Chapter Two(2):
1128 Words
Some memories do not go away with time. They just wait for the moment to come back.
Ariana did not sleep.
The old Polaroid picture on her bedside table kept getting her attention every time she closed her eyes.
At 3:17 in the morning she gave up trying to sleep.
She picked up the picture again.
The little girl in the picture was smiling at the camera. It was Ariana.
There was no doubt about it.
The little boy standing next to her had his face ripped away and only his small hand was left, holding hers tightly.
Ariana touched the edge of the picture with her thumb.
Who would destroy a childs face? Leave hers alone?
She turned the picture over.
It said "I'll find you Sunshine" on the back.
The nickname made Ariana feel a pain in her chest.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
There was no answer, silence.
* Ariana was determined so she went to the hallway cabinet where her mother kept family photo albums.
* If this picture was real there had to be pictures like it.
She took out the album. Turned the first page.
There was nothing.
She turned the page. There was still nothing.
Then halfway through the album she found a page where a picture was missing.
Only a faint rectangular outline was left.
Someone had not just torn a face from a picture; they had removed the memory.
Arianas heart was beating fast.
She heard a floorboard creak behind her.
The floorboard creaked again.
Ariana turned around. Her mother was standing in the doorway still wearing her night robe.
For a moment they did not say anything.
Then her mother looked at the picture in Arianas hand.
Her mothers face turned white.
"Where did you get that?" she whispered.
Ariana frowned.
"You have seen it before " Ariana said.
It was not a question.
Her mother looked away quickly.
"No " she said.
"You hesitated " Ariana said.
"I said no " her mother replied.
Ariana walked closer to her mother holding up the Polaroid picture.
"Then explain why someone tore the boys face away " Ariana said.
There was silence.
"Why is another picture missing from the album?" Ariana asked.
Her mothers lips opened.
She did not say anything.
Instead she reached for the picture.
"Give it to me " she said.
Ariana stepped back.
"No " she said.
"Please " her mother said.
It was the time Ariana had ever heard her mother beg.
Tears were in her mothers eyes.
"Some memories are hidden to protect the people we love " her mother said.
Arianas heart felt heavy.
"Protect me from what?" she asked.
Her mother closed her eyes.
Before she could answer the doorbell rang.
Once twice and then a third time.
It was 4:02 in the morning.
No one should have been outside at that time.
Her mother whispered, "Do not open the door."
The doorbell stopped ringing.
There was silence.
Ariana looked at her mother nervously.
"I will see who it is " Ariana said.
Her mother grabbed her wrist.
"No please do not " she said.
Before Ariana could reply a calm voice came from outside.
"Delivery for Miss Ariana Hayes " the voice said.
Both women froze.
"Delivery?" Ariana said.
"I did not order anything."
Neither had her mother.
After a time Ariana unlocked the door. Kept the safety chain on.
No one was standing outside.
There was a brown package on the welcome mat.
She picked it up slowly.
There was no senders name on the package.
One sentence was written on it: "Some promises last when memories do not."
Arianas heart was beating fast.
She took the package inside. Carefully untied the ribbon.
Inside she found a charm bracelet.
One small sun-shaped charm was hanging from it.
Her mother gasped.
"No " she said.
Ariana looked up at her mother.
"You know this bracelet?" Ariana asked.
Her mothers eyes were filled with tears.
"I buried it with your father " she said.
She took a step back.
"I buried it with your father " she said again.
Arianas eyebrows came together.
"Mom what are you talking about?" Ariana asked.
Her mother reached for the bracelet with trembling fingers.
"The day we buried your father you would not let go of this bracelet. I put it in his coffin when you were not looking."
Arianas mind went blank.
"Then how is it here?" Ariana asked.
Her mothers voice cracked.
"I do not know " she said.
There was silence between them.
Ariana looked at the sun-shaped charm.
On the inside something caught the light.
It was engraved letters that said "S & D".
"What does this mean?" Ariana asked.
Her mother took the bracelet from Arianas hand.
"You have to stop asking questions " she said.
"Why?" Ariana asked.
"Because the truth will destroy your life " her mother said.
Ariana took a step back.
"No " she said.
Her voice was steadier than she felt.
"I have spent years letting people decide what I should know " Ariana said.
She looked into her mothers tear-filled eyes.
"Not anymore " Ariana said.
At that moment her phone vibrated.
A message from a number appeared.
It said "Ask your mother what happened on July 18 seventeen years ago."
Ariana slowly looked up at her mother.
Her mother had already turned pale.
The room was silent.
Ariana looked from her phone to her mothers face.
"Mom " Ariana said.
Her voice was above a whisper.
"What happened on July 18?" Ariana asked.
Her mother did not answer.
Instead she burst into tears.
"I tried hard to protect you " she said.
Arianas heart felt tight.
"Protect me from who?" Ariana asked.
Before her mother could speak there was a knock at the door.
Three slow knocks echoed through the apartment.
Both women froze.
Her mother looked toward the door and horror spread across her face.
"No " she whispered.
"He is here " she said.
Ariana frowned.
"Who?" Ariana asked.
Her mother grabbed her arm.
"Promise me one thing " she said.
"What?" Ariana asked.
"No matter what happens do not let him know you remember anything " her mother said.
There was another knock at the door this time louder.
Ariana slowly walked toward the door.
She looked through the peephole.
A man in a tailored suit was standing outside holding a small white lily in one hand.
He looked up as though he knew Ariana was watching.
Then for the time Ariana saw his face.
It was the eyes and the same calm expression as the man, from the rooftop.
He spoke softly through the door.
"Hello Sunshine " he said.
Arianas breath caught.
Her fingers slipped from the doorknob.
- Writer
