LOOKING TROUGH YOUR EYES

CHAPTER 12

It was Sunday and it was Paul's turn, he’d prepared a special day for her princess. First he’d take her for ice cream, they’d go to the amusement park, he knew how much Sheryl enjoyed the roller coaster, and finally he’d take her to Deyner's restaurant, he had already talked to him about having a beautiful feast ready for her. Then he’d have to take her home, since she also had to spend time with her mother and friends. That morning was almost magical, Sheryl didn't stop smiling for a second. When it was time to say goodbye, she hugged her dad very tightly and said:

-          Thank you very much for this morning, this day has been the best of my life ... thank you for reminding me how happy we used to be a few years ago. Really ... it's the best birthday I've ever had!

Paul was moved to tears, returned the hug and said in a very soft voice:

-          I love you too, princess. Remember that I’ll always be there for you whenever you need me, whatever happens I’ll be by your side, until the day you leave this world, you can always come to me for whatever you need - he separated a little from her to look into her eyes and, very seriously, he said - I'm going to miss you a lot, now go and get ready quickly, your friends will arrive at any moment.

Sheryl nodded, gave him one last hug, and ran upstairs to her room to get ready.

-          I want you to give this to her before she goes to sleep - Paul said to Lindsey – it’s the last gift I’ll give her. DO NOT OPEN IT UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT. If she goes to bed earlier, you give it to her tomorrow.

Lindsey took the box that Paul gave her, watched it intrigued for a few seconds and when she looked up to say goodbye, he was gone. It was something strange, so long ago that her life had returned to normal that she no longer wanted bad things to happen again. She decided to ignore the strangeness of what had just happened. She put the box away and closed the door, continued arranging the snacks, sodas and the music that they’d play at her little girl's party.

Sheryl was ready immediately, wearing a little blue dress, white balerinas, and a cyan bow in her hair that held her curls in a half ponytail.

-          You look beautiful! - Lindsey said with a smile

-          Thank you. I hope everything goes well ...

-          Why do you say that? Is there something that worries you?

-          No, it's not that ... it's just that ... well, I really loved spending the morning with dad. But ... did you notice? When he was saying goodbye, it felt a bit strange ...

-          Mmm…. You're right. By the way, I see that you have the bracelet, but ... where is the necklace?

-          It's just ... I don't want anyone to interrupt anything ... - she said somewhat nervous

-          My girl, you know that you should never take it off. Also, the necklace will highlight your beautiful face. And if you don't want anything weird to happen, I think it's better if you put it on...

-          Okay - said the girl resigned. She went up immediately to look for it

As she put on the necklace, she murmured “please, today has been a very nice day, help me to continue enjoying it. It's my birthday, at least today try to leave us alone" she heard the sad singing of a bird in a nearby tree. "I'll do what you want" - said a voice almost crying. Sheryl felt bad, it was not her intention to hurt someone who always cared and protected her, but she didn’t want to miss a new opportunity for something nice to happen between her and Jair. She’d dreamed so much of the day when they’d finally become more than just friends, she hoped that that day he’d dare to ask her out. "I'm sorry" she said very softly and quickly left her room without waiting for any response.

Her friends hadn't arrived yet, she’d called them after 7 and it was only 5, but she was already too excited to keep waiting. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, it was Emma and Jair. He wore a white T-shirt, a gray jacket and a blue jean ... but more importantly, he carried a red rose in his right hand, a box in the other and a smile that made shine his face.

-          good afternoon – they greeted

-          Hi. Come in, please. No one has arrived yet, but Sheryl will be here in a moment. Have a seat - said Lindsey

-          No, no ... we came earlier to see if we could help with something. By the way, here’s the cake I promised you. Where can I put it? - Emma asked

-          Wow. Thank you very much ... put it on that table, please ... Mike was going to pick it up, I'll call him to come back. Mmm… strange, Sheryl should have come downstairs by now. Can you call her please? - she asked Jair

-          sure! - Said the boy with a smile on his lips

-          Here I am - Sheryl said as she went down the stairs - sorry for the delay

Jair was surprised, like every time he saw her. There was always some detail that made her look more beautiful every day

-          happy Birthday! - He said while hugging her - you look beautiful

-          Thank you - she said, blushing

Jair handed her the box and said:

-          This is your gift, I hope you like it ...

They went to the sofa and Sheryl unwrapped the ribbon gently. It was a box full of photos and beautiful phrases.

-          I couldn’t find a photo for every beautiful moment we spent together, but I used the few that we took… I know it's not much, but ...

Sheryl interrupted him to give him a big hug.

