The Last One to See Him Alive

Prologue

The smell of the sea was quite strong in that place, that was the first thing I noticed when I arrived, I also realized that it was still too early to knock on the door. So I walked a little more and went to the parking lot that led to the beach, I was surprised to see that it was a great cliff and below was the beach that had a large extension. Then, I saw the sunken ship and I felt compassion for it, it was completely abandoned to its fate like me, it was noticeable that it had started to rust many years ago, which explained the strong smell that was in the place. While contemplating the horizon in front of me, I made a decision, I took a piece of paper from my pocket and read it one last time in case I forgot the valuable content too quickly. Then I proceeded to burn it without thinking that the wind could play against me, with the ash that would fly, which is why my coat burned a bit. I had to immediately brush myself off with my hands, and someone walking their dog looked at me curiously, so I had to finish quickly and get back to where I was supposed to go before I inadvertently drew too much attention to myself, frankly, I was doing a lousy job at keeping my profile low. At least I didn't walk that much because it was a small neighborhood near the slope, so when I got to the indicated house I knocked on the door and waited until someone answered.

I heard noise from inside, it was a small and very picturesque house, I liked the blue color of its walls. I thought she hadn't heard me so I knocked on the door again, I had practiced what I would do all the way to that place, so when the door opened I was already ready to speak, and at the same time I was ready to move inside. .

"Hello, Aunt Mags, it's me and I'm here to stay with you for a while," I said, and at the same time I shoved my bags through the door to immediately enter the house without giving her time to refuse. I was afraid that he would slam the door in my face, so I went straight inside and when I saw the small dining room table, I immediately sat down and took a deep breath. I knew that she had followed me all the way surprised and asking questions, but I decided to silence my mind, to think and speak calmly. I even closed my eyes for a moment and imagined what could happen next, as well as a series of possible scenarios that could unfold the moment I opened my eyes again. When I came to the conclusion that I was at the mercy of that woman, I tried my best and opened my eyes to face her.

"'Aunt Mags?' Is that what your mother told you to call me? Where is she now?" She asked me angrily.

"I don't know,s he told me that if she left for a long time, I should come to you" I told her a half truth, or a half lie, depending on the point of view of who knew everything, I chose to call it the first way.

"No, no, no... I'm not here to take care of other people's children, do you think I live here so that...?", her voice dropped suddenly and she sat down in front of me to calm down, she didn't speak to me for several minutes. "Is your mother in trouble again? Does she have a new boyfriend? Is he another thief?"

"I don't know".

"Are you in trouble?" She asked me seriously. "I have a good life here... What was your name again?"

"Rossy, everyone calls me that," another lie that came out of my mouth.

"Rossy, your mother got into a lot of trouble when she ran off with your father... What do you think I think about you? You are your mother's daughter, a big problem, and then there is your father, the bank robber..."

I stayed silent. Whenever I was with my mother, we avoided saying that about my father. It was an undervalued quality.

"Who can assure me that you're not as troublesome as they are?" She asked me, annoyed again. "I don't want you here..."

"I have nowhere to go," I told her sincerely.

"I can call services..."

"You are the only relative I have left, so I ask you to let me stay here. I promise not to cause trouble. I want a quiet life, I need to take the state exam and then apply to universities or colleges."

That was something my mother had made me promise, and I hadn't opposed the idea because I knew it was in my best interest, plus I didn't want to disappoint her, and now I couldn't disappoint the woman in front of me either. There was so much to do and so little time, and at the same time I had a lot to lose if I didn't lie low and keep my promise. I had an internal clock ticking in my mind, it was a ticking time bomb that I needed to contain so it wouldn't blow up in my face.

"Exam?"

"I had to drop out of school and it's too late to go back, but I'm a good student," I tried to convince her. But, I also need a job..."

She stared at me in silence while she digested the words that I had said. I was surprised that she had not doubted that I was her niece, and I wondered if she had perhaps ever seen photos of me. She looked into my eyes searching for an answer to her inner questions, then blinked away from my face. I saw her get up and go for a glass of water. She calmly drank the water, looking out the small kitchen window before turning around to tell me:

"The second door," she pointed out, "is the guest room, it's yours."

I knew from the tone of her voice that there was a warning included, a warning I had already given myself.

Do not ruin it.

But, I was always destined to fail.