It started with a phone call.
Phat was sitting in front of her computer, working. Papers were scattered across the desk. Everything felt normal.
Until her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
An unknown number.
Normally, she wouldn't pick up.
But for some reason, this time—she did.
"Hello?"
The line went quiet for a moment before a man's voice came through.
"Is this Ms. Phoraphat Thanakulwong?"
Her heart skipped slightly.
"Yes… is something wrong?"
"…We're very sorry."
The world seemed to stop.
"Your parents… were involved in an accident."
The rest of his words—
she could barely hear.
"…They passed away at the scene."
The phone was still in her hand, but she couldn't feel anything anymore.
It was as if everything had been pulled away from her.
"Hello… Ms. Phoraphat, can you hear me?"
She didn't answer.
Because she didn't know what to say.
Her hand slowly started to tremble,
before the phone slipped from her fingers and fell onto the desk.
The sound was soft—
but deafening in her mind.
"That's not true…"
she whispered.
Even though, deep down,
she knew—
it was.
Phat didn't know how she left her office.
Didn't know how she got home.
Everything felt disconnected.
The house that once had voices—
was now silent.
Too silent.
She opened the door.
The same pair of shoes was still there.
A glass of water still sat on the table.
Everything was the same.
Except the people.
"Mom…"
Her voice was soft,
as if she was afraid of disturbing the silence.
No answer.
"Dad…"
Silence.
Phat stood there,
in the middle of a house
that was no longer a home.
Her legs gave out,
and she collapsed onto the floor.
The tears didn't come immediately.
It was just tight—
so tight she couldn't breathe.
"Why…"
Her voice trembled.
A question with no answer.
She wrapped her arms around herself,
as if trying to hold onto something.
But there was nothing left to hold.
Time passed—she didn't know how long.
Until finally,
the tears came.
Slowly.
Silently.
No sobbing.
No one to comfort her.
Just her—
and the emptiness.
"I didn't…"
Her voice broke.
"I didn't get to say it…"
The words she had never spoken
echoed in her mind.
Thank you.
I'm sorry.
All the things she thought she still had time for.
But now—
there was no time left.
No more chances.
Phat lowered her head,
tears falling onto the floor.
She didn't know what to do next.
Didn't know how to go on.
Didn't know what she was supposed to stay strong for.
Because the people who had been her reason—
were no longer there.
And in the silence of that house,
she finally understood—
loss
doesn't make a sound.
It is quiet.
So quiet that everything inside you
collapses all at once.