Chapter 1
“Abby, Abby…wake up.” A soft voice whispered to my ear.
“Mmmm…five more minutes.” I replied, half asleep.
“Awww, don’t be like that sport. C’mon it’s your special day!”
“That can wait later on.”
“Don't be like that. Aren't you curious about what you're getting form your grandfather?”
That totally knocked me up. My grandfather? Sending me something? Now that’s one hell of a surprise.
“And just when I convinced myself he didn't exist anymore.” I grumbled.
“Ahhh.” My father said hugging me. “Now why would you feel that way?”
“Dad, you know what I mean. He hasn’t been in contact with us since…since…well you know.”
“You know what a tragedy it was to lose your mother. Dad, I mean your grandfather was very fond of her.He treated her as if she was his own daughter.Perhaps he needed some time to think it all over.” He said reassuringly.
“I guess you could be right.”
Well, I have to admit, my grandpa was very fond of her. I couldn’t say I blame him either I mean mother was the most understanding and loving person in the world. That's someone we rarely ever meet.
“Why so down sport?” he said, changing the topic. “It’s your special day! Do yourself a favor and stop thinking about sad things”
“Mmmm…I’d do that if you would give me five minutes.” I said, playfully lying back down on my bed.
At that precise moment, my dad grabbed my foot and dragged me down to the floor.
“I won't tolerate anyone who sleeps in her special day.” He said, tickling me.
I laughed hard. “Dad s-stop t-that!” I stuttered. “I’m up, I’m up!”
“That’s good to hear. Now freshen up and come downstairs for your special day breakfast.”
“Fine dad.”
It’s been three years since my mom’s death. I don’t think any of us can just go back to the way it was before, although one can guess that we try really hard to forget but seems to fail oftentimes. But why her? I don't recall ever seeing her sick in anyway. I wonder if it's because of that thing the fortune cookie said...
“Sigh…I’m beginning to become a superstitious freak.” I told myself, looking at the mirror.
At just that moment, I saw myself in a different scenario, the mere picture scared me. What I saw was something horrific. There was a scene filled with tremor, fear, it was a pool of blood probably going on in the vast darkness…What’s the meaning of this? This won’t be the first time I saw this. This scene…I…saw it before my mother’s death…What does this mean?
“Abby! Hurry up! We still have to drop by the post office soon.” My dad called from the other side of the room.
“Huh...Ahhh, okay.” I called out a little too sudden.
“You okay in there?” he said. “You sound as if you saw a ghost.”
“Uhh yeah, I’m fine dad.”
Saw a ghost? I thought. More or less it seemed that way. I thought to myself looking one last time in the mirror, making sure at the same time hoping that I was only hallucinating before I went out to meet up with my dad. Luckily, I saw nothing but myself staring stupidly at the mirror.
“Hey you okay?” My dad asked me when we got in the car.
“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m fine dad?” I said.
“Calm down, I was just asking.” he said.
“You say that as if I’m still a little girl.”
“You are a little girl. You’re my little girl.”
“Oh dad! Please keep that to yourself. It's embarrassing!”
“I'll shout it out to the whole world as much as I want to.”
Those words made us both laugh. Nothing in the world could ever make this day gloomy. I was happy. I was my dad’s best friend and he was mine. Although there are times when we get separated, we always seem to find each other. There's really nothing to worry about right?
“Ahhh we’re here.” Dad announced.
The old building on the thirty first street of Manhattan looks exactly like it was since I was born. It always has. But right now, there was that air of excitement. I’m really anxious as to what it is that grandpa sent. It wasn't the fact that he sent me a present but the fact that the present is proof that he is indeed still alive.
“We’d like to pick up a package from De Volcan please.” My dad told the desk clerk.
“De Volcan…Hmmm…Hold on, let me check.” She replied in an overly perky tone.
Why is it that half the desk clerks I’ve met and seen always have that perky attitude? And what's with the real heavy make-up? It’s awfully weird and embarrassing. It's official; two things I swear I'd never do; one, wear pink dresses and two, work anywhere that requires heavy make-up.
“Here you go sir, Package from Mr. Alexander de Volcan.” The perky lady announced.
“Thank You.”
In the car, a small, light package sat in front of me, the tremendous anticipation of it all. I can’t wait to open it!
“Then open it.” My dad replied as if reading my mind. “Go on, this can’t possibly wait any longer right?”
“But dad—“
“But dad what?” he said suddenly. “Exactly what are you waiting for anyway? We both know how ecstatic you are to open it. And besides, daddy is curious too."
That is so like dad. "Fine, I'll open it."
I slowly opened the box only to find a smaller box in blue wrapping paper with a blue ribbon over it. Curious, I swiftly opened it to find a beautiful silver chain with a charm shaped like a rose hanging on it. It was the prettiest thing I have ever seen!
“Want me to put that on you?” My dad said, grinning.
“Yes please!”
Just as my dad finished putting the necklace on me, my phone rang.
“Hello...Uhhh…yeah… sure I’ll come.” I looked at my dad hopefully.
“I'll drive you there.” He said the grin on his face even wider.
“Are you sure?”
“I can’t possibly be able to survive one of your girl talks now can I?” he said. “And besides, I’m sure your friends want to greet you too.”
“Thanks dad, you’re the best!”
It was a short drive to the mall but even then, I still felt a little bit anxious.
"Now, get outta here before I change my mind."
I laughed. "Thanks dad. Drive safely okay."
He chuckled. "Are you saying I'm an irresponsible driver?"
"Don't take it to heart."I kissed him on the forehead and ran off to meet my friend. But somehow, I still feel kind of weird. I really hope that dad would be fine. I thought about grandpa's pleasant yet confusing surprise.
“Sigh. What an unpredictable grandfather.” I mumbled sometimes wonder how dad and he could be father and son. They're so different from each other.
“Happy Birthday Abby!” Emily, my best friend greeted me. “Let’s all have fun today, okay?”
“Sure, why not?” I answered and we all chorused with happy giggles.
Although, I’m having fun with my friends, something from the back of my head tells me something is not right. Why am I getting that odd feeling?
Emily’s dad brought me home a little later than what I had in mind. So when I got out of the car, I prepared a little explanation as to why I was late when I heard the sharp sound of a gun.
"Emily, Abby, stay there. I'll go check it out." Emily's dad said.
“Let me come with you!" I insisted
“It’s too dangerous. Wait here!”
“Abby.” Emily’s voice trembled. “It’s okay alright? Don’t worry.”
I was in such shock that I don’t know how I would ever respond to anything other people said. It happened way too fast. Police cars and an ambulance were now approaching, bringing with them a stretcher.
“Abby, you'll be spending the night with us okay?” Emily’s dad told me.
“W-where’s my d-dad?” I asked, my voice trembling with fear.
“Don’t worry now everything’s going to fine.”
Worrying is the least bit of my problems. I knew something bad was about to happen. But why didn't I say something? Some people were now carrying a stretcher with someone covered with a bloodstained blanket. I knew it was my dad. How can this happen to me again?
“Dad!!!” I screamed, running towards the people from the ambulance as some of the police officers held me back. “Let me go! I have to see my father!”
Why? Why are they holding me back? I just want to make sure it wasn't really my dad and that I'm screaming his name for no reason? What’s wrong with that? Can’t they just leave me alone? I just want my dad to know that I'm sorry for being late and that I didn't mean it. Was that too much to ask? But I knew I was only lying to myself because at that moment I knew that my dad, the very person who stayed strong after my mother’s death, was also gone. I'm completely alone now...
