Chapter Eight

I danced care free, I doubted I had ever felt this elated in my life. I was very happy, hopping on my toes, literally, like a child that was expecting candy from her mom. The wind carried my high pitched laugh, it sounded genuine. And by genuine, I meant it sounded like a donkey with an asthma attack, but it was real. Although I could not recall the exact reason for the celebration, it felt right.. like I deserved it.

"Oh my goodness!" I exclaimed happily as I spun around with my sister, Terra. We laughed and danced to no music, but it was was clear to even a blind person, that we were really happy. The wind in my hair, the laughter in Terra's face, the teasing glint in her eyes and the sound of her laughter.. it made me feel lighter, like I didn't have any worries in the world anymore.

I always prioritized my sister's happiness before mine, I hated seeing them upset, I tried as much as I could ro make them happy again after they get sad. So seeing my sister happy in such a Happy mood, made everything better.

Suddenly the location changed, I looked around very confused, we were just in my sitting room.. where is this place? I asked myself. The place was unfamiliar. It was like a rooftop, but it was definitely not our house, as ours did not have a rooftop house.

"Terra, stay close to me, do not leave me alone." I ordered.

I think she sensed that I was not really in the mood to dance any more, because she stopped clapping and dancing. She just held on to my hand with all her strength. I chuckled, because I was scared myself.

"Tessa? Where is this place?" She asked shakily.

"I don't know.. but we will find out soon enough." I told while walking around, looking for the closest exit.

"I want to go home." She whined.

I gave her a sharp look, I too wanted more than anything to go home. She stopped talking for a while.

Checking every single place, I couldn't find any way to leave. I almost started to cry. As far as I knew this was sorcery, I mean, we were just dancing in our house and boom we are here.. how? Why?

I walked gingerly, so I won't topple over the edge. Where was here for crying out loud? Where was the stairs or something we could use to get down? I couldn't find one. Terra started to cry. I nearly cried too, I was frustrated after all.

"What is it Terra?" I asked her.

"I am hungry." She said crying.

Obviously, nothing else would make her cry when we are in a place where I won't be able to get food. I sighed.

"Okay, immediately we get down.. I will make you something to eat, so stop crying okay?"

She nodded immediately and cleaned her eyes. I smiled, proud of my ability to make her stop crying.

"Look what I found!" She exclaimed. I gasped, she shouldn't be there. When I was not looking, she was able to get to the edge of the roof.

"Terra, back away slowly." I told her softly. I didn't want to be harsh and then she would fall over because I scared her.

Somehow she didn't ask questions, she just followed my orders, walking away from the edge. I smiled gratefully, my arms open to hug her.

But something pushed me to move forward, so I did, slowly walking towards her. She stopped coming towards me. I increased my pace, my eyes never leaving her face. I hugged her when I got to her. I smiled in relief as her warm cheeks met my hand. I loved pinching her cheeks.

"Let us go." I said. But I lost my footing, I fell backwards, pushing her to the edge. I gasped. She was shaking at the edge struggling to get her balance. I stood up, my ankle burning in pain, but I ignored it.

When I got to her, she was already falling, but I grabbed unto her hand. She was crying. I wanted to cry too.

"I got you Terra, don't be scared, I am here." I told her.

I tried to pull her up with all of my strength, but I could not. I was not strong enough to do that. I felt sweating dripping down every part of my body, I didn't even care. I didn't want to let go of her hand.

"Tessa, I'm falling." She cried.

"No you are not, I'm holding you okay? Just don't look down." I told her as I struggled, she was coming up, but slowly.

I felt my arms burn, my muscles straining, I wished I was stronger, if I was, I would not be getting tired, if I was, my sister would be up by now. I started crying, crying because I was not strong enough.

"Tessa! There are cockroaches here!" She shouted. I panicked, pulled her up with all of my might. Because I knew, just how much she was scared of them. Soon I felt her struggling, then it was hard for me to pull her up, plus we were sweaty, so she was getting slippery.

"Please stop shaking, you are making it hard." I said heaving.

"The cockroaches.." she shook, slipping out of my hands. "Won't leave me alone."

She slipped, she fell. I gasped, eyes wide open, right before she touched the floor.

I woke up.

I was dripping in sweat. And I was crying, I stood up immediately to take a cold bath. When I got there, there was someone in the bathroom.

"Who is there?" My mom asked from inside. I whispered it was me. She replied that she was coming.

When she finally came out and I had my bath, I realized it was Sunday. I hurriedly dressed up, avoiding my sister.. because I felt guilty. I failed her, I let her down, literally. Even if it was just a dream, I felt guilty. So I went to church before everyone else. But I saw her come in, she looked unhurt, safe. I was glad.

The preacher said something, "when you know you can not do it anymore, lean on God for help, when you feel your strength isn't enough, borrow God's own, he won't charge you.. it's for free." He said. And it stuck.

After the service, I locked myself in my room, and prayed fervently, leaned on God for strength. I cancelled the dream I had, I told him my fears. And after thirty minutes, I felt stronger... I knew God had answered me.

When I went outside, I went to look for Terra, I heard she went for her friends birthday party... On a rooftop. I silently whispered to God. Because I couldn't be there, my strength won't be enough.

A while later, my sister comes back home, white faced.

"Hey Terra, terrible birthday party?" I asked teasingly.

She didn't laugh, she didn't reply. I frowned at her. Mom was there too, she asked what happened.

"We were playing, Priye, Victor and I." She started.

I knew that Priye was the celebrant.

"Then, I don't know what happened, I don't know what pushed us, but Victor.. he fell off the rooftop... And he.. he.." she broke into tears. I hugged her tightly.

Whispering thanks to God.. if I had not prayed, and cancelled that dream... I couldn't think of what could have happened to my sister.