ZIP IT DOWN

The next morning, Eliza woke up to the soft glow of sunlight peeking through her curtains. She stretched, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep, but her body ached from the emotional release of the previous day. As she made her way to the kitchen to brew some coffee, the doorbell rang. She smiled, knowing exactly who it was.

"Hey, girl!" Sarah exclaimed, as Eliza opened the door. "I brought some fresh pastries and coffee. Thought we could catch up some more."

Eliza's heart swelled with gratitude. "You didn't have to do that, Sarah. But I'm so glad you did."

As they settled into the cozy living room, surrounded by the warm scent of freshly baked goods and steaming coffee, Eliza felt a sense of comfort she hadn't experienced in months. They chatted about everything and nothing, their laughter and conversation flowing effortlessly, like a gentle stream meandering through the winter landscape.

They reminisced about their high school days, laughing about the silly pranks they had pulled on their friends. Eliza's eyes sparkled as she recalled the time they had sneaked out of school to watch a movie marathon.

"We were such rebels, weren't we?" Sarah chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

Eliza grinned, feeling a sense of nostalgia wash over her. "We thought we were invincible."

As they delved deeper into their past, their conversation turned to their favorite teachers and the memories they had created together. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and laughter, but Sarah's expression soon turned serious.

"Eliza, where are your mom and dad? I miss them. Are they at work?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with concern.

Eliza's smile faltered, and her eyes welled up with tears. She had been dreading this question, unsure of how to share her painful secret with her friend. She felt a lump form in her throat as she struggled to speak.

"Eliza, what's wrong?" Sarah asked, her voice softening.

Eliza's body shook as she sobbed, the tears streaming down her face. "They're...they're gone, Sarah," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Sarah's eyes widened in shock, and she wrapped Eliza in a warm hug. "Oh, Eliza, I'm so sorry. What happened?"

Eliza's body convulsed as she cried, the pain and grief pouring out of her like a torrent. She felt like she was reliving the moment all over again, the agony of losing her parents still fresh in her mind.

As they sat there, holding each other and crying, Eliza felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She had kept her pain hidden for so long, afraid of being vulnerable. But with Sarah by her side, she felt a sense of comfort and security she hadn't experienced in years.

"I'm so sorry, Eliza," Sarah whispered, her voice filled with compassion. "I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me?"

Eliza shrugged, feeling a mix of emotions. "I don't know. I guess I just didn't want to burden you with my problems."

Sarah held her at arm's length, her eyes locked on Eliza's. "You're not a burden, Eliza. You're my friend, and I'm here for you. We'll get through this together."

As the afternoon wore on, Eliza felt a sense of peace settle over her. But the pain still lingered, a constant reminder of what she had lost. She knew that she had a long journey ahead of her, but with Sarah by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she could find a way to heal, to love again.

Sarah's eyes searched Eliza's face, filled with a deep concern. "What took them from you, Eliza? Was it an accident, an illness?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Eliza's chest heaved as she struggled to find the words. "It was...our neighbor," she whispered, her voice trembling. "He shot my dad in a senseless act of violence."

Sarah's face paled, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh, Eliza, I'm so sorry. I had no idea," she whispered, pulling Eliza into a tight hug.

Eliza's body shook as she sobbed, the memories flooding back. "It happened so fast," she stammered. "One minute we were laughing, the next...my dad was gone."

Sarah's grip tightened, holding Eliza close. "You're not alone, Eliza. I'm here for you. We'll face this together," she whispered, her voice filled with determination.

As they sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, Eliza felt a sense of comfort she hadn't experienced in years. The pain still lingered, but with Sarah by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to heal and move forward.

"My mom couldn't cope with the loss," Eliza continued, her voice cracking. "She passed away a year later, leaving me alone."

Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry, Eliza. You've been through so much," she whispered.

Eliza's shoulders sagged, releasing some of the tension she'd been carrying. "I feel so lost without them," she admitted.

Sarah's fingers intertwined with Eliza's, forming a lifeline of support. "We'll find a way to honor their memory," Sarah promised. "And we'll create a new sense of purpose for you."

Eliza's eyes welled up again as she recalled the painful memories. "And to make matters worse, Khoby broke up with me too," she whispered.

Sarah's expression turned incredulous. "What? Why?" she asked.

Eliza's voice cracked. "Someone told him I was cheating on him with Jake from The Daily Grind coffee shop."

Sarah's eyes widened. "That's ridiculous! You'd never do that."

Eliza shook her head. "I know. But Khoby believed it. He said I was lying to him, that I was hiding something."

Sarah's face twisted in anger. "Khoby should've trusted you. You deserve better."

Eliza's shoulders sagged. "We dated since high school...I thought our love was unbreakable."

Sarah's expression softened. "I was about to ask Khoby to stay away from you, but...I didn't realize you guys had such a history."

Eliza's eyes met Sarah's. "It hurts, Sarah. Losing my parents, then Khoby...sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in grief."

Sarah wrapped her arms around Eliza. "You're not alone, Eliza. I'm here. We'll face this together."

"But You know, I saw Khoby earlier today, heading to the airport. I wasn't sure where he was off to, but now it makes sense."

Eliza's expression turned thoughtful. "Yeah, he told me he'd be traveling. He got a job at a marketing firm in New York."

Sarah's eyebrows shot up. "New York? That's a big move. Did he say when he'd be back?"

Eliza shook her head. "No, he didn't. We didn't exactly part on good terms, remember? But I'm happy for him, I guess. He deserves to move on."

Sarah's gaze softened. "You're stronger than you think, Eliza. You'll get through this, and who knows? Maybe you'll find someone who truly deserves you."

Eliza's lips curved into a faint smile. "Thanks, Sarah. Just talking to you makes me feel better."

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise as she glanced at her watch. "Oh my goodness, it's getting late!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of shock and urgency. "I should probably get going!" Eliza nodded, feeling a pang of sadness. "Yeah, I guess it's getting late." Sarah stood up, pulling Eliza into a tight hug. "I'm here for you, Eliza. Anytime you need me, just call. I promise I will come." Eliza smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Sarah. That means a lot to me." Sarah pulled back, her eyes shining with tears. "We'll get through this together, okay?" Eliza nodded, feeling a sense of hope. "Okay." With one last hug, Sarah headed out the door.

After Sarah left, Eliza decided to take a warm shower to relax. The soothing water washed away some of the tension in her body. Feeling a bit refreshed, she wrapped herself in a cozy towel and headed to the kitchen. She didn't feel like eating, but she grabbed a glass of orange juice from the fridge.

As she poured the juice into a glass, she glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was already past midnight. Eliza smiled wryly to herself, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over her.

Eliza settled onto the couch, cradling the glass in her hands. She turned on the TV, letting the familiar sounds and images wash over her.

As the night wore on, her eyelids grew heavy, and she eventually drifted off to sleep, the TV still humming softly in the background. The last thing she remembered was the sound of the TV and the feeling of the soft blanket wrapped around her.