Hidden, Forbidden

THE BEGINNING ✨

~LISA~

Waking up to silence might make you happy when you wake up everyday to the sound of your name. But when this silence is caused by absence and not just the decision of your loving parents to scream your name at the top of their lungs, well, not much happiness right there. It’s that day. The day I never imagined I’ll see. Putting both my parents 6 feet below on the same day.

I woke up to a gloomy weather, but I’m not complaining because it fits my mood and I don’t think the sun should shine on a day like this. Tossing and turning all through the nights and finally getting some sleep, I check my bedside clock and realize I slept for only 2 hours. Great! It’s about to be a really shitty day.

Getting out of bed, I go straight to the restroom. I stare at myself in the mirror imagining what life is about to be like. Even with my father and mother, we were barely surviving. Now, life threw so many responsibilities at me in seconds. Feeling the tears roll down, I quickly wipe my face reminding myself I need to be strong for Emel. Emel is just 8, how will she go on without the love of a father and mother? How will I step up with Valentine, my older brother and Damien, my twin? How will we handle the care of an 8 year old along with all other responsibilities? I’m just 17 and not even out of high school. Realizing I’m back to the same thoughts that kept me up at night, I try to snap back to reality. Well, I guess we’ll handle each day as it comes.

I finish my business in the bathroom and step out to get dressed. Emel is still sleeping and I stare at her with pity wondering a what the future holds.

I put on a simple black dress with black sandals. Looking at myself in the mirror, the outfit definitely fits the occasion. I see Emel waking hope through the mirror and quickly go to her side.

“Hi peanut”

“Good morning Lisa” she said, still running her eyes.

“Slept well?”

“Yeah, mmmggh” she mumbled some words and I just giggled knowing she isn’t fully awake.

Emel could sleep through a war.

“Okay peanut, let’s get you ready. We have so much to do today”

“Are we sending daddy and mummy to the sky today?”

“Yes love”

Emel was quite smart for her age and understood what was going on quite easily. It was difficult telling her she’ll never get to see both parents ever again, but we made it simpler by saying they have gone to save a safe space for us.

“Lisa! Lisa!”

Well, so much for a quiet morning.

“Yes Val, you know you don’t have to scream so loud when your room is just next door” I said to him as he opened our room door.

“You know you are quite deaf Lisa” he said giving a light smile. You could still see the pain in his eyes and how hard he has trying to hold it all in and stay strong. “Well can you get Emel ready real quick, we are going to be late”

“Yeah, sure.” I respond as I hold Emel’s hands and take her to get ready.

30 minutes later and we are all dressed and ready to leave but no sign of Damien in sight.

“Lisa, where’s your other half?” Val asked.

“I guess he is still getting ready, I’ll go check”

Quickly going back into the house I check his room but he is not there. I go to the next place that comes to mind, my parent’s room and well, I guessed right.

Damien was standing with our family portrait in his hands and tears rolling down his face.

“Damien” he lifts his head to look at me

“We need to leave now” he responds with a slight nod. I head back out giving him few seconds alone because I know he really needed it.

“Ready?” Val asked

“Yeah, he’ll be out in a minute” and just then, Damien walks out, gives a peck to Emel and goes into the taxi without saying a word.

Val gives me an understanding look and I respond with a light smile.

“Come on peanut, let’s go” I say and get Emel into the car. It was a silent ride till we got to the place we were about to lay our parents. They were so in love and really stuck to each other. And now, even in death, they are together. Might sound cliche, but that’s some strong love.

My parents dying same day may give the impression they died together, but they didn’t.

My mom died in a road accident on her way back from one of her jobs. She works as a house keeper. And my dad fell from a building at the construction sight he works.

Well, I guess their souls were bound together.