My aunt’s phone suddenly rang one day while we were playing. “Just continue playing, I’ll just take this call”, she said as she turns around and went to the kitchen to answer the call. 5 minutes later, she came back with tears in her eyes. “Are you okay, Aunt Cherry?”, I asked her.
“We’re going to the hospital”, she said. She grabbed my wrist and she hastily went to her car. She speeds up on the way to the hospital, while she wipes her tears away. I was confused the whole time but stayed quiet. When we arrive at the hospital, we never went to any of the private rooms, but instead, we went directly to the morgue.
“What are we doing here, Aunt Cherry?”, I asked her. She looked at me and then kneeled down.
“Pauline, your mom and dad died”, she said calmly while tears are dripping from her eyes again. But unlike her, I did not cry. I don’t feel sadness too. I was so used of not having them around that I don’t miss them anymore. I never crave for there presence and I’m fine not having them around. Aunt Cherry was dad’s only relative, and since there are no other relatives around, Aunt Cherry decided to cremate my parents’ body. After that, we went to the beach to pour my parents’ ashes. My Aunt cried so much, but she eventually moved on and just accepted the fact that this is reality.
“By the way, what happened to my parents, Auntie?”, I asked one day. My aunt looks at me in the eye and then looked away.
“The doctor said that they got into a car accident”, my aunt replied. It’s been weeks since they died but I only knew the reason today. I never got the chance to ask my aunt, and she forgot to tell me why they died too. As years passed by, we forgot about them and lived our life as it is.
13 years later
A knock disturbed our breakfast one morning. I volunteered to open the door but my aunt told me to continue eating so I won’t be late for school. When my aunt opened the door, there was a lawyer standing right in front of her.
“What can I do for you?”, my aunt asked as she was looking at the lawyer head to toe.
“I am here for Ms. Smith”, the lawyer replied.
“Which Smith is it? Me or my niece?”, my aunt asked again. She was confused of why there's a lawyer in front of her door.
“Your niece, madam”, he replied.
My aunt called me while she was inviting the lawyer to come in.
“Is there anything I can do for you?”, I asked the lawyer. I sat down on the chair opposite to the chair he was sitting on.
“I just want to inform you that your parents left an inheritance for you”, he informed. He hand me a pice of paper and I took it.
My jaw drop as I heard what he said. An inheritance? I didn't expect this.
“They left a mansion and money to be exact”, he said. “You can get it once you turn 18”, he continued.
I’m turning 18 next month, so that means I can get my inheritance next month. The lawyer left after he told all the information. Since I was already late for school, I just changed clothes since I was wearing my uniform. After I changed my clothes, I went to the living room and watched tv with my aunt.
“Would you like to live with me in the mansion, aunt Cherry?”, I jokingly asked.
She looked at me and laugh. “You know very well that I can’t leave this house, right?”, she said.
“But you’re going to be alone here, auntie”, I said. I feel worried that she might get lonely if I leave her all alone here.
“I’ll be fine, darling”, she said. She look at me and nodded, looking like she was assuring me that she'll be fine.
We live in this house for years, so I know that my aunt can’t leave her house. I was just worried because at her age she is still single. If I leave, she will surely be lonely. I can sell the mansion but my aunt insist that I should not since the mansion was my parents’. She values the things my father owned so she disapproves my plan on selling the mansion once I get it.
A month later my birthday came. My aunt and I celebrated my birthday on a fancy restaurant. When we came home, I went directly to my room, packed all my things, and cleaned my room before I leave for tomorrow after school. It took hours to pack all my things, so the next day, I struggle to get up form bed. I forced myself to get up and take a shower. I went downstair to eat breakfast.
“So today is the day, huh?”, auntie said while eating her cereal.
“I guess. Are you really sure you’ll stay here?”, I asked.
“I’ve made up my mind, Pauline. I’ll stay here”, she replied.
Then I guess I don’t have to worry. She made a decision so I’ll respect that. After eating my breakfast, I brushed my teeth and went to school. I kissed my aunt goodbye before I left.
At school, I told my bestfriend, Claudine, the news that I'm moving out.
“You’ll move out?”, my best friend shouted in a surprise.
“Yes”. I look at her expression, and she seems excited. “What’s with that face, Claudine?”, I asked.
“Can I come and help you move your things later?”. Her tone voice really tells me that she’s excited. “Did you know that I have a third eye?”, she asked.
“We have known you since we were little and you always mentioned that to me. But you are well aware that I don’t believe in ghosts, right?”, I said.
“I forgot, hehe”, she laughed awkwardly.
“Anyway, what’s the connection between your “third eye” and me moving?”, I asked her. I looked at her as she smiling while scratching the back of her head. My brows almost met because I am really confused about what's the connection between the two things.
“Well, I just want to see if there are ghosts there”. she said with a naughty look.
“Ghosts are not real, Claudine, wake up from your dream”. I said with a serious and straight face.
She suddenly pouted and lowered her head. She looks like a puppy that god scolded by its owner. I feel guilty because of what I think of a way to lightened her mood.
“You can come with me, and help me move my things”, I said. Her expression somewhat changed, from pouting to smiling real quick. “But on one condition, don’t do anything funny”, I continued.
She put her hand onto her forehead, looking like a soldier. “Aye, aye, captain”, she shouted like a cadet.