Anthony's Angel

IV. Life is Merciless

TWO YEARS LATER

Angelica Chisai: Age 17

Bruce, Clark, David Timberland: Age 2

Lily Minnie: Age 18

Kevin Minnie: Age 5

✿

Angelica’s POV:

I stood there in the wet grass, holding Clark and David beside me while Lily had Bruce and her brother Kevin. Using his free hand, Kevin rubbed his eyes as a loud cry escaped his mouth.

“Big sister Ann, why mommy, daddy, papa, and mama laying there,” Clark asked while sucking his thumb. A bad habit that he continued since he was a baby.

“Shhhh, they are sleeping,” Bruce replied by putting his tiny finger to his lips.

I stood there; my grip tightened on both boys’ hands. The lump in my throat increases in size by the second, making it harder to breathe. As the breeze blows, I can feel my swelling eyes ache due to the constant rubbing. But it felt like nothing compared to the ferocious pain in my chest.

I didn’t answer Clark’s question. I merely stood there watching those strangers carrying all four of my family members into a hole.

If there is a God, I curse him for offering us such a beautiful day. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky; it was as blue as the ocean. The sun shone brilliantly, not too hot, just the right amount of heat. Leaves were colored an excellent shade of green, swaying as the wind blew gently.

How can God do this to us?

Granting us such a perfect day, when he knows we cannot enjoy it.

At least, if it was raining, I can relieve some of my sorrows. But no, God didn’t grant me that privilege. How cruel of him, wanting me to drown in my own tears.

Today is entirely different from that day. The horrific day that changed everything.

***

“I’m telling you all, one more time, to stop calling Lily and me. We are watching all four of the boys right now. You two, along with my other parents, better enjoy your vacations! Stop bombing our phones!” I lecture them.

Lily’s parents moved into the house right next to mine two months after we moved out of the apartment complex due to Lily’s constant whining about not wanting to walk a whole block to hang out with me.

In the past few years, Lily’s parents behave like my parents, so I call them mama and papa. The same goes for Lily, but she calls my parents mommy and daddy.

The confusing looks we received at the parent meeting were priceless.

Our parents are so close that there isn’t a fence between our houses; they tear that down. Daddy and Papa say it felt like they have a bigger backyard. Our parents even have keys to each other’s home.

They also build a small bridge between Lily’s room and mine. This time, it was my whining that made them do that. Lily hung out in my room so often that she took over seventy-five percent of my closet and half of my room. She said she doesn’t want to walk back to her room to grab the stuff she wants because it’s too far.

Oh, Lily.

“But pumpkin! This is your last summer before you and Lily start college. Are you sure you want to spend it taking care of the kids?” mommy screamed.

“Yeah, it’s not too late for us to do a U-turn,” Daddy yelled.

I rolled my eyes, “My parents, you are all at an airport. Go go! Enjoy! Byeeeeee. Lily! Boys! Say bye to our parents!” I screamed and turned on the speaker.

“Bye, mommy. Bye daddy. Bye, papa. Bye, mama,” they all say simultaneously.

A wave of awwww and cries was heard over the phone.

“What do you all say?” I asked the boys and Lily.

“We love (wuv) you,” they all say simultaneously again.

“I’m going homeeeee,” I can hear papa cry out.

“That’s a good idea! Me too!” daddy cried louder

“Uggggh, let’s go, Boys! Our flight is being called,” mama screamed.

“We love you all,” they screamed over the phone.

I turn off the speaker and put the phone back into my ear. “Pumpkin call-”

“Yes, mommy, I’ll call if there is any problem which there won’t be any. Enjoy your vacation with daddy.”

“Thanks, pumpkin. I love you.”

“Love you too, mommy.” I ended the call and sat down next to Lily on the couch.

“Our parents are so weird, aren’t they sista,” she said, putting an arm around me.

“Definitely sista,” I said, leaning on her shoulder.

The boys were laying on the together, body parts hanging all over each other, eyes fixated on the movie.

I didn’t know that night while building forts and playing games with my siblings; everything would change.

I placed the pillow on my head, ignoring the obnoxious ringing, “Arrrrg get it!” Lily groaned out and smacked my face with her hand.

I released a loud grunt and threw her hand away. Lifting Barry off my chest, I drag my legs toward the kitchen to grab the phone.

“Hello?” My throat was parched due to the massive amount of heat produced by five other people.

“Miss Angelica Chisai?” A strange deep voice asked.

“Yes?” I respond with a yawn.

“I’m sorry, but we have received some news regarding your parents. Mrs. Chisai and Mr. Timberland, along with Mr. Minnie and Mrs. Kellen. You are the primary emerg-”

My eyes blasted open as I continued listening to this stranger’s voice. With each word he says, my chest got tighter and tighter, unable to intake oxygen properly. I stood there, frozen, a million questions circled my mind but stuck in my throat, unable to utter a single word.

“What’s wrong, Ann?” Lily came up next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. My legs gave out, and I dropped down into cold hard tiles.

Looking into her green-hazel eyes, it was filled with concern. She dashed towards the cabinets and pulled out my inhaler. She opened the ziplock bag with trembling hands and took out my inhaler, shaking it then aid me.

“Ann. Ann. Breathe. Slowly. That’s good,” she whispers as she pets my head. I didn’t even realize I was having an asthma attack. Since I was five, I haven’t had an asthma attack, but mommy always kept my inhaler around just in case.

