#xantheos

It had been eight months since her friends had last seen her. She promised that she’d only be gone for three to five, but no one had heard from her since. No one knows where she’d been or what she had been up to, and the last thing they knew is that she simply flew back to her home country over “a huge deal of concerns” which she insisted not to share any details about.

The doors to the dormitory opens. In comes a somebody, unknown but rather familiar somehow. She had short brown hair with steel blonde tips and blue eyes. She’s covered head to toe in black clothes but it wasn’t enough to hide all of her scars and injuries. With her she dragged along a large yellow luggage bag decorated in torn stickers and mud.

She walked quietly and pass the Receptionist where she had to be stopped.

“Excuse me,” Tali, the Receptionist halted her. “Where do you think you’re going.”

The stranger stopped right in her tracks. She avoided the Receptionist’s gaze but spoke, her voice low and hoarse. “I live here.”

“Sure,” Tali rolled her eyes. “And I’m just a civilian who sat down on this chair and pretended to work her. Just tell me your business and we’re good, aight? What’s your name?”

She paused and thought. Slowly, she turned around and placed her fingertips on the counter. She spoke nervously, unsure and lowkey afraid of how Tali would react. She had to, anyway. “Zograf. Xa... Xanthi Zograf.”

Tali was typing away on her computer until she went into a full stop hearing the name. Her eyes widened in disbelief before snapping her neck to have a good look at Xanthi, only now seeing that it really is her.

She stood up from her desk and went around the counter to have a closer look. She couldn’t believe it! Over the length of time she’d been gone and the news she’d been hearing, she had been so incredibly anxious about her well-being. It’s been five months since anyone had last heard from her, but now here she is. Well and alive.

Tali’s hand trembled as she slowly raised them up to hold Xan’s face. It’s really her, and she’s really here.

“Bitch,” Tali said as her lips quivered. “What the fuck? Where have you been? Why haven’t you said anything???”

“I’m sorry,” Xan apologized. She smiled meekly but she is just in as much pain as Tali. “I lost my phone. I couldn’t get my hands on one -- anything I could’ve done was too risky.”

Tali is just so overwhelmed that her words failed her. She pulled Xanthi into a tight hug, her body now shaking as she starts to tear up. She missed her so much, and Xan missed her, too. They stood there in the lobby for a good moment, embracing it and indulging into the fact that they’re in each other’s arms again.

“Please,” Tali whimpered. “Tell me everything.”