Chapter 6

• ABBY
• I wipe my tears from my face, but they won’t dry until someone taps from outside of my window. My best friend looks like hell, but I’m sure I look worst.
• I struggle to open the door at first. When I get out of my car, I launch myself into him, and I hug him so tight and bury my face in his chest.
• I know he is crying too, and my shoulders are shaking as we cry together.
• “I’m sorry, Abby. She’s like a mother to me. I know it hurts, and I’m so sorry.” Drew keeps rubbing my back.
• “Your Dad called me when you didn’t pick up. So I took a cab, and I knew you would be here. I can’t even drive, Abby. I’m still in shock.” He helps me to the passenger seat after he suggested driving. We remain silent on our way to our apartment.
• I just cry to my bed, bury my face in the pillow, and sob again.
• Someone is talking and tapping my shoulder, but my eyes refuse to open. Then I remember what happened before I slept. I cry again until I fall to sleep.
• “Hey, honey. Wake up. You need to get up, and I have something to tell you.”
• I open my eyes, and I see my mom’s beautiful smile.
• Her eyes are twinkling like a million stars in the skies, and she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
• I jolt awake. Drew is sitting in my bed with a steaming bowl in his hand. He must have cooked while I passed out.
• “Hey, I know I shouldn’t ask, but how’re you feeling?” He manages to smile though it doesn’t reach his eyes.
• “My head is about to explode. My eyes are heavy. Everything hurts like hell.” I start crying, but I’m also hungry, and my stomach keeps grumbling.
• “It’s okay to cry, sweetie. I would be worried if you won’t, but you have to eat. You need your energy. Your dad called back while you were sleeping. We’re leaving in two hours. Your dad wanted to send the jet, but I told him not to bother. I booked a flight for us, so we have to hurry. Eat your food, then freshen up. We’re leaving as soon as you’re ready. I’ll get Tylenol for you.”
• He strides toward my bathroom, and I hear a cabinet open and close. He places the tablets of Tylenol at my bedside. I force myself to eat the food he offered. I don’t realize how famished I am until I empty the bowl. I take two Tylenol and drink some water.
• I feel dizzy when I stand up abruptly. Drew manages to hold me before I fall to the floor.
• “Do you need help undressing?” Drew asks as we reach the bathroom.
• “I can manage from here. I’ll get a quick shower. I'll let you know if I need anything.” I lock the bathroom door and take a quick shower.
• I almost don’t recognize myself with glassy green eyes, fluffy eye bags, stuffy red nose, full red lips, and my skin looks so pale. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, and whisper, “ I am strong. I survived once, and I can do it again.”
• ***
• I sleep throughout our entire flight. Drew nudges me on my shoulder and reminds me we’re landing in fifteen minutes.
• “I guess you slept well too?” I say while yawning.
• “I sleep as soon as I hear you snore on my shoulder.”
• I cross my arms. “I don’t snore.”
• “You drolled too.” He’s the best brother I ever wanted. He always managed to lift me up when I felt down.
• “I know how you feel, Abby, and I feel it too. I love your mom. Wherever she is right now, I’m sure she’s happy and proud of you. You shouldn’t be sad but cherish all the memories of you and your mother.” He squeezes my hand, and I squeeze it back.
• “I know, Drew, but I can’t help it. I should be beside her when things got tough. I should be holding her hand and telling her how much I love her. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye, kiss her, or hug her one last time. I should have been there. I’m her daughter, for God’s sake. Why didn’t she tell me about it? I’m such an idiot, and I didn’t get what she meant when she called a few days ago. I do not doubt that she loved me, and I feel it, but why did she hide it from me?”
• Drew wipes my tears with a tissue in his hand. “Always a boy scout.” He gives me a sad smile and kisses my temple.
• “Abby, your mother doesn’t want you to see her suffer. You’ve suffered too much already. She doesn’t want to see you sad before... before she’s gone. The last thing she wanted to see was her beautiful, smart, and happy daughter. Which she did.”
• “You always have something to say to cheer me up, haven’t you?”
• A car is already waiting for us when we arrive. Dad’s driver Howard gives me a sad smile and says sorry for my loss. God, how many people would come to me and say sorry for my loss? I don’t think I can take it.
• As soon as the car enters the gate of King’s mansion, I feel suddenly hollow. It reminds me again of why I’m here. It’s been three years since the last time I stepped inside this mansion.
• My eyes start to sting, and my chest starts to feel heavy. I take a deep breath and prepare myself. Would I ever be ready for this?
• I don’t even notice someone already opens the door for me—it means I’m finally home—my old home. I step my right foot outside the car and bite my bottom lip, which is now trembling.
• I close my eyes. I feel large hands cupping my face, and I know those hands, the very same touch, the feelings of warmth, safety, and reassurance, and the smell of musk and mint assault my nostrils. I inhale it deeply, and I’m afraid to open my eyes that it might not be real.
• “Pumpkin? Open your eyes, sweetheart. It’s your dad.” He kisses my nose and my forehead.
• Before I can open my eyes, I’m now shaking and crying out loud, and Dad pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight. I don’t care if all the people in the world hear me cry. I just want to feel that I’m now in Dad’s arms.
• When I feel relieved, I release my hands and look Dad in the eye. He’s also crying. His blue eyes are sad, and he quickly wipes his face and smiles at me, but it’s enough for me to know that I’m with Dad again.
• “Good to see you, sweetheart. You know I love you so much, right, pumpkin?”
• I nod and give him a quick hug before we head inside my very home.
• In this very same room, I remember a lot of beautiful memories. Nothing has changed—only a few changes like new furniture, new curtain, fleshly made bed, new red carpet, and a new me.
• I see both my suitcases are already in my room. I’m sure Drew is already settled on his own—he has already room on his own since my parents adopted him. I sit on the edge of my bed and then curl myself to sleep.
• ***
• I can’t move. I can’t see anything. I can’t hear either.
• “Where am I?”
• “Finally, we meet again, Mackenzie. Good to see you too. You’ve grown up into a woman.”
• I can only see a figure of a tall man.
• I try to move, but I can’t. I start to cry, and my fear consumes me.
• “Who are you? How do you know me? Why am I here?
• “Too bad, Mackenzie. I knew you too well, and soon...” Just like that, he’s gone.