I was sitting on the couch, staring at Aunt Agatha, who was pacing back and forth.
Her face was tense.
The fiery and intense anger was visible in her eyes.
Her head was bowed.
Now I am regretful that I should not have dropped the love bomb on her.
The sun in the sky vanished, and the dark cloud was replaced by the sun.
It was like the clouds of trouble hanging over me.
I sucked my teeth.
I grabbed the edge of the couch while standing up.
“Sit down,” Aunt Agatha said.
A hint of anger vibrated in her voice.
I suddenly sat back on the couch.
I lowered my head, my posture a silent admission of my guilt.
Why did I not shut my mouth?
Because now I realized that every word that comes out of my mouth has consequences.
I squeezed my eyes shut and a minute later opened them.
Suddenly, Aunt Agatha’s strong voice echoed in my ears.
“Do you remember when I said your mother was blinded by love?” Her voice was excessively loud.
She raked her fingers through her hair.
“I was putting weight on the words ‘blind by love.” A small smile lit up on my face.
I rubbed my hands together.
“Umm…can we talk later?” My voice dropped to an audible level.
Aunt Agatha touched her forehead and started rubbing it.
She walked towards the couch and took a seat next to me.
Aunt Agatha clutched my hand and gently squeezed it.
I glanced at her face.
“Your mother and I were not close because my parents loved her more than” Aunt Agatha took a small pause and a minute later started speaking again.
“She gently pushed my hand away.
“I mean, I think that they did not love me as much as they loved her.”
Her voice stammered.
When Aunt Agatha was talking, her eyes welled up with tears.
Aunt Agatha looked away.
I think she was trying to hide tears from me.
I drew a long breath.
At first, I did not want to say anything, but then I got curious when she said that her parents did not love her.
My face was wearing the mask of curiosity.
My eyes got narrowed and lips pressed in a thin line.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
My voice was soft.
Aunt Agatha swallowed hard while shifting her gaze from the ground to me.
She placed her hands on my cheek.
“Callie, your mother came into my life when I was two months old, and we practically raised each other because my mother adopted her when she was a year old.” Her voice was breaking.
“I did not know why my mother told us about that Jassica was adopted.
It hit me pretty hard.”
I stood up, raising my eyebrows while jamming my hands into my pants pockets.
I scoffed.
“So, you started hating my mother because she was an orphan.” Aunt Agatha’s face broke into a smile.
She sniffled.
“No, silly, I started hating her because they were spending a lot of time with her,” she said, pausing.
She rubbed her hands onto her thighs while leaning on the couch.
Every Saturday was a movie night.” Before she said anything, I interrupted her, probably rudely.
“You were included in the movie night.
I mean, it was not like they asked you to go out of the house, and they watched a movie with mom alone.
And if you were there, then why hate her?”
My voice was laced with anger and curiosity.
I shot Aunt Agatha a sideways glance.
Her words were making me mad because she never mentioned that she was jealous of my mom.
I clicked my tongue.
“You know, I think you are afraid to tell me that you were jealous of my mother.” The venom of anger dripping from my voice.
Aunt Agatha suddenly stood up and placed her hand on my arm.
She gave her a nod.
I clutched her hand, took a step back, and aggressively nudged her hand away.
I rubbed my tongue on my bottom lip.
My hands curled into fists on my sides, the silent testament of my simmering anger.
The corners of Aunt Agatha’s mouth moved upwards into a smile.
“This is the reason I did not bring this up because I know you will say that I was jealous of her, and deep down I know I hate myself being alive.” She delivered her words with firmness.
I rolled my eyes.
“Do not tell me when she died.
I am certain celebrated her death.” My voice was a taut string, humming with anger.
Aunt Agatha’s eyes widened with a sudden jolt of surprise.
Afterwards the room fell silent.
Aunt Agatha stared at me as if she saw a ghost.
Aunt Agatha squeezed her hands into a fist.
She grunts while looking toward the door, which was shut.
She blew her cheeks.
“Whatever, I have not come here to explain why I acted the way I acted when I was just a ten-year-old child.” She spoke with a firm tone.
“I came here to take you away from this town that took my sister away.”
I quickly step back, reflecting on my immediate rejection and disgust.
I placed my hands on my waist.
I inclined my head in disagreement.
“I think you reconnected with me to clear your guilt.
I bet you gave my mother a hard time.” I put my hands into my pants pocket to hide the tension coursing through me.
Aunt Agatha wiped her tears with her hand as she turned to face me.
She took a deep breath and said, “You are grounded.
Go to your room and stay there until dinner.” She said while walking towards the exit door.
She stood there, leaning against the door.
As I stepped forward, Aunt Agatha cleared her throat and motioned me to go upstairs.
I suddenly kicked at the ground; I clenched my jaw and started gritting my teeth, which was audible in the tense air.
I then started proceeding upstairs.
On the first floor there were a lot of rooms.
It was a big house.
All the doors were open.
I was angry, but I wanted to carefully decide on the room I wanted, so I started observing the rooms one by one.
I was wondering if she lived alone in this house alone for years, so why did she need this big house?
My brain was going to places.
I knit my eyebrows together.
I strolled down the narrow hallway and noticed the last room had pink wallpaper.
The ceiling had unicorn wallpaper.
I walked into the room, went over to the bed, and sat down.
I picked up a pillow and put it in my lap. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
While I was looking around, I noticed the blinds were up at the window.
I sucked in a big breath.
A minute later, I stood up and went over the window.
I noticed a roof there on which I could jump and easily reach the ground.
The smirk appeared on my face.
I opened the latch, pushed the window door, and jumped on the roof.
It was a small gap, so I easily reached the roof.
I rubbed my hands together while looking at the grass below.
My face broke into a smile.
I then leaped down on the grass below, and luckily, I landed on my feet.
I scratched the bridge of my nose.
I was feeling proud that I escaped from the prison and the jailer is unaware of my jailbreak.
I scoffed.
“She said I am grounded.” I started walking towards the main road.
But before I reached the pavement, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I turned around and saw Aunt Agatha holding a spoon in her hand.
I placed my hands on my waist.
I deeply sighed while bowing my head.
Aunt Agatha motioned for me to go inside the house.
I pressed my lips together; it was signaling my controlled anger.
A quick nod escaped me.
“Go to your room,” Aunt Agatha said with authority.
I stepped into the house.
I touched the back of my head and started rubbing it.
My face was tense.
The intense fire was visible at that time in my eyes.
I breathe through my nose.
“Umm…do not think it is over.
I will not leave this town,” I said, stomping upstairs.
I dashed to my room and slammed the door.
It created a loud thud.
I then lay on the bed face down.
I pressed my head onto the pillow.
I screamed.
“I hate you.” My voice was excessively loud.
In the meantime, the door flung open.
A loud voice echoed in my ears.
“I am warning you.
Do not put your foot outside of this house without my permission.” Aunt Agatha tucked her hair behind her ears.
“Do not forget, once I was a teen, and I know every trick in your book.”
I suddenly sat up while thrusting the pillow to Aunt Agatha’s face.
“Leave me alone.” Anger cleared my voice.
Aunt Agatha slammed the door shut.
I lay curled up on the bed.
I gently closed my eyes.
A while later, I smell smoke.
I suddenly opened my eyes and noticed my room was filled with a cloud of smoke.