The 23rd of the day was about to come since Astrid received the letter, she never felt the man whose bothering her mind again thats why she was relieved.
She mentioned to her grandmother the letter Astrid received but she only nodded. She always telling her to get ready for that day.
What preparations will I make? I have no idea what is going on.
Astrid also often notice that her grandma is weak so she told her to see a doctor but she's just refusing it and saying that if it's her time she is ready. That's why Astrid get annoyed every time she force her to have a check-up but she totally refuses.
"Grandma, why don't you go for a check up? I want to make sure you're okay." She grumble. They sat in the living room and watched tv. Her grandma just shook her head and had no intention of agreeing to what Astrid said. From what she can see, her grandma seems to be just waiting for her time and just enjoying the rest of the days.
"Leigh, I'm old. Whatever we do, we will all end up in death. We can't avoid that. So let me go. I also want to rest and I know you are in good hands now." She explained but Astrid felt sorry for her because she was not ready to lose her.
She understand that her grandma is also tired but she do not want to be alone. Astrid don't have anyone with her anymore because her grandma doesn't mention anything and every time she ask a question, her grandma seems to avoid answering.
She sighed and finally gave up on what she wanted. She can't do anything because that's what her grandma wants.
"Okay. But dont leave me yet. Please." She said while her tears stream down on her face. Astrid approached her and hugged her tightly. Her grandma hugged her back and comforted her.
"I'll try Leigh. Don't forget my instructions to you." She let go of the hug and looked at her with a frown.
"Grandma! It's like you're saying goodbye. Don't say that." She just laughed at Astrid and entertained her.
Astrid suddenly thought of what her grandma said that she needed to go with 'him', that she needed to go back.
From what? From whom?
"Grandma, what do you mean by what you said before? That I need to come back and be with 'him'? Will anyone take me?" She was confused by her question. Her grandma smiled softly and looked at her seriously.
"Trust me Leigh. You'll be better. Come with him. He owns you and you belong there. You belong with him."
"Promise me Leigh." She continued. It took a minute before she nodded at her. Astrid never questioned her again because she knew she would never get the answer. She will just follow what she wants and let go of whatever happens. Because she believe that her grandmother will not harm her.
Astrid and her grandma haven't talked about the things that bothers her since the day she mentioned it. She just enjoyed her remaining days of her vacation.
They just stays at home because Astrid couldn't let her grandmother to go outside because her body was weak. Sometimes they were in the yard planting vegetables like they used to be.
"Let me take that." Leigh took the basket from her that is full of freshly picked vegetables. She put it in the kitchen and poured water into the glass to give her grandma a drink.
"Its so hot outside. The sun is too much to handle." She put her hat down on the table and drank the water Astrid gave to her.
She turned on the electric fan so that her grandmother will feel better. "I told you not to go out in the afternoon. Its not good for your health ." She strictly said.
She just ignored Astrid and took the hat on the table which she made a fan even though she was already have an electric fan.
Astrid just stared at her grandma as she leans her back in her chair and close her eyes. She is the only one with her with all her life. She don't know who her parents are because when she ask her grandma she always says that when Astrid was young they were already dead. She don't even have a picture of them, so Astrid have no idea what they look like.
She doesn't know if she have a sibling or other relatives because her grandmother never mentioned anything to her. And Astrid did not bother to ask any more questions because she is satisfied with her life now and she feels like her grandmother is avoiding it to talk about that matter.
Astrid hurriedly go in the kitchen when she heard a ring because of phone call. She went to it and immediately answered when she saw Keira is calling.
"Hello?"
"Leigh, come back here. I'm asking you to do your work." Keira complained to her. Astrid just laughed because she seemed desperate for her to get back to work.
"I have only been gone for a week. Sir V gave me a month." She laughed as she response to her. She heard her sigh and she also heard someone laughing in the background.
"I'll really smash you when you get back! You are stressing me, you witch!" Before Astrid could answer, Keira end the phone call. She just put her cellphone in her pocket and went back to her grandma to check on her for a moment then went straight to the bedroom to sleep for a while.
"Astrid."
She came closer to see the face of the man calling her. She use her both hands to blocked the front of her face as she was dazzled by the extra light that enveloped her.
"Who are you?" She reach for him but she can't touch him, he is so close but he's hard to reach. Astrid could not move, as if her feet were stock on the ground. She can only move her hands.
"In time you will know." Gradually the man in front of her disappeared. She dont know but Astrid want to reach him. Tears welled up in her eyes because of the longing she felt.
