That Night

Who I am

Thinking back now, it's like it's been forever since that night but, at the same time, I still feel like I'm being brought back the moment I think about it so I force myself to just forget. I know, it might be too selfish of me knowing that it was my family but can you blame me? They're gone. There is nothing I can do about it but, I can avenge them. Just now, I've realized that it's been a while since I allowed myself to remember what happened five years ago. No matter how hard I try, I find myself going back. Thankfully, my adoptive parents are here with me. If it weren't for them, I still might've been closed off and away from the world, from reality, fading away at the foster home. 

Ever since they adopted me, Robert and Claire have been good to me. I could tell right away that they did really want to have children. Too bad Claire couldn’t conceive. It was heartbreaking. They have been patient with me until I opened up to them. I did, eventually. For them, they saw me as a blessing while I saw myself as a burden but of course, who am I to deny their desire of raising a kid and calling her their own? I couldn't hurt them like that, especially after everything they've done for me. They were an established couple. They provided me a roof over my head, my own room, and everything else that they thought I needed. They gave me a family, something that I didn't think I'd want again for fear of having to lose them but, I couldn't resist. I was safe with them. For that, I had to at least try. For them. I owe them that much. Definitely, I can say that I've changed immensely for the better because of them. That night haunted me for the most of my stay at the foster home. However, after Robert and Claire took me in, I don't know why but, for some reason, everything else became more bearable. They became my strength just as I became theirs. Maybe the nun had been right after all. They needed me and I needed them.

Of course, I still had to remember that once upon a time, my name hasn't always been Aaliyah Stein. From the day I was born until that time I was living at the foster home, my name was Aaliyah Marie Simmons. There's not much to say about me as a girl. Growing up, all I remember was that I was really happy and satisfied. I was raised well. I got along with my siblings and my parents were really good people. I kept thinking that maybe it was all just a misunderstanding. It was a sad tragedy. That's it. Nothing more to be said. But why is it that I keep asking myself if there was more to it? What if there was some underlying cause that made my family a target?

I can't think about that now, though. I have to get to class apparently.

Right now, I was in my room, gathering my things and shoving them in my bag. Safe to say, I was feeling okay at this point in my life. I am 19 and in college. I have parents who take care of me. I have friends. I even had the chance to be active in extracurricular activities by being a member of the student council as a representative and acting as a tour guide for new and exchanged students. This time, life was being good to me. For now. Sad to say, I still can’t take away that notion in me that something bad might happen at any time. What the hell, one step at a time, right?

"Ali! Breakfast is ready! Hurry up and eat or you'll be late." I hear Claire calling for me. At first, I called her and Robert by their names but after a year or so, I got to call them "mom" and "dad", much to their excitement. They even thanked me for it. They were just really happy, I guess.

I check if I have everything and look at the full length mirror, giving myself a once-over.

I mean, I guess I turned out okay. I had my late mom's long brown wavy hair and my late dad's olive eyes. My skin was medium in color and I guess I fell in between when it came to my height. Not too short, not too tall. Just right. It definitely didn't hurt that I almost matched my physical traits with my adoptive parents, though. Helps with people asking too many questions. Fashion sense? I guess I get by with that too. It came with being a student council rep and tour guide around the university. Had to dress to impress, apparently. And that's exactly what I had to do today.

Wearing some fitted jeans, black boots, and a button down topped with a form fitting sweater? That's as formal as I'm ever gonna get. I grabbed my bag and went out of my room to go down the stairs to see my mom and dad sat at the table already eating.

"Morning." I greeted.

“Morning, sweetheart.” Dad greeted back.

“Hey, honey. Did you sleep okay?” Mom asked.

I rolled her eyes at her teasingly.

“Yeah, Mom. I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. That was just one time.” I assured her.

I sat down and thought back to why she gets so worried about my sleeping. It’s because I had a serious nightmare some 4 years ago. I didn’t remember much but, when I woke up, I was in the emergency room. When I asked what happened, they told me I had a nightmare and they couldn’t wake me up. According to them, I did wake up but only for a moment, mumbling some words they couldn’t understand before I fainted completely. The doctor said I might’ve had parasomnia or something. Since then, Mom never stopped asking me every morning if I slept okay. She did say she was a worrier ever since Dad got into a major accident while working on the field, years before I came into the picture. Dad is a renowned detective in town, which only made sense as to why he almost always had to be present everywhere. But, as he always says, he doesn’t ever have to worry since he had Mom by his side. I guess it was convenient that Mom was one of the most sought after doctors at the hospital she works in.

My train of thought was interrupted. That’s when I realized that Dad was calling my name while I looked like an i***t staring blankly in space, playing around with my food. I looked at him.

“Yeah? What was that?” I asked.

“You alright? You seemed lost for a second there.” he uttered, looking at me with concern.

I smiled at him.

“I’m fine. Just thought about that night that you guys told me about. Could you please try harder to convince Mom that I’m okay?” I playfully pleaded with my Dad while glancing teasingly at Mom.

“Oh, hush. I don’t even want to remember that. You really gave us a scare that time.” she reminded.

“I know but, it literally happened just one time, Mom. Nothing like that ever happened again, right? So stop worrying. It’s not gonna do you any good.” I told her gently.

“Ali’s growing up, hon. She can take care of herself. Let’s try to go easy on her.” Dad softly requested of Mom, smiling understandingly at me.

I smiled at him back.

“Oh, I know. I just can’t help it. I just love you. You know that, right?” she reached across the table and laid her hand on top of mine.

I chuckled softly.  

“Of course, I do. I just don’t want you getting worked up all the time. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” I assured her.

She looked at me softly.

“I know, sweetheart. Your father and I are just really grateful that you’re here with us.”

“I’m the one who should be grateful.” I mumbled, looking down for a moment before looking back at her.

She squeezed my hand lightly before letting go.  

“Eat up and drive safely, okay?” she told me.

“I will.” I nodded.

Just after finishing our breakfast, Dad spoke up and moved from his chair.

“Well, this is me. I gotta get going. Sadly, those reports are not going to finish themselves.” he chuckled.

“I have to go, too. There’s actually a new student coming today and the council needs me to be at the university a bit earlier.” I explained.

“Oh. I’m sure that student’s going to be in good hands, then.” Mom praised.

I laughed lightly.

“Well, I don’t know about that but, thanks.”

“You two can go on ahead. I don’t need to be at the hospital for another hour so, I’ll just clear up in here. Go. Shoo!” she urged us playfully.

Dad gave her a kiss goodbye and I gave her a hug. Dad and I walked out the door and went to our cars.

“See you later, Dad.” I smiled.

In return, he put his hand to his lips, pecking it before drawing his hand out to me. He went inside the car and I did the same.

Right there and then, we drove off.

I was driving to the university and it got me wondering about the new student coming in. I thought it was kind of odd that a student came in during sophomore year in college. I’m even surprised that the university accepted those kinds of transfers. I’m not complaining though. My day’s gonna be different for a change and I'll happily welcome it. 

Little did I know that that change wasn’t going to last for just a day.

It seemed like it was going to last for a while.