-          I love it - she said smiling - can we read them now?

-          If you like…

They began to read note by note, from the first day they met. A thousand memories came to their little hearts, it seemed that only yesterday they had met in that water park. They enjoyed that moment together so much that it was soon over, the rest of her friends started arriving, it was already 7:30. But Sheryl no longer wanted a party, she had everything she could have asked for: she was by Jair's side, and he was enough to make her happy.

Sheryl kept the box in her bedroom, but the rose that Jair brought was forgotten on the sofa. Fortunately, Emma noticed, picked it up and put it away. The children came and filled the birthday girl with gifts and hugs, danced and had a lot of fun. They stayed until almost 11 at night. By midnight, everyone was gone except Jair.

When at last they were alone, he began desperately to look for the rose, he couldn’t see it anywhere.

-          Jair! - Emma called him surreptitiously - are you looking for this? - She said while taking the rose out of her wallet

-          thanks! - Jair said and hugged her

She walked shakily to Sheryl, who was saying goodbye to her friends, the last one left the party. He tapped her on the shoulder and, as soon as she turned, he knelt in front of her. Sheryl couldn't believe it, she’d dreamed of that moment so much, she felt like if she’d fade at any moment, she was so excited.

-          would you like to date me? - Jair asked with a trembling voice

Sheryl was so excited that her eyes filled with tears, she couldn't gesticulate a word, but she hugged him very tightly and nodded. She couldn't believe that Jair had made such a cute gesture, it seemed like they were in a fairy tale, she never imagined that her story with that stranger from the park would end in something so cute. And it was just beginning, she had many plans and goals, he also had countless things that he wanted them to do together ...

Their mothers were observing everything, they didn’t say anything, but they were very happy to see their children so happy. Everyone was happy, except ... Emma, she remembered with melancholy the day that Anthony proposed to her, it was in summer, a night at the beach. Her eyes filled with tears, Jair hugged her immediately and said:

-          Don't cry mommy, the right man for you will come some day

She wiped away her tears and, smiling, sent him to play with Sheryl. They stayed until almost 1 in the morning. When it was time to leave, the Walkers politely said goodbye, thanked for the good time, and left. Mike also left. Sheryl thanked her mom for such a beautiful day and went to bed. When she was just about to fall asleep, her mother came into the room.

-          Sheryl, there’s something I forgot to give you - she said showing her the box that Paul had left - this was left by your dad, he said it was the last gift he wanted to give you

They both sat on the bed and opened it, it was a silver ring. It had a rose and a skull as decorations. It was dark, both were thoughtful ... did it mean something? Had Melany forced him to give her that? Either way, they were too tired to keep asking questions.

-          Well ... you'll ask your dad why a skull when you see him. If you want, we can even call him tomorrow. Now it's time to sleep - said Lindsey and gave her a good night kiss

The next day, they overslept, the day before had been very beautiful, full of emotions and good news, but they’d ended up exhausted. When Lindsey looked at her watch, it was already 8:30.

-          Sheryl! - She screamed desperately - get up, you should be at school by now

They both immediately got ready and almost flew out of the house. Lindsey dropped her daughter off at school and rushed to work. When she got to the office, she saw that Mike was gone. "Sure he overslept too" she thought. But her colleagues soon made her aware of what had happened.

-          boss wanted you to go to close the advertising contract with the pot brand, but since you weren't here, Mike offered to cover you for today - they commented

She thanked them and returned to her car, she didn't know whether to go home or call Mike, she didn’t want to interrupt him in the middle of the negotiation. She texted him to call her as soon as he was free and headed home. When she arrived, she realized that there were missed calls on the landline, they were from the police, she had a bad feeling. She listened to the messages, it was what she feared so much: Paul had been found dead on the road, his skin torn by wild "beasts" and had left a letter for her. They asked her to go that same. She was cold with fear ... she thought that Melany would never hurt him, after so long, she’d have gotten a little used to living with him, maybe she’d have learned to love him ... or so she wanted to think. But what worried her most was that she didn't know how she’d break the news to Sheryl. Only yesterday had she had so much fun with her dad ... and now that her daughter had decided on Jair, she feared that Ethan would no longer protect them, like the boy's father. Millions of things crossed her mind, she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to go to the morgue alone, but she remembered that Mike had said it was better if the rest of them didn't know. She paced around her room, waiting for hours to pass, but after a moment she decided that she had to stay calm and be strong so that the worst part didn’t fall on her little girl. She took the car keys decisively and headed to the morgue, keeping in mind that she should know as little as possible. Like Emma, she collected the belongings, but didn’t open the letter, returned home early and put it on her nightstand. At that moment, someone knocked on the door. She didn't want to open it, she was afraid of meeting Melany. But they insisted again. She took the broomstick and went to open the door.

