying. Rayne rapidly shuffled her way to her side and held her.

Her hands were on her face, covering her eyes. It was not like Alliyah to cry in front of anyone. She didn’t cry when she crashed skateboarding; she didn’t cry when breaking up with exes, she just kept her composure all the time. But this time the pressure was too much, and the bottle popped.