Stringed

Chapter 12: Always Here

"Where are you taking me this time?" I asked as we are here in a cab.

Eric's been taking me to several places these days, which were not that alien to me.

But actually those places were the ones that I really never go to.

Its like there's a barrier that prevents me to do so or go there.

Or I'm just stressing things too much.

Yeah, maybe.

"Somewhere special~" he said in glee.

I remained silent at that time as we reached our destination.

A large, dirty-white colored mansion came to view.

"Home for the aged?" I muttered under my breath which Eric seemed to hear.

I began to feel my throat dry out.

"Yep, we're paying someone special to you a visit," he said and opened the cab's door and offered his hand.

My grandmother?

I dismissively shook my head and I went off the vehicle on my own.

How did he know about that? And he even knew the exact location.

He seemed to read me, "I asked for some info about you in school."

I hummed in response and Eric guided me towards the seemingly old building.

I saw different old people who are doing their own things. As if they didn't care about time at all.

But they're all in the same situation.

Unwanted. Left alone. And even forgotten by those people whom they offered their whole lives in nourishing and building them.

Is this how we all end up?

Its just too much to take.

Then an old and long unseen face came to my view.

My precious grandmother.

As I saw her my heart skipped a beat.

She was after all, the one person whom I know for sure, loves me.

I'm not just so sure if she does until now.

My memories with her came flashing in my mind.

The time when I received an award and she had a picture with me since my mother and father were busy with work.

That time when I broke my doll and she fixed it and said, "All things can be mended."

That time when my pet dog died and she comforted me by treating me with ice cream.

Our English tea parties I had with her when she was a bit younger.

Those moments when she made me feel that I wasn't all alone at all.

I saw her face. Her cheeks were now a bit hollow and she was a bit bony. Her hair was all white, her eyes seemed not that good but I can still see from afar that it still had its spark.

She was seating on a wheelchair and she seemed so weak.

Why did I even stop visiting her?

Am I that cold-hearted now, that I've even forgotten the one person that made me believe that there was still more to life?

Eric tapped me on the shoulder and smiled gently, "Go, enjoy your time."

I bit my lower lip and I hesitated for a moment.