Ironically, unlike what is often shown in movies, the weather was delightful. The mild sunlight cast a shadow over the area as birds chirped, and a light wind brushed her neck as she stood leaning on the wall with a cigarette in her hand. She exhaled the smoke absent-mindedly while the ashes fell on the ground. 

"You know, that's not something I would recommend doing."

Ina turned her head towards the sound. Upon seeing the figure coming out of the house, she immediately put the cigarette out and wafted the smoke away.

"I'm sorry, Jane. I just needed a break. I will be back inside soon."

"It's fine, take your time. River's there. I just wanted to check on you."

Jane, now also leaning against the wall, stood near Ina in silence. 

"Are you okay?" she asked Ina, who was looking at nothing in particular.

"No", she replied, crossing her hands across her chest.

"Yeah, that was a stupid question."

She shouldn't even be outside in her condition, but Jane was stubborn. Ina didn't have the heart to stop her. After all, Jane was Sehuj's best friend and basically a sister whom he never had. He was the only one there for her and the only one who knew about her condition. Ina herself came to know only a few months back because Jane's condition only worsened, and she needed all the support she could get.  

They stood there in silence for some time, no one saying anything, when suddenly, Jane started coughing.

"Oh, you know you shouldn't stay out long. Come on, let's get you inside." Ina gently wraps her hand around her shoulder, helping her back inside the house. She makes her sit on the chair and offers her some water. Jane's cough has subsided as she politely accepted the water from Ina.

Ina brought a blanket and gently wrapped it around Jane's shoulder, pulling it closer as she kneeled on the floor, holding her hand. She was so thin, like a fragile piece of glass that might shatter at the slightest touch. Her eyes looked hollow, tired, and lifeless, and her hair was ever so thin in a loose braid. Her hands trembled, and she offered the faintest smile on her pale lips. Yet she looked so pretty, standing out even in that gloomiest of places. Ina gently placed her head on her lap and closed her eyes as Jane gently weaved her hand through her hair. As Jane stroked her hair, Ina's thoughts slipped back to him.

Sehuj Dulia was more than her boyfriend. He was her best friend and even the family she never had. And maybe even her fiancé, had he had the chance to propose to her before all this happened. She looked at the ring on her finger, the one they had found among his possessions. That's when she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was River. He offered a glass of orange juice to her. She accepted the drink and had a few sips.

"Most of them have left, you know. I can wrap things here. You both can go and rest."

"I can't thank you enough, River. I..." Ina's voice couldn't help but break. 

"I don't see any reason for you to be thanking me. He was basically a brother to me." River paused for a moment, and Ina couldn't help as more tears fell.

"Yeah, that's enough. Now, please try to get some sleep. We will take care of everything else later," River helped Ina get up, as Ina supported Jane, and they both went to the bedroom.

River was Sehuj's closest friend. He was practically a brother to Sehuj and Ina. After everything that happened, Ina can't imagine what she would have done if it weren't for River. 

She helped Jane onto the bed as she pulled the blanket over her.

"You are also going to rest, right?" Jane gives Ina a look as she pulls the blanket closer. 

"Yes, yes, I will just go talk to River for a moment."

Jane nodded her head as she squeezed Ina's hand. Ina gave a weak smile as she switched off the lights and closed the door gently behind her. She saw River sitting on the sofa with his head leaned back and his eyes pinched closed. She took a seat next to him.

"I met with Detective Veronica Hemsworth. She is the one handling the case," River uttered the moment he felt her sit next to him. Ina turned her head, and River was now looking at her.

The detective had spent most of her time with River, since he was the one who found the body. Ina was grateful. She didn't think she could handle those questions yet.

"She seems genuine and very serious about finding what happened, so I think we can trust her," he continued as Ina nodded.

"She wanted to get a full statement from you, but I said you needed some time with the funeral and all. She said that she needs your statement as early as possible to help them with further investigation."

"I can do it tomorrow; we can go to the station first thing tomorrow."

"Alright then, we will go tomorrow. But for today, try to get some rest."

Ina nodded as River pulled her in for a hug.

"We are going to find out what happened, alright?"

"Mhmm", Ina sniffled.

"We are not letting anyone get away with this."

"Mmhmm"

__

That night, she could barely sleep. Her mind replayed the one image over and over again.

The lifeless body of the love of her life sprawled on the living room floor in a pool of blood. 

She woke up sweating, breathing hard every single time she closed her eyes. She lost count of how many cigarettes she smoked to just get through the night. 

𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