Part Seven
1036 Words
Eva's POV
Shocked. That was the only way to describe how I felt fight now. It couldn't be true. I must have heard wrong. This was all surreal.
My hands seemed to go limp as I dropped my phone and it felt to the floor.
"Hello", the voice was still heard, "Is anyone there?"
Quince looked at me and then picked up the phone which had fell and spoke to whoever was on the other end. I couldn't hear anything after that. Everything went blank.
Memories from when I had been told that my mom passed came back to me. I was so shocked and overwhelmed with emotions I didn't know what to do in the moment, just like right now.
Then I remembered when Nancy had lost her first child. I remember I was the exact same way, shocked. Paralyzed even. But I didn't cry. I kept it in because I didn't want anyone to see me as weak. I wanted to appear strong. But I wasn't. I even blamed myself for it, even if was not my fault.
Now I lost more than anything else, I lost my dad and the woman who raised me like I was her own daughter. I lost my parents. The people who were there for me every step of the way. The people who loved me unconditionally. Did the universe like taking people away from me? Did I not deserve to have a family?
How was I even going to tell Azzy? She never liked to admit that my dad and Nancy were her parents, but she knew they were. She was going to be crushed. The mere thought of it had a lump forming in my throat and my breathing going shallow.
I turned to Quince to see he was already looking at me with a sympathetic look in his eyes. Who ever had called must have told him.
"Eva..."
"I should go get my little sister", I cut him of and began walking towards the door but he walked in front of me, blocking me of completely.
He cupped my cheeks and raised my face so that I had no other option but to look into his eyes. His gaze was so honest and sincere that I couldn't help the tears pooling in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall.
Without much warning he released my cheeks and pulled me in for a tight hug. I was a little shocked that I couldn't react until I finally realized what he was doing. I didn't push him away. I hugged him back and I couldn't help it anymore. A few stray tears fell and rolled down my cheeks.
Quince pulled away and wiped the tears away from my cheeks with the pad of his thumb. Gang leader or business man, he was caring at the moment. It was the first time I had cried in front of anyone and he seemed to understand.
"We are going to get your sister", he told me and I willing gave in. I didn't want to break the news to Azzy on my own. It would hurt me more than it would hurt her.
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One hour later, we were back at the house after picking Azzy up. Quince stayed with us and I was more than glad because we hadn't yet told Azzy.
Currently, we were in the living room with hot chocolate in our hands. Azzy and Quince were seated together and chatting while I was just thinking back to all the good times we had as a family, while starring mindlessly at my full mug of hot chocolate. I was to upset to eat or drink anything.
"Eva", Azzy called and I looked up to see she was looking at me questioningly, "Why did you bring me home early?"
My voice got caught in my throat as I starred back at her honey colored eyes she'd adopted from dad. I bit down on my bottom lip as I averted my gaze to Quince. He sent me a look that said 'I've got this' before looking back at the five year old. Thank goodness he was here. He was a stranger, but he was a huge help.
"Princess", Quince pulled Azzy onto his lap so that she was facing him, "You love your parents right?"
Azzy seemed to be contemplating before she nodded here little head. Oh god, this was going to sting her so hard. She loved Nancy and dad, even if she never admitted it.
"Well, they love you too. More than anything else. And they love Eva to", Quince tilted his head to look at me before continuing, "But they never got to say it, because they are no more".
Quince explained it so carefully to Azzy, I wasn't sure I could have done that.
"No more?", Azzy's voice came out softer than usual, "You mean they died?"
I watched as Azzy turned to me for conformation and I nodded my head weakly. I watched as her honey colored eyes filled with tears and they rolled down her cheeks before she started sobbing.
Quince grabbed her in for a hug, just like he'd done for me, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. The site was so sweet yet so sad. I couldn't bare to see my little sister like this. I ran to them and hugged her as well.
Azzy continued to cry and sob her little heart out for a few minutes more before she fell asleep on Quince. I led him up to her room where he placed her on her bed and I cleaned her tear stained face with a damp towel.
After I'd done that, we headed back down to the living room where we just sat in silence.
"What do you plan to do now?" Quince asked me.
"About what?" I enquired back.
"About Azzy", he explained.
I thought for a few minutes. Giving her up was not an option, I wouldn't let social services take her from me.
I would prove myself fit to be her guardian if I had to. Then an idea appeared. Dad and Nancy would have wanted this.
"I'm going to adopt her".
- Writer