"Leigh.. Leigh!"
She opened her eyes because of the gentle shake of her grandma . She saw her grandmother worried and trying to calm her down. She wiped her tears that she did not even realize that ran through her face.
Its just a dream but it feels true. It is very much alive in her heart. Astrid looked at the window and saw that it was dark outside. She slept too much.
"I'm fine. I just had a dream. Let's go down and eat." Astrid assured her that she's fine so that her grandma doesn't have to worry anymore.
Astrid helped her to go down the stairs and prepared something for them to eat.
She don't even want to remember that dream anymore because she believes that dreams are not true. Fortunately, her grandmother did not bother to ask her so that she will not tell her. But Astrid was still worried about that dream.
The day had passed and the man calling her is always appearing in her dreams. She could not see his face, could not approach, and when she woke up there were tears in her eyes.
Astrid didn't let her grandmother to know about her strange actions every time she woke up with a puffy eyes. She know that her grandma notices it but she's just letting her but sometimes she entertains her.
I wonder why I dream of him? Does he need anything? Why do I cry every time I dreamt about him? It seems like our soul is connected to each other.
Astrid pulled herself together because of the annoyance she was feeling.
Out of billion people in the world, why me? Why did he choose to mess with me?
"Please! Give me a peace of mind!" She whispered irritated. Because her grandmother might hear her outside so she only pronounce it softly. The wind blow along with the paper that landed on the side of the bed where Astrid was sitting.
It looks like the first letter that also blowed by the wind. She picked it up and immediately looked out the window because she was expecting to see the person sending it to her but the trees are the only one she saw.
I've waited for years and it will end tomorrow. Im sorry for scaring you Astrid.
Just like before, it burned again and the wind blew its ashes. And just like before, she was so terrified of what she felt for that letter.
He's waiting for me. That's all I know.
Astrid looked at the calendar lying on a small table near her bed and noticed it was 23rd day tomorrow.
She can't be bothered because is thinking of her grandma condition. What will happen to her in case she lost? Her grandma wants her to come with him. She said that she belong to him, that he owns her.
How did he get to own me?
Astrid no longer know the time because of thinking about what might happen tomorrow. She was disturb when she heard a crash followed by a sound of a glass breaking.
She remembered her grandmother so Leigh immediately went down to go to her grandma's room. She reached for the broken glass with water and drugs scattered on the floor.
Astrid's eyes immediately searched for her grandmother and found her lying on the floor. She's shockingly approached her and laid her head on her thighs. It is weakening and obviously very difficult.
"Grandma hold on please. I'll take you to the hospital." She cried. Astrid held one of her hands and her tears continued to flow. She was terrified of what might happen and did not know what to do.
Her grandma reached for her face and wiped away her tears. She is very weak so Leigh really need to rush her to the hospital but she stopped her when she was ready to stand her up.
"Don't. I-I won't be able to reach in the hospital ." She struggles to talk. Astrid was hurt because of the reason was that even if she could save her life, she chose not to.
"Come with her Leigh. No matter what happens, never leave his world." She smiled as she looks behind her and nodded at it so that Astrid looked at it and saw a familiar man.
"Its time Astrid ." He held out his hand but she just shook her head . Astrid don't want to leave her grandmother. She felt mixed emotions. Mixed fear and pain because of what is happening now. She don't know how this man got into their house but Astrid just let it go because her grandmother was dying.
"I won't come with you. I will take my grandmother to the doctor!" She shouted and turned to her grandmother as she tried to stand up but Astrid could not do it because her whole body was shaking.
"My blood can heal anyone. Be with me and I will save her." He said bluntly. She don't have time to think anymore so Astrid agreed even though she was hesitant if what he said was true.
He wounded his finger with a piece of glass from a broken glass. He put it in her grandmother's mouth and let his blood drip on it.
They waited for five minutes but nothing happened yet so Astrid looked at the man whose now confuse while looking at her grandmother.
"I'm sorry but your grandmother doesn't want to accept my blood. Shes refusing it. I guess your grandmother decided not to fight." He said softly. She cried and cried because Astrid could do nothing. Her grandma wanted to be at peace and she had to accept that. Astrid just hugged her and kissed her forehead.
The man took my grandmother's hand and kissed it. "You are free now Precilla. Thank you for everything."
He stood up and bowed to her grandmother as her grandmother disappeared and was blown away by the wind.
I can't believe it, is grandma also one of them? Like the man in front of me now?
Astrid was weak and out of breath due to fatigue and crying. Gradually, her vision faded until she lost her consciousness.