I tried to talk, but I was scared because I knew I came here without telling them, and I am certain that they were petrified after not locating me.
Meanwhile, I heard a footstep, creating a loud thud when the foot touched the ground.
I squinted my eyebrows and looked at the door and saw my father coming towards me.
Now I have to ready myself for the lecture they prepared for me.
I suddenly bowed my head.
I sighed deeply.
My heart is racing in my chest.
His face was tense.
It seemed like he was not in a pleasant mood.
“Callie, you scared us.
We know something bad happened to you,” Dad said, trembling lips.
I stood up, wrapped my hands around my dad, and embraced him tightly.
I know Dad always has soft corners for me, and Mom is the bad cop in my house.
I pressed my head against father’s chest.
The faded smile appeared on Aunt Agatha’s face.
Before I said anything, Aunt Agatha jumped into the conversation.
“Umm…I have come here to bring her home, but…” Before she completes her sentence, Mom cuts her off, probably rudely.
“Agatha, you told me that you will stay away from Callie.” Anger vibrated in her voice.
“But you did not listen.” I paused and carefully stepped back.
I knew she would soon focus on me, and I would be in trouble.
Aunt Agatha rubbed her hands together.
“I am sorry; I do not want any trouble.
As soon as you informed me that she was missing, I quickly knew that she would have come here,” Aunt Agatha said quietly.
“I thought I would come here to find her and then bring her back, but things took a dark turn when I heard that my aunt was murdered and the people of this town began treating me in the worst way.” Her voice was laced with sadness.
I breathe through my nose.
Dad pressed his lips together; it was showing her controlled anger.
Mom added with a weak chuckle.
“I cannot believe you are blaming this town for not treating you right.
Because I noticed that you did odd things since you got here.” Anger sharpened her voice.
Aunt Agatha inclined her head in disagreement.
“What do you mean?” Aunt Agatha said.
Her voice was a low murmur.
“Can you explain to me how responsible I am for their bad behavior?” When Aunt Agatha was talking, her voice was soft.
I noticed she wasn’t raising her voice when she was talking to Mom, probably because she didn’t want to argue or was just trying to keep things calm between them.
“Michael, you were correct that I should not have let her come inside our lives.” Mom’s voice was not quite steady.
Dad took a step forward, reached out to Mom, placed his hands on her, and gently began rubbing against her.
Mom glanced into Dad’s eyes.
“I am sorry,” Mom apologized to Dad in a wavering voice.
Aunt Agatha then took a seat on the couch next to me.
Aunt Agatha looked at me.
Her eyes were walled up with tears.
Now I am feeling bad because they are blaming her for my actions.
And I know in my heart it is my sole decision to come here and investigate who killed my parents.
Also, I want to find my family roots where my mother came from because I am not a normal human being.
I suddenly started talking.
“It is not her fault.
Coming here, it is my decision.” There was urgency in my voice.
Mom clenched her jaw, gritting her teeth together as if she wrestled with her inner irritation.
She looked at me.
Her cheeks were red like a tomato.
Her face became straight.
She shifted her gaze from Dad’s face to my face.
She leaned in, grabbed the handbag from the coffee table, unzipped it, and pulled out some papers.
Then she stood up straight, holding the paper out for me to see.
“I know you got transferred to the college in town.” Her voice was steady, but it was kind of high-pitched.
Mom sucked her teeth.
“If you want that, you could have talked to me and your father about wanting to come here and begin your studies here.”
My eyes widened with a sudden jolt of surprise.
The words that came out of my mother’s mouth stunned me.
I was thinking about how casually she was saying that if you talk to us, then we will give you permission, but the reality is the opposite of this statement.
I know how many times I tried to tell them I want to know my family, but every time they shut me up by saying, “We are your family, and digging up your past always brings pain.”
I took a deep breath.
I bit my lips.
My eyes darted on the ground.
A loud bang brought me back into reality.
I suddenly devoted my attention to my mother, who was standing before me.
She scoffed.
“Agatha, you know why the people of this town are skeptical about you because you acted like a greedy niece who just cared about the property your aunt left for you.” There were tremors in Mother’s voice.
The impatient laugh appeared on Aunt Agatha’s face.
“It was not true.
They told me the autopsy will take some time, so I thought till then I should find a buyer for the house and the shop.” Mom suddenly jumped into the conversation.
“It will take a day or two.
It was not like they will keep Barbara’s corpse for months,” I heard her say.
“Also, you still did not contact the funeral home for the funeral, and when I got this statement from the people, then I got curious too about whether you have felt bad about her death or not.”
Aunt Agatha silently lowered her gaze.
She shuffled her feet, the restless movement a physical manifestation of her discomfort.
A minute later, Dad started talking.
“Agatha, I am glad that you came here and you kept her safe,” Dad said while grabbing Aunt Agatha’s hand.
In the interim, I heard the door close on the first floor.
It was quiet, but I caught it.
No one in the room seems to have noticed, though.
I breathe through my mouth.
I sensed a sudden change in my dad’s behavior. This story is hosted at g.com.
His voice became soft.
At first when he stepped into the house, he did not look at Aunt Agatha.
He was acting like Aunt Agatha was not here.
Dad gave Aunt Agatha a side hug.
“Aunt Agatha jammed her hands into her pants pocket.
She shrugged her shoulder.
“Jess, I told her to head home, but she wanted to stick around.
I let you know right away when I found out Callie was here,” Aunt Agatha said, taking a pause.
“I tried to look out for her and even tried to get her to leave, but I had no idea she’d already gotten into college.” Aunt Agatha ran her hand through her hair.
Mom lowered her gaze for a second and then looked at Aunt Agatha’s face.
“I made the payment at the funeral home, and the funeral will be tomorrow.” Mom’s voice wavered.
I noticed her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Mom and Dad then proceeded upstairs.
I raised my eyebrows.
From the look of my mother’s face, her anger has not cooled down yet.
I think aftershock would come and the timing I cannot predict.
I clicked my tongue.
“I am sorry,” I said.
My voice was barely above a whisper.
Aunt Agatha shook her head.
The frustration was visible on her face.
“I told you to go home, but you did not listen.
Look, they think I am behind this,” she said while walking out of the house.
I shoved my hands into my pants pocket.
The corners of my mouth turned up into a smile.
I suddenly grabbed Aunt Agatha’s hand.
I sucked my teeth.
“Sorry, but you know Mom will come around,” I said, taking a pause.
“And did you notice Dad hug and thank you.”
Aunt Agatha gently pushed my hand away.
It looked like her anger hadn’t faded, so I gave her a kiss to cheer her up.
I know they are not ready to forgive me, so I have to give them time and space because things will come back to normal soon.
I then went out of the house with the back door from the kitchen.
I went to the tree where dry leaves were scattered on the ground.
I kicked the ground.
I looked around and saw the mailbox standing on the edge of the garden, which looked old.
I walked over to the mailbox, where I saw the paper on which something was written.
I grabbed the paper and started reading it.
“Callie, it is time you should leave.” I started looking around.
Suddenly, the car passed me and snatched the paper from my hands.