I was lying on the bed, face up, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the sun to come up in the sky.
My hands were on my sides, thinking about the moment when my lips met his.
He did not show resistance.
And at that moment the world around me stopped.
I felt it.
I clasped my arms under my head.
I sucked in a big breath.
I have not slept for a second.
Maybe it is because I am happy.
I then lay curled up and looked towards the window.
The blinds were opened, and I could clearly see a ray of sun coming inside through the window.
My heart was drumming inside my chest.
I can feel my pulse in my arm, which was racing.
I couldn’t believe I met him and that he lives nearby.
The distance between us feels like nothing.
I touched him, and as I was thinking about it, I started blushing.
It felt like I was experiencing that moment all over again.
I sat up, leaning against the head of the bed, placed the pillow on my lap, and rested my elbow on it.
I drew a long breath.
My face broke into a smile.
When I was lost in my thoughts, I heard the door open.
I lifted my head and saw Aunt Agatha was standing in the doorway, holding a cup of coffee in her hand.
I slid, sat on the edge of the bed, dangling my legs to the ground, and glanced at Aunt Agatha.
“I think you have not gotten any sleep tonight,” she said, walking up to me.
Aunt Agatha then gently tapped on my head while taking a sip from her coffee mug.
I gently clutched Aunt Agatha’s hand in my hand and gently squeezed it.
“I am glad you decided to come back,” I said with a soft tone.
Aunt Agatha gently pushed my hand away.
A small smile lit up her lips.
Without saying anything, a minute later Aunt Agatha went out of the room.
I stood up while squinting my eyes.
I then stepped out of the room, proceeded downstairs, and went to the kitchen, where Aunt Agatha was making breakfast.
I rubbed my hands together.
“I think you will make something special for the reunion,” I said.
My voice was dangerously steady.
Aunt Agatha shook her head.
“I just came here to arrange the funeral, and after that I will sell the property and leave this cursed town,” she said.
Her voice was a mixture of sadness and anger.
My eyes widened with surprise.
I walked around the kitchen counter, reached out to Aunt Agatha, and placed my hand on Aunt Agatha’s arm.
I sounded urgent.
“Umm… no, Auntie, you cannot do this to me.
I just came here, and I want answers,” I said, pausing.
“And you do not want to know who killed your sister.”
Aunt Agatha rolled her eyes.
She then pushed my hands away.
“Half-sister.” She delivered her words with firmness.
“Also, I am still angry at her because I stopped her from coming to this town, but she did not listen to me.
It was like she was blinded by love.” Her voice was thin.
I took a deep breath.
“Come on.
“This town is not that bad,” I spoke with a firm tone.
Aunt Agatha knitted her eyebrows together; it formed the question mark on her forehead.
Aunt Agatha took a seat on a nearby chair.
“You are surprisingly happy.” Her tone was firm.
“I thought you would be devastated by all this, but you are not.”
Aunt Agatha crossed her legs.
I turned around and looked at the cabinet, which was closed.
The flowers were blooming in my heart.
And I know I cannot hide happiness.
I squeezed my eyes shut and a minute later opened them.
I balled my fist while deeply sighing.
When I was lost in my thoughts, Aunt Agatha’s soft voice pulled me back into reality.
“Well, if you do not want to tell me, then it is okay; I will not force you, but I would like to tell you that I called your parents.” Before Aunt Agatha added something else, I cut her off, probably rudely.
“What” Anger vibrated my voice.
“Why did you inform them that I am here?” The pure and intense anger was visible in my eyes.
I clenched my fists; my knuckles turned white.
Aunt Agatha placed her hand on my cheek.
She began rubbing her thumb against my chin.
She inhaled and a second later exhaled.
“My dear Callie, I am sorry to ruin your life.” Emotion shook her voice.
“Your parents were right; I should not have come to you last summer and told you about your biological parents.
They told me about how this information altered your behavior.”
I grabbed Aunt Agatha’s hand in my hand.
My eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“It was not like.
You know, when you visited me, I was lost, and I had so many questions in my mind.” My voice wavered.
“And I was trying to find an answer.
I was not getting any, but when you turned up, everything went in place.” Tears shimmered down my face.
I suddenly pulled her into a hug.
I began sobbing.
The corners of Aunt Agatha’s mouth moved upwards into a smile.
We broke off.
I sniffled.
Aunt Agatha wiped the tears from my face with her hand.
“Umm… How many time do I have to tell you that tears in your eyes shatters me?” Her voice was low.
“I know we have a strong bond, but your parents are correct that I should stay away from you, which is why I will make distance with you.”
I inclined my head in disagreement.
“No, no, no.” Anger sharpened my words.
“You cannot make this decision alone.
You should not do that.
Do not listen to them.
I think you should file a case for my custody in court.
I will testify that I want to live with you.” I grabbed Aunt Agatha by her arms.
My grip tightened in a second.
Aunt Agatha eyes widened with a sudden jolt of surprise.
“Calie, what are you talking about?
If your mother heard that, she would kill me.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“You think I am joking?
You’re playing with fire here, Calie.”
I cautiously took a step back.
“I am not leaving this place.
I want you to ask them not to come here,” I said, stomping out of the kitchen.
I sat on the couch, leaning forward, and placed my chin on my hands.
Aunt Agatha stepped out in the kitchen.
She reached out to me and sat next to me.
An edge of firmness in her voice.
“They love you.
You do know that, right?”
I glanced into Aunt Agatha’s eyeball.
My voice was trembling.
“Love?
Is that what you call this madness?
They do not understand me.
They will only make it worse.” Aunt Agatha held her head with both of her hands.
She ran her hand through her hair.
Aunt Agatha raised her voice.
“No, you do not get it!
They are your family.
They are worried sick.” She barely concealed her anger.
Aunt Agatha grabbed my hand.
I made a claw around Aunt Agatha’s hand and aggressively nudged her hand away.
I stood up while crossing my arms.
I pressed my lips together; it was signaling my controlled anger.
“Worrying is not helping.
It is suffocating.” My words came out shuddered.
Aunt Agatha leaned against the couch.
“But running away is not the answer either.” Her tone was soft.
The anger I sensed a minute before faded away.
“Umm… I have regret that I could not have become a good sister to your mother, but I promised Sara that I will protect her family, and if I have to stay away to keep this family together, then I will make this sacrifice.” Her voice stammered.
“They will not survive a day without you.”
I scoffed.
“Even I die with suffocation.” My tone was high.
A hint of anger colored my voice.
I clenched my jaw, and my teeth gritted together, which was audible in the tense room.
The tension started brewing between me and Aunt Agatha.
Aunt Agatha got up and rubbed her hands together.
“Sorry, but we are stuck here until Saturday since Sara’s busy, but she will pick you up then.” She sounded pretty firm.
I picked up the vase from the table and threw it on the ground, and it broke into pieces.
Aunt Agatha covered her ears with both hands.
She jumped at the loud thud when the vase hit the ground.
Aunt Agatha yelled.
“You are grounded, young lady.” Her voice was filled with shakiness.
I exhaled.
I nodded my head in disagreement.
“No, I’m not leaving because I met the guy, I told you I fell for.” I said.
My voice was firm.
Aunt Agatha’s mouth fell open in a small ‘o,’ a silent gasp of astonishment.
“I think the history is repeating itself.” Her voice dropped to an audible level.