-          Hello, are you ok? - Mike asked surprised - were you expecting someone?

-          No, sorry. Please come in ... it's just ... they called me from the morgue - Lindsey said sighing

Mike knew what had happened, he knew that sooner or later Melany would get bored of Paul and get rid of him.

-          Wow ... it was Paul right? - He said with empathy - but ... what did you do with the letter? - he said worried

-          Did you know it? I just kept it on my nightstand….

-          Well ... I supposed it - he said before heading to the letter.

They rushed to hide it because it was time to pick up Sheryl from school. When they went for her, they found her trembling with fear, at the door. Jair was hugging her, but she couldn't stop shaking, she had tears in her eyes and she looked terrified.

-          what happened? - Lindsey asked worried

-          It's just that ... I saw Melany again, this time she almost caught me - Sheryl said scared

They waited a moment for her to calm down and then she told them what had happened. Since her dad had given her the skull ring, she’d been wearing it since morning, but when she was in class, she felt a bit dizzy. She asked the teacher to go to the bathroom to rinse her face. When she was washing her hands, she saw something started coming out of the ring, it was black smoke and it smelled of sulfur. She got so scared she couldn't even scream, she wanted to touch the necklace to call Ethan, but the smoke quickly settled around the sunflower on the necklace. She heard her dad's voice calling her from behind, but she didn't dare turn around, she looked in the mirror and it was what she feared so much, the woman in the red dress was right behind her. She grabbed her by the shoulders and began to wrap her arms around her, they were thin as pins and had a pale, almost grayish color; the skin that covered them had the appearance of sandpaper. Her hands ended in sharp and b****y claws, it looked like living blood. At that moment, she heard Jair calling her, steeled herself and ran out of the bathroom. She immediately met him, hugged him, and began to cry.

-          How did you know that Sheryl was in the bathroom? - Asked Lindsey

-          It's just that ... a bee began to circle around my head, it made me look away from the window and it was written “danger. She’s in the bathroom". Immediately, I asked the teacher and went looking for Sheryl

-          But, there’s something I don’t understand, it was Ethan the one who wrote that on the glass, right? Why didn't he intervene as he always used to?

-          He couldn't - said Mike, including himself in the conversation - where's the ring? - He asked Sheryl.

-          I got it - said Jair, pulling it out of his backpack. He’d wrapped it with the sheets of his notebook.

-          Good. Don’t touch it! - Mike said and took it off abruptly, before allowing him to take it out of the sheets - sorry, but you must not touch it. We don't know what it is for sure.

By this time, Emma had already arrived.

-          Jair, I've been waiting for you. What are you doing here? - She said something hasty

They greeted her and told her what had happened.

-          Why couldn't Ethan do something, as usual? - Emma asked

-          You’ll soon understand it. Sorry, but you better know as little as possible.

Each one returned home. Along the way, Lindsey told her daughter that Paul had passed away. She was shocked by the news and began to cry, she couldn't stop, she hadn't even said goodbye to him. She regretted wasting so much time angry at him because of Melany ...

-          But I heard that he called me, in the bathroom ...

-          I don't know if it was him, but you better don’t trust anything. okay? We don't know what Melany could have done to him ... after all, remember that it was your dad who gave you the ring, I don't think he did it with bad intentions, but Melany may have forced him and ...

-          By the way, where is my ring? - She said desperately - Mike took it! Can we go get it?

-          No, now you have to do your homework. I'll ask him at work tomorrow

Sheryl wanted to protest, but she didn't have the strength, she was devastated by the news. She leaned back in the seat and began to play in the foggy window, she drew a rose and a skull, like on her ring, and suddenly, she saw two eyes superimposed on the skull, she got scared. They arrived home and Sheryl locked herself in her room to do her homework. As soon as she finished, she fell asleep. Lindsey wanted to talk to her, but she said she was fine, she was just sleepy. The next day, she got up early and was ready right away. She ate breakfast without saying a word and was quiet all the way to school. When they arrived, Lindsey asked her:

-          Are you sure you don't want to talk?

-          Yes, mom, everything is fine - she said as she got out of the car - see you in the afternoon, bye - she waved and ran to the entrance of the school

Lindsey was concerned, but she had to get to work early. When she got to the office, she told Mike what had happened, she also asked if he could return the ring, but he said it was better if Sheryl didn’t have it around, especially after her strange behavior.