Be Careful What You Wish For

I used to take life for granted. I never really thought it'd hurt this much to lose a loved one. Someone so precious to you. Drowning in the sea of sorrowful memories, I'm forced to watch the coffin of my grandmother descend into the ground. A crowd of people had gathered around. Family, friends and close relatives, to officially send her off. A tear seeps the cave of my eye. It had happened too suddenly. Too fast. Too soon. I inhale a sharp breath as a silent tear cascades down my eyes. The priest does a little prayer, hand moving in motion. And my body burns with the feeling of sadness all over again. Why did she have to leave? She promised she'd be here with me to celebrate my eighteenth birthday. Why did this is happen? The ceremony finally ends and I'm the last one to head home. I still can't process the reality that she's gone now. It only feels like yesterday when I had visited her in the hospital seeing her healthy and smiling. Little did I know that would be the last time I'd see her that way. Memories have been flashing in my mind nonstop, reminding me of the times I've spent with her. Later that night, exhausted, I enter the silence of my room. I skipped dinner again. Mom and dad are worried I might get sick if I keep this up. But it's not something I can help. It feels like only end up puking if I force myself to eat. The faint pitter patter of the rain does nothing to make me feel better like before. Rainy seasons used to be my favorite weather than anything else in the world. Obviously not anymore. Instead, it brings a heavier feeling in my chest. It doesn't feel the same anymore. Who knew the feeling of losing someone to precious to you could affect you like these? The bed doesn't look as comfy as it was a few days ago. And the atmosphere's just numbing, suffocating. It's like there's an invisible force that wants to pull me to the ground. It hurts. Growing up, I was the closest to my grandma. The two of us used to do everything together. She'd tell me stories about her youthful years. She thought me how to braid. She thought me how to clean up after myself. I was always with her since my parents were always busy. She practically raised me. But now that she's gone. It's hard. I sigh. There it is again. The heavy void in my heart affecting my whole being. Why did she have to die? Every ounce of my muscle's filled with lethargy, aching my body all over. The bed dips with my weight and I reach below my pillow, pulling out a little locket. A special gift was given by my grandma for my seventeenth birthday. Engraved beautifully in its golden surface is a lamp. Design intricate and modernly old fashioned. The object's as old as time, crafted by a noble's hand. Along with it came stories of despair, betrayal, and love. Before meeting grandfather, grandma had told me of those times when she had loved another man. Unfortunately, the rest of the story's hidden, now forever kept with her. I brush my thumb gently across the locket, feeling the texture and reminiscing those precious moments. Silence disappears as the pattern of the rain rises. Vigorous winds scrape the foundation outside, hurling the air. I close my eyes and bring the locket up to my lips. A trembling sigh escapes me, followed by the sound of my heart aching all over again. Grandmother wouldn't want to see me like this. She'd probably want me to be happy for her. Now that she's in a better place with grandfather. But I can't. I wish she was still alive. The item between my fingers suddenly glows, golden rays piercing through my clasped hands. It takes me a second to process the event and react. Flinching, I haul to item away from you and toss it to the ground. It lands on my carpeted floor just as something strange happens. Weird violet mists begin to form all over causing me to crawl into the corner of my bed out of shock. Particles of stars shoot to spark here and there, ashing my bedroom and scaring me. I blink my eyes furiously. What is happening? What am I seeing? My knees curl up to my chest as I dig deeper into the wall. Then amongst the clouded sea of violet slowly forms a figure with a body that's see through. A tight gasp gets stuck in my throat. And it's not until he turns around that I'm met with the most ethereal features I've ever seen possessed by a human. Except, he is not human. His body gains the firmness of skin now, making every aspect of his being clearly visible to light. A frown falls on his face, plump lips that were once shaped up in a huge smile now curved down with dejection. His hair's a heavenly shade of blue and silver, tattered and bushy to cascade down his forehead. His eyes, purple with the whole universe seen within. He moves those very same mesmerizing eyes around, examining the bedroom with a concentrated gaze. On my bed, the mini desk, closet before finding themselves back to me. Again, his frown intensifies. "You're not Mira." Silk. His voice sounds like silk, raspy, sending a shiver down my spine. Smooth yet laced with bitterness and disappointment. Not to mention, resentment. He said Mira. The mention of the name lures me back to reality. How? At this point, those mists from earlier have already dissipated, revealing the whole man's form standing in the middle of the room. The locket that had always been hard to c***k suddenly sits on the floor, opened. "W-who are you?" After grandma's death, I've been wallowing myself with nothing but tears. So my voice comes out as a soft, broken whisper. I was silent as a rabbit. And it's been a few days since I've finally said something. The figure stares at me, tightening his features in what appears to be anger. A hint of confusion can be seen there too, but it's nothing something to regard. "Where's Mira?" Again. A hammer to my chest. I grind my teeth together. "What do you want with my grandmother?" I watch him display something expected. Those purple eyes turn still from my words, like a deer caught in a head light. Suddenly I feel like throwing up. I'm getting dizzy spells again. I watch his mouth slowly open and then close like a fish out of water. He seems surprised. Then he takes a step back only to stumble upon the locket left abandoned on the ground. When he looks down, he clenches his jaw. Grandmother's locket. It's like a certain spark within me had light up. I spring from my bed like never before, rushing to pick up the item before he can even touch it. Now that it's safe between my fingers, I retreat a couple of steps back. His eyes never leave mine, watching me the same way a predator watches their prey. I could let myself get influenced under his stare and fear like a vulnerable person, but not today. "I-I don't know who you are but y-you have to leave." My voice comes out hoarse, broken but terrified. "Why do you have that?" Ignoring me, he says. "That doesn't belong to you. Give it back to the owner." The owner? A string in my heart gets plucked and I hold back a broken laugh. I'm anything but amused. As a matter of fact, I can feel my eyes starting to sting. This person's- or whatever he is - is only adding more salt to the wound. He's telling me to return the locket t its original owner? The original owner gave it to me. But even if I wanted to give it back, I can't. "Leave." His purple eyes travels, targeting the locket gripped tightly between my fist. And with a stern face, he clenches his fists until they've turned a bright snow white. "Return it first. Then I'll leave." Head pounding, I take another step back. Stars are brimming around me but I shake them away. I feel dizzy. Light headed. "I can't. Just leave." He doesn't. Simply taking a step forward. "That locket. Return it to Mira right now." Mira. And that's when I've had enough. How dare he keep mentioning her name? My vision's fuzzy as I glare at his figure, charging towards him so that I can personally kick him out. He doesn't budge even when my intention's clear as crystal. Suddenly there's no feeling on my feet and my senses begin to deteriorate. My fingers reach for him but they pass through like a ghost passing through walls. I lose balance, feeling the weight of exhaustion finally kicking in. My bedroom starts spinning. But just as I'm about to hit the ground, warm hands find themselves around me in the nick of time saving me from a fall. The last thing I'm able to see before passing out, are those pretty purple eyes staring down at me with worry.