HOW CAN I FORGET YOU

Margaret Pov... “I’m glad you decided to come back, Margaret! I thought you would still not turn the page to come home.” My brother uttered, looking at me. I tilted my head staring at him. He was still the man who would make every woman crawl on their knees just to get his attention. He was indeed a head turner. It’s a shame we were siblings, but no one notices my existence. “I wasn’t brother, but I can’t miss your special day in your life. I could miss your birthday, but not this one Ethan!” I replied, elated to see him again after 6 years. Leaving this place hadn’t been in my dream, but circumstances knocked the inevitable. “How are you? You’ve changed after six years, of running away from home!” He said, sneering before pulling me for a hug that I badly missed. “Never been fine Ethan, but we can’t stop people from changing aggressively. At least minor to alleviate the inevitable.” I still replied, painting a smile on my face, but six years ago will never turn the page as everyone wants. Though, I would love to move on to another chapter. “I know it’s not my place to tell you, but you know I am always here for you, Margaret. I just wish you happiness.” He replied consoling. I smiled with delight. A man who will never dare to hurt me besides dad. “I love you, my brother. I will always be here for you too, though you had the most countable experience!” I uttered cheekily, biting my lower lip before laughing. “You haven’t met my fiancé yet. I want to introduce her to you, but her sister took her for a bridal night.” His twinkling smile talking about her fiancé is beyond imagination my brother would ever have. I’m glad he found his happiness. I haven’t met her personally, though I saw her pictures around. Being a model is everyone’s eye watch, but I have never heard anything abominable. “I will stay here for a month, Ethan. You will have all the chance to introduce her to me and I would love that.” I smiled animatedly. I actually planned to leave after his wedding, but I can’t just leave my family when they have just seen me, especially because our family is growing. He smiled, elated, knocking me off guard and stumbling on my knees. “Heey!” I screamed, laughing. I gave him my present before we walked out of my room to face my parents. I know there’s a lot of explaining needed to ponder. After all, Ethan and I were just their children. I anticipated the scolding I would get from them. I’ve been out for six years shutting everyone off while surviving alone. “Thank you, Margaret. You don’t have to buy me expensive gifts.” Ethan implied before wearing it. I know how much he loves watches. “It’s been six years, Ethan. Count it your 6 years’ birthdays’ that I badly miss!” I replied when I heard my mother's high-pitched voice echoing in the hallway of our house. “Margaret!” She called, screeching to hear. My brother chuckled. “Mom!” I replied, hiding behind my brother’s back, scared I would receive a hand full of disappointments and dislikes. “Come here, young woman! You dared show up after letting your mother brawl every night, missing you!” She complained, throwing her bag on the sofa and going straight to our post. “Mom, I’m sorry!” I cried, but she pulled me to hug tightly. “I miss you so much my bubba!” She sobbed, shaking. “I miss you too, mom, and I am really sorry.” I uttered tears streaming down my face while turning my gaze at my father, torn between sad and happy to see me alive again. Dad knows how much pain I went through. There is no choice but to let me go in anguish trying to hold back the unbearably distressing feeling a father could feel to see his daughter falling miserably. I was young back then, immature and impulsive. Mom can’t stop crying, looking at me, checking everything from my head down to my toes. “How are you bubba?” She asked, caressing my face just like when I was just a little crying on her lap. “I am really fine mom. How about you? I am sorry for worrying too much.” I asked back, whimpering. She looks older when she is just forty - nine years old. “I am fine now that I see you alive and healthy.” She still replied solitary. Dad, come over and hug me too. I can’t help but brawl. This is my comfort home where I can feel loved and protected no matter what the circumstances passing through. “Just please, sweetheart, stay healthy and be happy. All I want is for you to surpass everything, Margaret.” Dad snarled, getting to the bottom of it. After the tear - jerking reconciliation, we manage to eat our dinner joyfully. We bonded like we used to do. Watching movies while drinking red wine slumped in our living room. I miss this kind of bonding. We always do this when we can’t decide to go out. I continue to reminisce those memories stuck in the back of my head. I smiled slowly, leaning my head on my father’s chest as my tears streamed from my cold face. I let my father caress my cheeks and my hair felt like a child again. I’m getting older, the same goes for them. “Dad, I am sorry.” I muttered. He continued to caress my head when I felt his hands trembling. I opened my eyes to see him crying silently. “Dad, I am fine now. Please don’t be sad!” I consoled him, hugging him. I tilted my head to see my brother silently weeping too. “You can stay here now Margaret.” Dad pleaded, but I felt there was something more to his plea. His eyes showed an unreadable warning. I’d love to, but I have a life left in London. “I’d love to dad, but uncertainty always numbs me.” I whispered to him not to wake mom asleep beside my brother. We let the night decide for us. I watched my family asleep before the past knocked me down, weeping discreetly. Why do I have to dream of Stefano on my first night coming back? Can the night blur the vivid images keep on popping out of nowhere? It’s been six years, but the heartache is still trampling my soul. How can I get out of this pit of misery, jerking my heart and blocking my air passage to breathe properly? I close my eyes again, blocking all the vivid images, and making me exasperate.