ALONE

CHAPTER 3

"Josephine", my mom called with a weak voice.

"Josephine", she called again and I responded, "yes mom". The grip on my hand got tighter and I cried out more.

"I want you to be strong, I want you to be the woman I wanted to groom you to be, I want you to keep growing and never give up on anything, reach that height you've always wanted to reach. Your father and I would be the happiest and most proud parents if you accomplish everything. We love you and we are with you in every step", she said.

"I love you both too" I said in between tears.

The grip around my small hand loosened, I looked at my mom, her eyes were opened and her breath was caught in her throat.

My heart began to beat fast, I turned to my dad's bed, he was not breathing, he was lying lifeless.

"Get her away from here", the man in lab coat said to the nurse. She quickly came to my side and pulled me, I resisted to go with her. 

I used the last strength I had and I screamed, "Noooooooooo!". I was struggling to release myself from her hold, she kept on tightening her hold and just like the first time, everything faded away and I fell into darkness. 

I woke up in that same bright room I was in at first, I blinked severally to adapt to the brightness of the light again.

I saw four people looking at me with worry showing clearly on their faces, two I could recognize, the nurse and the man in lab coat, 'but who are these other strangers?', I asked myself.

My head was throbbing with every turn I made.

"It's me, uncle Dew. Don't you remember me?", the strange man spoke as he saw confusion on my face.

Even if I've met him before, I wouldn't know, I hated to get involved with relatives, I didn't even know I had any.

I tried to look at this so called Uncle Dew but my head throbbed again, "can I at least get tablets to subside my throbbing head?" I asked.

The nurse got some tablets and handed them over to me, I grabbed them immediately and swallowed them without a second thought.

I felt better.

"Uncle Dew, it so nice to see you again", I said trying to be comfortable with his presence.

"This is my wife, Maria. We heard the sad news and we rushed down here to console you and also take you home with us", uncle Dew said with a soft smile.

I looked between him and Maria, I didn't want to go anywhere with these people.

"I want to go home, my PARENTS' home", I shouted as tears threatened to fall down my cheeks. 

Maria rushed to me and pulled me into her embrace and I cried my heart out, I missed my parents already, at this point, I just wanted them to hold me tight and tell me everything was going to be okay, tell me everything that has happened was just a nightmare.

That couldn't happen because an unknown woman has her hands wrapped around me, her hug did not feel the least like home.

"We're here for you baby and you're welcome to our home, we'd threat you like our own and take over from where your parents stopped", Maria said to me.

I kept sniffling against her hold, I couldn't say anything.

"Doctor, I'm ready to sign the documents", uncle Dew said to the man in lab coat and they left immediately.

"Grandma Vivien, where's she? I want to go home with her instead", I said making the duo stop in their tracks.

They all exchanged a look.

"She's dead, she died at the spot of the incidence yesterday", the man in lab coat said.

"I've been here for a day?", I asked in shock. They all nodded in affirmation.

I stared blankly at nothing, I looked down, I was still putting on my white dress that was now covered in dirt.

'She picked this beautiful dress for me, mom and dad didn't get the chance to see how beautiful I looked', I said to myself silently.

Something caught my attention, I saw a petal from the flower I plucked yesterday, I was supposed to give it to mom but now it ended up in my dress. 

My tiara and wand were broken. 'I'm no longer a princess', I said to myself as a lone tears fell down my cheek.

Maria took my hands and led me out.

We met uncle Dew at the entrance of the hospital, he had a smile on his face but I knew it was fake.

We got in the car and drove to my parents'.

I didn't want to go there, my parents just died yesterday and going back to the house we all lived in brought an uneasy feeling to my stomach.

There was something strange about uncle Dew and Maria, they were acting like they've been forced to take me or like I was going to be a problem.

"We're here", uncle Dew's voice echoed in my head.

"I'd go in with her hon, make sure you get every document and get the full price for the house", Maria said to uncle Dew and he nodded.

'What!? They are selling the house?', I said to myself without realizing that I said it out loud.

They both shot me a glance.

"We're only putting it up for rent to get enough money to fend for you darling" uncle Dew defended.

I didn't respond to him, I just got out of the car, I knew these people were up to something and they knew I became suspicious of them.

Maria walked behind me.

That uneasy feeling came back to my stomach and I couldn't control it this time, I threw up into our garden, I wiped my mouth and stood up right quickly before Maria got to me.

I walked quickly towards our home to fetch some of my belongings.

"You have ten minutes Josephine", Maria shouted.

I didn't turn back to look at her, I just kept walking forward.

Over to my right, I could see uncle Dew shaking hands with a strange man, they both looked at me and laugh.

What was the laughter for? I had no clue.

I got into the house and went to my bedroom.

I took my clothes, just few clothes, photos and frames.

Something caught my eyes.

It was box, I went closer to take a look and realization done on me that the dress, wand and tiara were gifts from Vivien. Tears streamed down from my eyes.

The three closest people to my heart, people I love so much died on the same day and to make it worse, on my birthday.

How'd I ever forget that? It was a scar imprinted on my heart.

Wiping my tears, I went out of my bedroom, I came to a halt in front of my parents bedroom, I looked at it one last time and descended from the stairs.

My birthday cake was still sitting on the dining table with my presents by its side. I took all my gifts and left the cake, it looked soggy and infested. 

Walking out of the house, I saw uncle Dew, Maria and the strange man laughing out loud to maybe a joke or something.

When they saw me standing few steps away from them, they all exchanged a look and I knew something fishy was going, I had to be careful and watchful.

I didn't trust these people.

Uncle Dew cleared his throat, "are you done?" He asked with guilt on his face. I nodded.

They bade the strange man goodbye and we left for their home, my new home.