Lily grabs the phone that’s about to slip from my hand and continue listening to the rest. My head rests on her warm chest as I continue striving to breathe. I can hear her heartbeats increasing as each second passed.

“What?” That was the only word she was able to gasp out.

After the phone call, we started waking up all the boys.

“Where are we going, big sister Ann?” David asked as he rubs his tiring eyes. My trembling hands wrapped a coat around him and put on his socks.

Glancing at Lily, she was throwing blankets around the boys. Her hands refuse to listen to her, enabling her from putting on their coats, socks, and shoes correctly. I can see water forming in her eyes when a drop made its appearance. She turns away from the rest of the boys and quickly rubs it off.

Barry would look at me with his large brown eyes, waiting for my response, but I didn’t say anything. I only continue dressing the rest of the boys. I can see his mouth open, but he quickly closed it. Unlike usual, none of the boys were complaining about wanting to sleep longer. They silently let us dress them, listening to whatever Lily or I said.

Kids. Adults often believe they don’t know anything, but they couldn’t be more wrong. They know things, they can read the atmosphere. Sometimes, even better than adults.

Kevin helped me put on all three boys into the minivan, and he put on their seatbelts. He wanted to say something, but I can tell he is holding it back. They started holding each other’s hands for comfort. Glancing at Lily, the keys in her hand were clanking each other as she stared at the car wheel.

“I’ll drive,” I said, knowing her mind is unstable at the moment. I know my mind isn’t any better, but I couldn’t let her drive us. She looked at me and nodded, knowing she couldn’t do it.

While I drove us to the hospital, everything felt longer.

Water gently hit the car window, but it immediately turned into a harsh pour. A flashed of light strike inside the smoky grey sky, releasing a thunderous roar.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, the boys were cuddling together, releasing a low whimper. “Okay, back there, boys?” I attempt to sound as calm as possible despite the torturous pain hitting every fiber of my body.

“Y-Yes big sister Ann,” Kevin replied, trying his best to sound brave for his little brothers.

Staring at the red light in front of me, a thought crossed my mind: What if that light is broken? That’s why it isn’t turning green. Should I just run it?

I decided to opt-out of that choice.

Looking at Lily, she held her hands together tightly. Her knuckles turned white as her nails dug deep into her palms. Sometimes, she would stop clenching her hands together to run her fingers through her messy blonde hair, but she would resume her actions. The light music in the background couldn’t overpower the intense beating in my chest. I wanted to grab Lily’s hand, telling her that everything will be alright, but I couldn’t because I would be lying.

When we arrived at the hospital, mindlessly, I parked right in front of it and rushed everyone out. The security guard raised a brow, but he didn’t say anything and only looked at us with sympathetic eyes.

As we passed him, he stopped me. “Be strong,” he whispered.

I gave him a nod and ran after everyone. Reaching the ER, it was filled with numerous people. As I passed them, they looked at us, knowing exactly how we felt.

I held Clark and Bruce while Lily held Barry and Kevin. We ran around the hospital, pleading for help. Everyone was rushing around, bodies and wet red paint was everywhere. I can hear echoes of cries from every direction, swiftly merging.

“I’m sorry, but we have received some news regarding your parents. Ms. Chisai and Mr. Timberland, along with Mr. Minnie and Ms. Kellen. You are the primary emergency contact number for the four of them. I’m sorry to say that the plane they were in crashed. They are currently at -----”

The stranger’s voice continues repeating itself inside my mind over and over, again and again, haunting me. We continue dragging the boys around the hospital. Looking down, their cheeks were a deep shade of red, sweats forming on their forehead while their breathing was shaky, but they didn’t complain, not once. Glancing at Lily, I can tell she is trying her best not to fall on her knees and break into a loud cry.

The pain in my chest grew heavier with each step we took. I don’t even understand how my body can function, continually moving around. Eyes were searching for four particular faces. My ears could only hear beeping sounds. I know it’s inhumane of me, but each time I hear the beeeeeeeping sound, I pray to God that it isn’t my loved ones.

Beeeeep.

There is that sound again.

Beeeeep.

Another one.

Beeeeep.

That’s how it went the whole night, listening to that murderous flat line.

***

Once they patted the last scoop of dirt, we all kneeled onto the wet grass, silently staring at the stones in front of us.

Sarah Chisai

Mother - Sister - Friend

July 5, 1981 - October 3, 2019

“He shot once and got three gifts.”

Jordan Timberland

Father - Brother - Friend

November 8, 1979 - October 3, 2019

“I got a two for one deal, and it’s awesome.”

Steven Minnie

Father - Brother - Friend

December 18, 1977 - October 3, 2019

“I am not Mini, ask my wife.”

Kimmy Kellen

Mother - Sister - Friend

August 15, 1982 - October 3, 2019

“He is Mini.”

“They are so weird,” Lily said, breaking the heavy tension in the air.

I release a bitter chuckle, “Yes, but they are our weird parents.”

I can feel her warm hand on mine, and we intertwined our fingers. “We can do this,” Lily whispered.

“Yes, we can,” I said. I continue staring at the large rocks in front of me.

I realized I was an utter fool who thought I had faced reality. Reality isn’t so kind, no, it mercilessly shred hearts into pieces.

The proof?

It’s sitting in front of me, all four gravestones to prove it.

When I thought life couldn’t get any more vicious.

I met him again.

Because of him, I know why hell is the color red.