Legacy
1141 Words
***4 days ago***
Life with grams around went by rather smoothly.
Of course, I can only say that because I just got back yesterday from my father-daughter trip and because mom looks happy to be bonding with her mother.
Grams also says she feels better, so there's that.
And with that in mind, we're - and by that, I mean me - preparing for my birthday.
It's only a few days from now, so we're supposed to take the day tomorrow to go shopping for my present, as my mom came to the conclusion that it's best to just let me pick what I like, rather than try to surprise me and most likely fail miserably if past is precedent.
The evening flew by and I was getting ready to sleep, when I heard some strange noises from the guest room, the room Grams was staying in.
But I couldn't bring myself to check on her.
I couldn't deal with facing the past just yet.
So I got into bed and prayed to the stars that Grams was fine.
My eyes closed shut before I could muster another thought, and I was taken to dreamland.
But this dream felt so real and my curiosity peaked.
I was in an unfamiliar room.
Majestic.
It looked like a throne room.
But the walls and the floor and the ceiling were all white. I took a step forward and the echo made my presence known.
Then I heard a small shuffle behind me.
A group of five women was now all looking at me.
They all looked like the photos of Grams when she was young.
Long, curly, ginger hair and large, bright brown eyes.
Except for one - she was just as old and wrinkly, but at the same time dignified, as Grams is.
"Sheila, glad you could make it", said the older woman, her voice sweet, but with a heavy dose of bitterness in the mix.
I felt words slip off my tongue, without permission.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
That voice.
That name.
These people all think I'm her.
They think I'm Grams.
"Good", said another woman.
My feet were carrying me to them, against my will.
Two of them took my hands in theirs, one on each side.
"INFINITY!" I heard us all say in unison.
Then the strangest thing happened.
The beautiful brown in their eyes changed to a sharp silver.
Just like that night with grams.
"Show us fate!" I heard myself say, with authority in my voice.
Suddenly, a whirlwind of deep-sea blue and sunset purple smoke started at our feet.
The whirlwind got taller and taller, and as fast as I could blink, the smoke was gone and in its place, a drop-dead gorgeous man made his entrance.
His floor-length robe was the same color as everyone's eyes, but his eyes were simply otherworldly, as mesmerizing as the Universe seen from afar.
His eyes were full of beautiful shades of blue and purple, just like the whirlwind of smoke that brought him here.
"Stars", he growled.
"Yes, my Lord." I heard myself say, using Grams' voice.
"Sheila, my dear Star, you are about to join me in the Universe."
"I know, my Lord. I am soon to become one with the stardust that you summon at your will."
"A fitting end, my dear Star."
"Quite so, my Lord."
"What can I help you with, my dear Stars?"
"We need to find new Stars, my Lord. Sheila has hers, but I fear the rest of us do not. And we will all soon become stardust", the one that bitterly welcomed me said.
"Very well. I will show the Stars their path to you. Once your Legacy is passed on, they will become new Stars. And you will join me in the forever."
I had a feeling of what he meant, but I would much rather pinch myself so hard, I woke up.
"I will take my leave. But before I do that, Sheila, my dear Star, please know your Supernova is close. And I cannot do much to prolong your stay."
"I understand. Not to worry, my Lord. I have no regrets."
"Very well. Shine on, my Stars!"
He vanished in the same blue and purple smoke.
And for the rest of the night, I had a dreamless sleep.
The sad fact is, something told me I would not remember any of this in the morning.
And whatever that something was, it was right.
Because when morning came, all I could remember was that something strange happened in a white room.
I got out of bed and rushed my way into Grams' room.
She was lying on her bed, tears silently falling on both sides.
When I got closer, I saw her eyes were wide open, and the brown of her eyes turned to white.
Just like that night.
But this time, the fear was not there, just concern.
"Grams? Are you OK?"
"Kayla, my sweet girl... My star... My Supernova... It's up to you to carry on my legacy", she said with sorrow in her voice.
"Grams, if you're not feeling well, I'll call an ambulance!" I told her, in an alert state of mind, even though my head was buzzing.
"No, my child. My time has come. I have to become one with the Universe. And now it's your job to keep the Universe at bay."
She took one more breath, then reached out for my hand.
I took her and sat on the floor, next to her bed.
I yelled for my mom and a few moments later, she ran into the room.
"Mom!" She yelled, panicked, as she rushed to Grams' bed.
"No, do not cry, child. I must go and you must keep on. Steady the course and never stray. The Universe is looking out for all of us."
And with that, she let out her final breath, leaving me and my mom in a state of shock.
Mom fell apart, started crying, and couldn't speak one word.
I, on the other hand, did the coldest thing in history.
I got up, let go of her hand, and left the room.
I couldn't register anything going on around me.
My mind couldn't process anything.
My head was buzzing, my mind was blank and my feet took me to my room, where I laid down in my bed and closed my eyes, in an attempt to revisit the dream.
But I couldn't, just like I couldn't register anything else after that, until the day we buried her.
When mom threw her bouquet of yellow roses over Grams' casket, it finally sunk in that she was gone.
And she would forever be gone.
And all I had to do now was figure out a way to get my life back on track.
- Writer
