CASTLE IN THE AIR

The flashes of the cameras were blinding yet relentless. They followed even as I tried walking away from them. I had seen the way they had blocked the whole entrance from my father's office upstairs where the meeting had held, but I must have underestimated just how many they were. The flood of reporters were so thick, one could mistaken them for a mob, or a small crowd. I would have preferred any at this point. They would have been far better than these people. "... Miss Tennisson, what are your comments on the sudden death of your father?" "...Miss Tennisson, what is your next move, considering the company had just been sold off?" "... Did you have any knowledge of the scandal involving your father, Adams Tennisson?" The reporters kept on asking questions, as we wove through the crowd with my head held down. My bodyguard Bryson shielded me from the crowd with his body as we moved, knowing fully well that if he didn't, they would take the opportunity to get to me and make sure I answered their questions. More tears trailed down my cheeks from my eyes, as the heaviness of the situation hit me again; harder this time. I had lost everything in the twinkle of an eye. It all started when my father started sleeping and sexualizing his secretary and personal assistant. I hadn't known about it. Had I known, I probably would have reprimanded him, but unfortunately by the time I found out it was too late. It was through court papers that were sent to my father, but I got a hold of since he wasn't around. Someone who had gotten wind of it, and claimed to be the brother of my dad's personal assistant Miss Sheila had sued him to court for s****l harrassment. "Why?" I had asked my father, as he looked away in shame when I had confronted him. Surely the news didn't take too long to spread: that was the issue with the media, they were willing to prey on the rich and influential the moment they saw a slip up. Nothing can hide from their hawk-eyed watch. From there, everything spiralled down. My fiance Paul lost his contract, the shares of our company had reduced drastically, and our customers dwindled within days. We were running broke. As if enough wasn't enough, immediately after the court gave the verdict that our company be sold off, and we compensate each party with a sum of one million pounds, I found my father hanging off the ceiling of his office, his life far away from his body. Seeing that my father had committed suicide because of everything, was like a double slap to the face. The man had decided to leave me all alone in the world, forgetting that if there was life, then there was hope. I squeezed my eyes shut again as I got into the black Rolls Royce. We had finally reached the car, however I didn't lift my head up. The thoughts that ran through it made it feel too heavy for me to carry. The scenes played again, this time behind my shut eyes, taunting me in my mental space. I couldn't stop it from flowing in. I wanted to, but I couldn't. The pain of everything was overwhelming, and I just wished to curl up like a ball, sit in a dark corner and cry. I was sad- no, I was angry. I was angry with the world, angry with my father, and even angry with myself. I was tired and frustrated, but I wasn't sad, no. What I felt had passed that a long time ago. I was far beyond the emotion of sadness. "Are you alright, Miss Tennisson?" Bryson my bodyguard and very close friend spoke up from next to me, his voice reeking of concern. He had been the only one who saw and stood through everything with me. He understood that I was in pain, but unfortunately I couldn't admit it. "I'm okay, Bryson. Thank you for your concern." I forced out with a very fake smile and a cracked voice, quickly swiping my hands over my cheeks to clear away the tears. He looked at me, sympathy and pain showing in his eyes. He knew that I was lying, and could see right through my soul as if it were just glass. He could see my pain. "Are you sure, Aisha?" He asked me softly, holding my hand and carressing it. "No. I don't know. I'm not sure. But I will be fine, right? No condition is permanent..." My voice trailed off as I repeated my father's well known words. A fresh set of tears formed in my eyes, but this time I didn't hide them. I let them fall while I struggled to keep my fake smile on. Yet it hurt. Everything hurt. The mere sense of existing hurt. Bryson's eyes softened further, and he pulled me closer to him. He was like an elder brother I never had. I don't know how I would have made it through without him around. He was my rock, my strength, even when Paul started getting cold towards me. That was all it took for me to come undone. My tears no longer escaped. I let them fall on full force, and I let the sobs I had been holding in for weeks out. No longer could I take it. I was tired. "It's okay, baby... It's okay to cry. You've been such a strong girl..." He mumbled such reassurances over and over again, trying his best to soothe me as he held me close. I hung on to him as if my life depended on it, my hands fisting his shirt, my sobs raking my body. "He left me... He left me all alone in this cruel world. Why?..." I cried between my heavy sobs. "... What did I do to deserve all this?.."