Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Dropping the bouquet of white Lily in my hand unto Mother's grave, I saw the same thing already on Dad's own so I dropped mine off as well.

Dad always said he didn't have a favorite flower but he liked Mum's Favorite which was White Lily.

I stretched my hand and cleaned the dust off the surface of their headstone to reveal the epitaph and their names.

HERE LIES MIRANDA SHEFFIELD SMITH, a beloved wife, mother and daughter.

HERE LIES VICTOR SMITH, a loving father, husband and son.

Mutual love, the crown of bliss. I had told them to carve the same epitaph on their headstone.

I smiled at Mum's picture before turning to Dad's as well.

"Hey, Mum." I greeted.

"Hey, Dad."

I was kneeling down with Matilda holding my forearm beside me. Chris and Alex were standing behind us.

"Hi... Your unfilial daughter is here. I know I've been a bad daughter and I'm sorry. I should have brought Matilda here the day she woke up, right? Like I said earlier, I know I'm unfilial and I'm sorry."

I paused and took a deep breath looking away from Mum's picture and then to Dad blinking away my tears.

"Don't scold me, Dad. It's been long since I came here, hasn't it? Well, I've been doing nothing in particular. Just... Forgive me? Please?" I said my voice breaking and I bowed my head letting the tears flow freely.

I heard Chris move and I shook my head telling him in the mind link to not.

'Don't, Chris.'

I heard him move his leg back after some seconds and I let out a shaky breath.

"Hi Mum, Hi Dad. It's me, Matilda. Yeah that little girl of yours. Feels like yesterday doesn't it?" She asked and then chuckled. She paused perhaps not able to put her emotion in words or something else, I have no idea.

"I really miss you guys. I do. You know when I was in coma, I dreamt of you guys a lot. Both of you. We talked, gisted and then you told me to go. I miss you guys so much. But don't worry, myself and Isabelle are definitely doing fine. And I'm sorry as well. I wasn't at your funeral, didn't grieve you guys and then I still took forever to..." She paused and then I heard sobs.

I sniffed and draped my arm over her shaking shoulders.

"Hey Mum, She's such a crybaby, isn't she? I keep telling her, yet she won't listen." I said chuckling and then I sniffed.

We both kept quiet before I remembered Chris was still behind us.

"Oh right! Mum, we came with important guests. Sorry, I'm still a bad hostess, aren't I?" I said and I heard Matilda chuckle perhaps remembering the scene as well.

It was one sunny afternoon like that, our uncles came for a surprise visit. But my parents were out so they had to wait at home. Myself and Matilda came back from school go meet them in our sitting room just relaxing.

We squealed in excitement and asked for the presents they brought us. After collecting it, we thanked them and ran into our room.

After doing our assignment we heard the front door open meaning someone was entering or going.

I glanced at the clock to see it was the normal time our parents arrived. We ran out to see our parents already conversing with our uncles.

"Would you like to drink water or perhaps, tea, juice anything?" Mum asked dropping her hand bag.

"Oh no, Isabelle already gave us water. We're fine." Uncle Timothy replied winking at me.

"Which Isabelle? I hope it's not my daughter? Cause I know her. So you can stop trying to cover for her." She replied glancing at me.

"But I... I'll go and get some water." I replied and turned around to get them water.

Mum came into the kitchen while I was filling the second glass cup.

"Sorry Mum. I didn't mean to not offer them water." I said turning off the tap and turned to her.

"I'm not angry at you. You're just a bad hostess." She replied pushing my nose slightly with a bop sound.

I smiled at the memory and sighed.

"Come here, Chris. You too, Alex." I said.

Chris knelt beside me and I think Alex beside Matilda.

"Mum, Dad meet Chris." I said pointing at him like a valet would do.

"Chris, meet Mum and Dad."

He said nothing and only looked at my face and then the grave.

"Go on... Say something." I said nudging him by his side.

"Umm, hi. Ma'am." he cleared his throat and I swear his heart was beating.

"Here I'll help you." I said chuckling a bit.

"Mum this is Chris. He's my... boyfriend. I know I know, he's handsome isn't he? Ain't I lucky?" I asked wiggling my eyebrows.

"Aw, thanks Mum. Mum? Hold on..." I said.

"Why? What did she say?" He asked me in a whisper.

"She said you can't date me and that we should both go our way. They didn't approve you Chris, what's should we do?" I replied with a pout turning to him.

Forgive me mother.

"No... No no no, you can't do that to me. No, hold on. You guys don't get this. I need her in my life. Like really really need her." Chris started moving near their grave.

"Okay think of it as this, There's key and padlock right? If you don't find the right key, the padlock will never open. See, your daughter is the key to my padlock. If she's not with me, I fear I would never see the right key ever again."

I rolling in laughter right now but Chris seemed to not notice as he continued his sermon of changing their minds.

