Some Bad News

Hwum was sleeping soundly. Day was her time to sleep, and that was exactly what she had been doing when the knock resounded from the door. Drowsily Hwum moaned and grunted a bit as she sat up in her bed, squinting towards her closed bedroom door, thinking if she had imagined the knock. She had very good hearing but her room was sound proof and that muffled sounds from outside even for her. But when she heard the knock again Hwum blinked and got out of bed, putting on her spectacles. Her room was enveloped in darkness, or for a normal person it was. Hwum could see perfectly well, and even better when she got her glasses on. In her jammies, or a bright pink t-shirt and grey sweatpants, Hwum shuffled to the hallway and then to the door. The night lamps that Broen had bought illuminated the apartment faintly, making it bit harder for Hwum to see the floor but otherwise she saw well enough.
Hwum opened the door, getting blinded by the light that was shining from outside, and thus she couldn't see the person on the door. It wasn't Broen, he never knocked in the first place, and Hwum didn't recognize the...man's shape. Yes, this was most probably a man, judging from the size and shape.
"Yes, can I help you?"
Hwum asked with a friendly tone and smile. It was pretty apparent she had been sleeping, she had a bedhead and Hwum had bags under her eyes.

Hwum didn't recognize the man's voice either, but he sounded very official. Like some of the island's government officials she had talked to when she had arrived on the island. And what do you know, the man introduced himself as officer Genovese, a police officer. Hwum didn't panic, she didn't have the inherent fear of the police as many did, but she did get curious and worried when he asked if he could come in. What on Ancients' name had happened?

"Yes, of course. Please come in. And I'm sorry about the darkness, I can't see in bright light. Ah, here, let me..."
Hwum stepped aside, and then felt her way to the light switches that were close to the front door. Hwum put the lights on and immediately became completely blind. But she knew the apartment well and could feel officer Genovese's movements, and that's why she without hesitation led him to the small living room, where there was a couch and a dining table. By the TV, in clear view from where you entered the room, there was a flower vase and flowers made of stone, and the words "Welcome!" etched on the vase. A little statue Hwum had made when Broen and she had become roommates.
"Please sit wherever you want. Can I get you something? Water, tea, coffee?"
Hwum was doing her best to be a good host, she wondered where Broen was. Or was this about Broen? Oh dear, now Hwum was even more nervous. Had he gotten into trouble.

Officer Genovese remained professional, and Hwum could sense that this was a serious situation. The smile slowly vanished from her face, when the officer told Hwum that she might want to sit down, and so she did. Hwum felt her way to the dining table and pulled out a chair, sitting down with her back straight. She wasn't really able to relax in this situation.
"Um, what is this about?"

And officer Genovese told her straight out what it was about. Perhaps because of the very official sounding words it took a moment for Hwum to process, and after that it took few more moments for Hwum to react. Her expression was a mix of baffled, shocked and blank, as she opened her mouth a few times before sounds came out.
"H-he's...Broen is..d-dead?"
Hwum said, and after she voiced those words a weight hit her chest. Hwum didn't cry yet, but she took few deep breaths when her throat closed a bit. She had had this feeling before, and Hwum knew it was called a panic attack. But Hwum was able to keep herself calm enough, and with shaking hands she took off her glasses.
"U-um...how did..it happen?"

Hwum's eyes watered, of course they did, but the fact that officer Genovese remained so calm and professional helped Hwum keep her composure, and she calmly set her glasses down on the table. Hwum wanted to stay calm for this, to take all this information in without a big emotional scene and crying. Hwum could do that later, on her own, but now she wanted some closure.
"Y-yes, of course. It's, uh, very k-kind of you to...inform me as well."
Seeing as roommate wasn't usually one of the first people you told. Or at least Hwum assumed as much, she hadn't actually experienced this before. Death of someone she knew. It felt...very cold, and dark. Even though Hwum and Broen had not yet grown that close.

They weren't sure yet. Okay, alright, Hwum could accept that. Investigating a death was hard, it must be. Hwum had to tell herself that, and her own ignorance frustrated her.
"No, it's...it's okay, I-I'm not t-that important. I hope...his loved ones will g-get answers."
Hwum smiled weakly, she was beginning to feel the loss. Yes, they hadn't yet grown that close, but Hwum had wanted to be Broen's friend. He had been nice to her, he had taught her how to cook and had helped Hwum when she had practiced making tea. And now...he would never do any of that again. He was gone. And they could never become friends.

Broen's things. He barely had any, Hwum knew that much, and the memory of their first meeting in this room floated to her mind. Hwum felt her tears wanted to overflow, but she pushed them back. Barely.
"F-feel free to...take them now, Broen doesn't, I mean, didn't..have much, just his c-clothes."
Hwum didn't comment on getting a new roommate, but she knew she would probably request one. And a new room. She couldn't stay in this one. Not when it would remind her of Broen, that would hurt too much.
"I probably won't b-be able to sleep right now, so...better do it right away."