“You're not eating. You're not even listening to us. Please talk to us, Anna.” Eli uttered. Her eyes were on her. 
The latter's eyes were looking far away. She's not even listening at all. Her mind is blank. No thoughts just a headache. 
Elizabeth sighed. “This is not good. You've been spacing out for days, Anna. We're really worried about you.” 
Still there's no response from Anna. Her eyes were looking far away and she's not even paying attention even if her friends tried to talk to her. 
Russ stared and sighed. “Anna, please... Talk to us.”
Her eyes turned sharp and another expression was shown in her face. Anna glared at him. But then the expression disappeared fast. 
“And I don't know what to talk about. Do you really have insist in making me talk when I don't feel like I want to?” Anna's tone raised. 
Her head turned away. Her eyes wandered far and that tight expression was still present. 
He sighed. His exhausted. It's been days and she's been acting up. They all share their sentiments and concerns about her but she was distant. 
He could not reach her right. He closed his eyes and massage the bridge of his nose. His inhales were sharp. If only Michael... 
Russ stopped. His eyes opened and his gaze lingered towards Anna. She does love him. A lot... 
And he wouldn't be able to match that... 
**
She wrote and wrote. Anna stared at the screen of her work and she did not even hesitate to read through another document just to kill time. 
She does not want to sleep. Even if her mind is tired and her lids hurt. She doesn't want to. If she drifts off her mind will just wander off towards him. 
Her dreams will always reminds her of him. And is something too painful to even ignore when she wakes up. It's burdening, it's maddening, and at the same time it's making her sad as well. 
She could not turn back the time. Even if she felt like she wanted too morph something that will allow her to go back to all of those times he was still in their lives, but she could not. And that hurts... 
Her phone buzzed and she stared at the caller. She turned it off. It was from Russ again. The pain is eating her up. It's inside of her. Both in her mind and in her heart, they both can feel the pain. 
She close her eyes. Hieved an exhale, before she turned her eyes at the side of the window and stood up from the chair she was into. 
She then walked out of the room and got out of the house... 
**
“This is so unlike her. It's been a tough one but she's slowly drifting off.” Eli muttered. She started cussing out. 
She was tapping her feet and stared at Russ. “Can you please knock some sense out of her?” She asked. 
Russ shook his head at her. “I've tried but she always turns her back when I am trying to talk. She doesn't want to listen, Eli. Perhaps it's best to leave her to grieve on a process she's comfortable into.” 
Eli sighed and stared at him. Her eyes looked at him. Her expression showed how she pitied him. 
“And what about you? You've been doing your best. How are you, Russ?” Elizabeth asked him. 
“Both of you are grieving. We are all grieving. Perhaps you also need to grieve and grieve appropriately instead of holding it all in.” Eli added. 
**
Anna walked to the gazebo and stared at the trees in sight. So many trees and at the same time it's leaves edge moving with the breeze that passed by. 
Her eyes stared at it before she looked at the sky. A sense of tranquil came in her, gushing in before her eyes started to hurt. It hurts to be reminded about how they both loved the skies above and he's already there. 
She lowered her head and her eyes saw Russ approaching on the way. She sighed and started to turn her back but then she heard him call her by her name. 
“Anna, please. Let's talk...” His tone was pleading. 
She sighed. “Probably some other day. I'm tired, Russ.” She stated. 
A sigh came out of Russ' mouth. “And I am tired too, Anna. But I am trying.” He uttered. 
She stopped but she still hasn't turn around to face him. 
“I'm tired but I wanted you to let me reach you. You're becoming distant. It's not only me but your family, our friends, they're worried about you and your state. You have been quite and you've been spending your time in isolation since he left. You're not meant to live your life that way, Anna. He doesn't want you to live your life that way.” 
She smiled but it didn't reach her face. Anna turned and stared at Russ. She looked at him with a tight look. “But he's not here...” She replied. 
Droplets came, it trickled down. Her eyes stared at the sky as downpour slowly poured down. It was fast but it's pouring wasn't heavy. She stayed at her place and looked at Russ. 
“Let me deal with this, Russ.” She talked. She turned her back. 
“You know thst I lost a brother too right? I lost him too, Anna...” His voice was shaking as he uttered it to her. 
She stilled. Her mind reminded her of him. How Michael and him looked happy. 
“You know that I also need you, right? I lost him and I don't want to loose you too.” He uttered. 
And it hit her. Her heart started dealing with the throbbing pang. And her eyes started to water even despite being already wet by the rain. She turned around and for the first time, she scanned his face. 
Russ looked worn out. He looked tired. He was exhausted. And he looked like he's also on the verge of losing himself too with what he was dealing with. 
Their eyes were staring at each other before she walked towards him. Her pace started to speed up before she went towards him. He was quick to open his embrace and caught her as she held him too.