"Do you guys get what I mean? So, that's the reason why I can never... I repeat never let her go. And if you're worried about me breaking her heart, oh you might as well tell me go kill myself. You know I would drink silver like right now. And I love her wholeheartedly and I promise to make sure she's happy at all times. Right, Belle?" He asked nudging me making me move my uncontrollable body unto Matilda who I now noticed was also laughing.

"B-Belle?" He called turning his head finally tearing his gaze from my Mum's picture to me.

"Why are you guys laughing?" He asked naively.

Oh God, kill me. I waved my hand at him and slowly ceased my laughter motioning to Matilda and Alex to stop theirs as well.

"Right, Mum. He definitely takes good care of me." I said and then chuckled wrapping my hand around his bicep resting my head on his hand.

He nodded at the picture with a hopeful look on his face and then looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

"What's did they say? Can we stay together? Belle, you know you can't leave me right?" He asked and I shook my head pouting at him.

"Hold on, they're talking." I said and cupped his face planting a kiss on his lips.

"What are you doing? They're watching." He said against my lips.

"They're not paying attention to us." I mumbled and then pulled away wiping my lipgloss off his lips.

"Wait they're saying something." He said suddenly turning his head back to my parents grave.

"Really? I can't hear anything." I replied facing them.

"You can't. It's In- Law stuff." He replied smirking at me.

I hit his back and glared at him.

"Ow! Mum, did you see that? She keeps bullying me." He whined pointing at me.

"What the..." I didn't get to finish my sentence as he placed his lips on mine shutting me up.

"What are you doing?" I mumbled glaring at him.

"Kissing my girlfriend." He replied simply.

"My parents are watching!" I said lowly.

"They're not paying attention to us. Look, they're looking at Matilda and Alex." He replied pointing beside me.

I turned my head to see Matilda introducing our parents to Alex and Alex to our parents. I tapped Chris's leg and we both stood up stepping back giving them their privacy.

Soon, they were done and we all sat there just looking at their graves. I said some stuffs once in a while and Matilda added as much as she could remember which was surprisingly very much. When I saw the sun was beginning to set, I sighed.

"We should leave." I said sadly.

"We can stay longer if you want." Chris replied.

"Nah, I can come another day." I replied shrugging.

"Alright then." He replied.

"You guys ready to go?" I asked turning to Matilda and Alex who nodded affirmatively.

I nodded and we all stood up. I bowed my head and I saw Matilda follow and then Chris and finally, Alex.

"I promise to come back soon. I love you guys." I said smiling at the photos that was smiling back at me.

"I can come here every day after school. Then I would be your favorite." Matilda said and I saw her wink.

I shook my head at her and we all gave one last deep bow before we turned around.

"I have an idea!" Alex said suddenly making us turn our heads to him.

"How about you guys visit your old home?" He asked and I stopped.

Not that house. The dream still haunts me whenever Chris is not beside me. That house still scares me.

"No, that's not a good idea." I heard Matilda say and I let out a shaky breath. I felt Chris wrap his hand around my shoulders giving it a little squeeze.

"You know what? It's... actually a good idea." I blurted out making them look at me in disbelief.

"What?"

"You do?" Matilda asked blinking at me.

"Yeah I mean, I want to have Mum's picture, not just stare at the one at her grave. I don't want to have to come to her grave to see her face." I explained.

"If you're willing to go, fine by me." Matilda replied smiling at me.

"Alright, well visit it tomorrow." I said nodding my head.

"Then we can frame their pictures and then take photos with them." Dolores continued.

"And then we can frame that photo and have one each." I said smiling.

"And it's a deal."

"And it's a deal." We said simultaneously and smiled.

She still remembered. We turned to Chris and Alex who were now beside each other and looking at us in disbelief.

"What?" We asked simultaneously.

"Nothing." They replied the same way we did—simultaneously.

"Alright... Let's go home." I said to Chris.

"Hn. See you guys." He said waving at Alex and Matilda.

I waved at them and looked at their retreating backs before Chris wrapped his hand around my waist and we walked back home.

"Do you really want to go to your former house?" Chris asked me making me turn my head from the window to his face.

I sighed and then nodded my head firmly.

"Whatever happens, I'll always be her for you." He said kissing my knuckles.

"I know." I replied smiling at him. I turned my head back to the window and just drowned myself in the Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish that was sounding lowly from the speaker.

"Belle? We're here." I heard making me flutter my eyes open and turned my head to look at the house in front of us.

I knew this house. I after all lived here. I nodded my head and unlocked my seat belt sliding out of the seat. I heard the back door close and I turned my head to see Matilda beside me. She smiled and then searched for my hand holding it. I gave it a squeeze and we both walked towards our parents house.

I pushed the door open and it did with a creak. The curtains had been draped down over the window shielding any light that is about to enter the house.

I walked towards the window pinching my nose and pushed it up with dust flying here and there and I saw a spider run from it to the web just at the top corner of the window.

I sighed and turned to see the whole living room all brightened up now since it was daytime.

