Long Lost Summer

I squinted my eyes away from the burning sun as we made our way outside the airport. We just had a flight from Tokyo to Naha, Okinawa where I am standing right now. I silently stepped inside the car and once I closed the door, the vehicle accelerated its speed and drove away from the airport's parking lot. I noticed that we are now in the highway, and I can see a lot of tropical trees, and I can also see the ocean nearby. Some kids with the same age like me might be jumping for joy... When you're in Okinawa, everyone will think that you're in a middle of a vacation. A holiday. But sadly, it was the opposite. I had a different reason why I need to be here. I glanced at a certain lady who was in her early fifties. She warmly smiled at me, and I gave her a polite nod. Afterwards, I turned my attention back on the road. The lady sitting beside me is my adoptive mother, Chieko Nishikawa. She is a doctor in a certain rural area in Naha. The people in the Social Services said that I was lucky to meet a person just like her,and fate connected us together. But if you're going to ask me, I don't believe in fate nor in destiny. Well, let me take that back. I did believe in fate and destiny ONCE. But everything crumbled when that "tragedy" happened to our family. My father died on while on a business trip. The plane was bound to Singapore, but it didn't reach their destination. My father was dead on the spot. I thought that this kind of scenario only happen on television dramas,but I never thought it happens in real life. That it will happen to us. The death of my father had a big impact on my mother.She started taking sleeping pills since she couldn't sleep at all, thinking about my father the whole night.A single pill became two,three and she ended swallowing all the pills inside the bottle.She took them as if its the only way to keep her alive and sane,and it only made her feel worst. She became paranoid about everything.She saw me as her enemy, the cause of her husband's death. My very own mother slit my wrist and left me bleeding on my own room.And she did it to herself too,while she was sitting on the bathtub. I absently-mindedly touched my left wrist which was covered with a white bandage...Then my mind travelled back in time again. "Do you want to die together and see your father in heaven?" my mother asked while smiling,as she slowly put the razor on my wrist... I shook my head trying to go back to reality...But I wasn't successful. The social services decided to rehome me at certain facility. I was already living in that place for in almost a week when a female doctor came to visit. It was Nishikawa Chieko,which is also a good friend of the Head of the Instituition... I don't know what made her decide to officially adopt me, but I was thinking that maybe I look pathetic as an orphan. I didn't have the energy to protest while they were busy doing the adoption process,and I really didn't care at all. Physically I'm alive, but emotionally,I feel like dying.So I decided that I'll just go on with my life and don't do anything, just like like a puppet in a string... "Nao?" I heard Doctor Nishikawa's voice. And it made me went back to reality. I glanced at her with a blank expression on my face. "We're home." she announced. We stepped outside from the car while the driver obediently carried our suitcases.I took a good look at the house infront of me. It was quite a big house,and I was surprised to see that it looks like one of the houses in an affluent neighborhood back in Tokyo. My adoptive mother much be rich. I roamed my eyes around the little town and I saw some of the people was curiously looking at me.Some gave me a friendly smiles. Great.I didn't come here just to make friends. "--I'm going to show you your room..." my "mother" guided me inside the house and upstairs. We stopped at a certain room, and she slowly opened the door. "Your sister Mika decorated this room for you..." informed my-so-called mother. I reluctantly took a step inside and looked around the room.The ceilings, walls, bedsheets, and the carpet were all pink. A typical room for a girl.The bedroom is three times bigger that my room back in Tokyo. "Do you like it?" Nishikawa-sensei asked. I just nodded in return. "Mika will be glad... Oh, she's still at school so you will meet her at dinner.For the meantime, you can take a rest, and I'll call you once dinner is ready,okay?" the doctor said with a motherly smile. "T-Thank you." I forced myself to speak,just to be polite. Doctor Nishikawa slowly closed the door, finally giving me time to be alone. I closed my eyes as I try to sleep. Sleeping is the only way that can make me forget everything, but I suddenly felt a warm liquid flowing from my eyes... I miss my real mother terribly. What is she doing right now? I wondered, until my mind drifted into a deep slumber ====================== I reluctantly opened my eyes as I heard one excited voice downstairs.It must be coming from the living room or from the kitchen... Or the garden. I blinked thrice as I tried to adjust my eyes from the darkness of the room. I got up from my bed and sat as I stared at the window.It's already dark. I had slept all afternoon because of exhaustion. "---Where is she,mom?Can I meet her now?" I heard that voice again. I quickly stood up and leaned my ear at the door,as I try to listen. "Not now,Mika.Let your sister sleep." answered her new mother. "But----!" Mika tried to protest,but her mother cuts her off. "No buts...Now change your clothes.Dinner will be ready in a minute." ordered her mother. I thoughtfully frowned as I try to remember what the Doctor told her about her daughter, Mika... "Mika's a highschool freshman now. She's at school now, but she'll be home in an hour or so..." she remembered their conversation awhile ago. Somehow, the younger sister got me interested. I wanted to see what she looks like. I wanted to see if she's the usual spoiled brat rich kid or it's the other way around... I tiptoed my way out from the room. After taking few steps,I cautiously hid behind the wall and craned my neck to take a peek of the youngest daughter. What I saw is a petite girl. She styled her hair in a pig-tail fashion and she was still wearing her school uniform. She was helping her mother on setting up the table. "What did she say about the room,mama?" Mika anxiously asked her mother. Doctor Nishikawa laid down a steaming bowl of soup on the table before she answered. "Your sister didn't say anything at all but I saw on her face that she liked it." she diplomatically replied. Mika gave out a wide smile. "I told you so..." she said,while putting a bowl of salad on the table. "Shall we eat,then?" suggested her mother. "Isn't Nao going to eat with us?" asked the puzzled Mika. "Let her rest,Mika. Let her forget all the bad things that she experienced..." the old woman stated. I could sense from her tone that she's worried about me. I leaned on the wall and closed my eyes. "I don't need your sympathy." I murmured, then I decided to go back to my room. I didn't realized that,I ended up crying in my sleep. I really miss my real mother.