My dad, mum, Shaun, Gemma, Logan and I were sitting at the dining table, saying our grace. We weren't particularly religious, but we always prayed during occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, thanksgiving etc. Grandpa and his cousins had gone out to party at a local restaurant where they usually hung out because they had their own fun to catch up on so this left us with only my family and Logan. I expected Logan to grumble about how he had to endure the pain of sitting through the unbearable silence which prevailed because of my mum's and my brother's recent argument. However, he seemed to enjoy the silence since he looked like his usual self, awkward, but a bit calmer.We started to dive in the food which comprised of Vietnamese cuisine which my mum had specially prepared for grandpa since he used to always love what my grandma used to cook for him. Usually, at our home, we didn't have Vietnamese food because my sister couldn't digest strong spices like ginger, garlic, shrimp past
"I need to fix them, Logan, I-I need to fix them all!" I felt myself slip into a state of hysteria because my body started trembling and I started laughing in pity. "It's all because of me, I have to-to fix them all! How can I die peacefully w-when my family's falling apart like that? How can I Logan?"Something snapped in me because I erupted into fresh tears and I couldn't help myself. I buried my face in between my knees and started weeping, my entire body shaking. I could taste the salty tears in my mouth as I tried to wipe them against the fabric of my yoga pants but to no avail. I couldn't stop my tears.I could feel Logan sitting stiffly beside me and I stammered, "I-I'm s-sorry for being s-so pathetic--- ""It's okay . . . Hush now," Logan hushed me and I could feel him rubbing my back, trying to soothe me. I didn't know he was capable of providing me with comfort since he was such a bum most of the time, but my body actually relaxed. I looked up from my knees and turned my ne
"Ah, put it in the box, quick!" I shrieked with laughter as Jamal threw the small crab in the box and Gemma hurriedly shut it. Jamal started breathing heavily while dramatically acting to wipe the imaginary sweat on his forehead. Gemma peered into the box, we had caught four small crabs and the thrill of catching them was still surging through our bodies.Logan was sprawled under a palm tree nearby, leaning against the trunk with his legs fully stretched out and arms casually spread on either side of his body. His eyes were closed peacefully and his head was tilted upwards. The rays of the sun fell over his face and the shadow of the leaves above made the light on his face appear in stripes, which made him look so aesthetically pleasing without even trying."Hey, Logan!" I called out and watched his eyes flutter open as he blinked rapidly at me like he had snapped out of a trance. He always did that. He then scrambled to sit erect and his hands dug in the sand in full alert. "You alri
Logan looked petrifying today with a repugnant odour surrounding him. His eyes were droopy and his clothes scruffy and unkempt. His hair was a tangled mess, the kind where you touch it and your finger would get stuck. There was a dark stubble on his jaw because he hadn't shaved in a while and it looked horrendous. He didn't look one bit good and I didn't blame him. It didn't take me a long while to figure out that he wasn't in his best mental health- depression was ugly.However, I was wondering what had suddenly happened to him today?"Hey, you alright?" I asked cautiously and he just shrugged as if he was physically present but mentally absent. "You can ask my grandpa for a day off if you're sick.""No," he cut me off dismissively because it seemed that he wanted to prove to me that he was fine."Okay, you don't have to come over to my place for lunch. I can tell mum.""No," he said forcefully and added with emphasis, "I'm alright."Those words felt like it held little to no meaning
Third person's POV [Logan]Logan woke up from the bed because of the noise of his phone ringing on the nightstand. He rubbed his eyes lazily, stretched himself before picking up the call. He didn't say anything and let the person who called speak first."Logan, you there?" He heard the familiar voice of his old friend Jerry and swallowed hard. "Did you see the text messages I sent the other day?""Yeah," Logan said in a barely audible voice. "I saw.""So when are you moving out?""Give me some time, I need to figure out--- ""Look, man, I understand, but I'm sorry," Jerry interjected and continued, "I helped you all this while, but I can't anymore. I need to sell the place, I need the money and your rent money isn't enough man.""You can increase the rent, I'll pay," he said with determination while unconsciously fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt."That money won't be sufficient for my mamma's treatments, I have to sell the house."Logan could hear the firmness in Jerry's voice and
Logan didn't show up for three whole days. I had called him several times and texted him, but there was no reply. He hadn't even been online for three days and now it was switched off. Grandpa was furious and was already planning to sack him while I tried to make up excuses."I'm going out for a while, sorry to bother you Shaun, but that foolish mutt isn't there," Grandpa grumbled, referencing Logan and Shaun just nodded. "And JJ, keep these papers in the back drawer. They're very important.""What is it?" I asked while taking the papers and glancing at them. "Are you buying anything?""Yeah, it's the old apartment behind the church, in the market lane. It'll be a good investment," he said nonchalantly and my heartbeats quickened as I searched for the building name and the flat number.This. Thing. Had. To. Be. Kidding. Me.It was the same flat where Logan lived currently and was expected to move out!"Anything wrong, eh?" Grandpa raised his bushy eyebrows and I shook my head."I'll g
"Do you think he's at home or he ran away or something?" I asked Jamal who narrowed his eyes at me."I ain't no foreteller so let's knock, shall we?""Smartbum," I muttered and we both stared at the door helplessly. We were outside Logan's apartment which was very sketchy. The entire building looked haunted and what was worse was that Logan lived on the twelfth floor which meant taking the helicopter-like noise emanating elevator. The elevator shook like there was an earthquake and I wondered why my grandpa found this apartment to be a good investment. If it didn't help Logan, then I would suggest him to sell the apartment without any delay.Jamal started banging the door with loud thuds and I rang the bell continuously, but to no avail."Should we break the door?" Jamal asked while positioning himself to burst in and I tried to twist the doorknob as the last feeble attempt. Surprisingly, the door slowly creaked open. Jamal shot me an incredulous look and I mirrored his baffled expres
"Look there," Jamal pointed at the small balcony and we both stepped out. "Shit, Logan might have tried to break the grill."I noticed the bent grill at the corner, but I shook away Jamal's assumptions. The grill was too strong and I didn't want to think of the possibilities that Logan could break it. I didn't want to think that he could jump right from here without anybody noticing or helping him. I didn't want to."It's pretty high up here. This apartment has fourteen floors, right? We need to talk to the landlord or security guard and see if the terrace door's locked. We need to keep him safe," Jamal whispered to me and I nodded in agreement."Is Logan still showering?""Yeah I checked up on him a few minutes ago and he was shaving," he replied and shoved his hand in his pocket. He retrieved rolls of newspaper and thrust it against my chest. "I found these in the mess, look.""What is it?" My forehead creased as I unfurled one of the papers. My eyes darted between the paper and Jam