"Alright... Myself and Isabelle would go upstairs and check it out. You guys should make yourself... well you know." Matilda said and walked to me holding my hand.

I looked at her and then she gave my hand a light squeeze. We both ascended the creaky stairs before I paused suddenly. I shook the lightheadedness away and opened my eyes and we continued our walk.

I paused in front of a room and pushed it open. By the two sides of the wall was a big bed that could fit two little girls such as myself and Matilda.

Yes, it was our room. White clothe was draped all over it and the curtains were pulled down as well.

Matilda stepped into the room letting go of my hand and walked towards the curtain.

"Isabelle..." I heard a whisper suddenly making me turn my head to the right. The direction of our parents room.

"Isabelle..." I heard much more closer this time around.

"Come to me..." I felt my whole body turn before I heard another voice.

"Don't listen to that voice."

"Isabelle, come on in." Matilda said making me snap out of my trance as I took in a sharp breath startled.

I smiled and walked into our room. Matilda sat on one bed that I recollected to be mine.

"That's my bed." I said crossing my arm.

"Is it now? I always likes this bed. How bouncy and jumpy it is." She said jumping up on her butt.

"I'm guessing that's why you always slept with me." I said taking a seat beside her.

"Yeah well..." She replied grinning at me.

"Do you remember when Mum asked me not to sleep on my bed again... Since she didn't want me to be dependent on you. Cause I only fell asleep on your bed?"

"Yep. But you would sneak in the middle of the night into my bed and then run back to yours at dawn before she comes to wake us up." I said chuckling.

"Good ol times." She said with a dreamy voice.

"I would do anything to have that life back." I said with a sigh.

"Same. But we wouldn't have met both guys downstairs now would we?" She asked and I nodded.

"Hey, look at this drawing. It's still here." She said suddenly moving to her bed.

"What drawing?" I asked in confusion. I didn't remember her being an artist so why would she draw on her bed?

Oh it's her wall. But still!

"Uhh... It's nothing!" She replied throwing herself onto the bed to use her body to shield the wall.

"Matilda..." I called in a warning tone.

"Fine. I hate that tone." She said throwing herself away from the bed.

"Sounds so much like when you're about to get into trouble with Mum." She mumbled and I only rubbed her head smiling at her pout.

Then I turned to look at the drawing.

"Hold on!" She yelled obstructing my view.

"What?" I asked stomping my feet like a child.

"Always like a child. You're not going to make fun of me when you see this drawing?" She asked.

"Umm sure."

"Say it like you mean it." She said sternly.

"Fine! Geez! I'm not going to make fun of you." I said blinking at her.

"That sounded familiar." I said to myself drawing in a sharp breath.

"Fine. Here goes nothing." She muttered and moved away.

My eyes trailed the blue wall until I saw it. I sat on the bed and almost stuck my head in the wall. The drawing was so small that I couldn't make anything out of it. But - Oh wait, that's a boy and a girl.

"What's the girl wearing?" I asked still looking at the picture.

"A white dress." She mumbled.

"And the guy?" I asked.

"A black suit." She said and groaned.

"So what's the meani- Oh My God!" I said and burst into laughter cupping my mouth.

The drawing now made sense. They were getting married. And I'm guessing the girl is Matilda and her crush. What the?

"Hold on..." I said trying to get a hold of myself. Seeing the look on her face did the opposite as I doubled in laughter.

"You said you wouldn't make fun of me!" She said grumpily.

"Right sorry sorry." I said waving at her trying to keep my tears at bay.

"So tell me Mat... Who's the lucky man?" I asked pursing my lips.

"You won't laugh." She replied pointing at me.

"Of course not." I replied trying not to laugh which I failed at.

"See see... Look at that. You're already laughing and I've not even told you his name." She said pointing at me.

I tried to keep my laugh but I just couldn't.

"I'll... Oh! I'll go tell Chris about Axel." She said and my laughter stopped immediately.

"You can't do that. You won't do that! Mat!" I said hanging my mouth open.

"Let's go to our parents room." She said and smirked.

I immediately nodded my head and followed after her. We got to our parents room and paused. She pushed the door open slowly and peeked her head inside.

"Fine! Go and tell him! I'm not scared." I said suddenly and pushed her into the room closing the door behind me.

"Then I'll tell Alex to come and look at the drawing on the wall."

"You wouldn't dare." She said sternly.

"Oh God! You sound so much like Dad." I said with a smile.

She wiggled her brow at me smiling. I shook my head and we turned to the room. Everything was still like I remembered. I turned my head to see the closet that I hid in.

Moving close to it, I pulled it open to see my younger self in it. She looked up at me and I furrowed my brows.

"Sis, look at this." Matilda said and I turned my head to see her holding a framed picture.

"I'll be right there." I said and then turned my head to see the closet empty. No old me. No nothing. Just a closet full of clothes.

What the hell just happened?