Chapter 5
1144 Words
Before we know it, dawn is already upon us.
The sun starts to rise and I can now clearly see the features of the man sitting beside me. He looks young. He should be around my age, nineteen or twenty. But he looks professional in a well fitted suit. He also gives an air of authority. I wonder, because I heard him say he was sent by some boss. He, himself, looks like a boss.
His honey coloured eyes, golden hair and long face makes me feel like I had seen this man before. He looks so familiar, but I can't place where exactly I have seen him . My brain has started playing with me lately. I even felt a sense of déjà vu when I first arrived in this place last night, but I have never been to a graveyard in my entire life. I guess stress is taking its toll on me.
The fire has gone out and I feel cold in the early morning. The sun is fully out now but it is filtered by the trees, only a few rays penetrate the forest here and there. I hug myself, shivering slightly from the cold.
Suddenly, I feel something warm covering my shoulders and I look up to see Albert has taken off his Jacket and used it to cover my shoulders. He must have noticed me shivering. He is so thoughtful and too kind to be true.
"Thank you so much, Sir. You are too kind to me."
He smiles.
"Not at all. I would like to be useful to you any way I can."
I smile back at him. I feel safe being around him, and I trust him despite knowing him for less than a day.
I get to my feet, walking towards the sleeping Lucky. He has slept too much I start to fear he has died. I wouldn't bear it.
I crouch down next to Lucky and stroke his grey fur.
He is alive. I watch as his tiny ribcage rises and falls until Albert comes to join me. He squats down beside me, looking interestedly at the squirrel. When I move my hand away from Lucky, he wakes up and, without warning, jumps on Albert's shoulder, Sniffing, Licking and even biting his face.
"Lucky, no!," I yell as I see blood coming from the spot he has bitten. I manage to pull him off of Albert, but he has managed to leave a long scratch on Albert's cheek as he tried to get a grip there to avoid being pulled away.
This is so embarrassing.
What a terrible first impression to display.
"Sir, I am so sorry about that!," I apologize desperately, hoping he won't hate my beloved squirrel. "He is a nice fellow, its probably hunger that's causing him to behave so violently." I look at his face to see his expression. He looks pretty bad from the bite and scratch, but he looks far from angry. On the contrary, he looks amused, with a small smile on the corner of his lips.
"He wasn't being violent. That's a squirrel's way of showing affection. He likes me, and I like him too. Don't get us wrong, this is how we boys say hello to people we like."
I laugh out loud. Although I am worried about him, I am also a little relieved that he doesn't hate Lucky.
"Oh, you boys have a funny way of showing your affections, th....,"
"Ouch!."
before I finish the sentence, I feel Lucky's sharp teeth on my cheek, too. Its so painful and I throw him away from my face, making him land on the grave that was his bed the whole night.
Regretting my action instantly, I move to pick him up again when I notice the name on the head of the tombstone.
In loving memory of
LUIS TEMPLETON
1980_2011.
Is this my father's grave, or just someone else with a similar name?
Mind racing, I look towards the grave parallel to the one Lucky is lying on, which is on the left.
I get weak as I see my mother's name, date of birth and death on the smooth surface of the head of the stone.
So this is where they buried my patents. They buried my parents like commoners, with nothing to indicate that they were king and queen.
But that doesn't matter. Right now I am filled with so much grief, all the old wounds opened raw. Feeling dizzy all of a sudden, I collapse on the ground, feeling too weak to do anything. I feel suffocated with grief, tears rolling from my eyes.
Then a sudden thought occurs to me, giving me a jolt of energy as I suddenly get to my feet.
If my parents were buried here, then my twin brother's grave has to be here, too, right?
I must look like a crazy woman as I move quickly from grave to grave, reading the names on them as I do so.
Albert, who has been watching with a puzzled frown on his face, runs towards me, jumping over small bushes. He grabs my arm before I can proceed to the next grave. He holds my upper arms tightly, looks in my eyes before asking in a concerned voice,
"What is wrong, Kelina?
Please don't think I am mad. I sniff before replying,
" Please, don't ask a lot of questions, as it is a long story. I will tell you another time. But those are my parents' grave. They were murdered ten years ago, my twin brother, too. And I was looking for his grave after seeing my parents' here. "
Albert says nothing as he looks with pity in my eyes. Then he hugs me, quietly offering his comfort. I appreciate it so much, as it makes me feel better.
After a moment, I gently push him away and stand on my own.
"That was very comforting to me, you have no idea." I say quietly.
I have never felt so much cared for in a long time. I think I am going to get on very well with Albert.
Albert clears his throat awkwardly at my words, then says,
"If you are ready, the driver has come to pick us up. He has also brought the food for you and Lucky."
I turn around and, sure enough, a teenage boy stands quietly on the clearing we spent the night on.
"Just a moment!," I say, running towards a small bush of flowers nearby. I pick some of the flowers and place them on each of my parents' graves.
Albert also does the same.
"Alright!. I am ready now. We can go, my pet really needs a good feeding."
Albert smiles at my sudden cheerfulness. I pick Lucky up and follow the men out of the forest.
- Writer
