Ella sat in silence still gripping the pendant. She felt like crying but no tears came out and at the same time she couldn't even say a word as if her voice disappeared. She opened her fist to see the marks of the pendent now printed on her hand. She put the pendent on the table next to her then got out the album to the first page. The ripped pages stared at her in the face.
In her eyes, she could practically see the painful expression her mother made when she ripped the pages out. In the pages that followed Ella never wore the pendant.
Four years ago, injection, brother. Her mind was filled with these thoughts of the brother she had never met. She didn't even know his name. Only one person came to mind no matter how hard she tried to deny it. Just then Otto came into the room quietly. The air around them was heavy.
"Hey, so I guess they left," Otto said trying to act like usual, scratching the back of his neck. Ella didn't answer, she still had her eyes burning the pages in front of her. "It seems like you're trying to drill holes into that book."Otto joked trying to liven the mood. She still didn't respond. "So I guess some -" He began to talk again but Ella interrupted him.
"Hey, Otto." She began.
"Oh, just interrupt me then." He said a little surprised.
"You know, ever since we've met you've been really comfortable around me like we've known each other for ages." She said making Otto flinch.
"Well, I am pretty good with strangers." He said looking away.
"Is that all?" She asked then looked back at him. "You never told me your real name." She said, her eyes piercing his face. He stared back at her a little more timidly.
"What do you mean? I told you my name is Otto." He said with a smile.
"That's not it, is it." She said. "When I asked you what your name was before you said I could call you that 'for now'. That tells me your hiding your real name." She said sharply.
"Woah, Ella. Where is this coming from? Did your cousin say something weird to you?" He asked.
"Fine let's say Otto is your real name," Ella said ignoring his questions. "Tell me about your last name." She said. Otto went back to the wall.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He said hiding his nervousness with anger.
"I think you do," Ella said with a stern gaze.
"Ella, you need to chill out. I'll come back when you've calmed down and actually start making sense." He said then disappeared into the wall. Ella took a deep breath, her eyes brimming with tears. Just then she heard a knock on the door. In came Dr Acula.
"Hello, Ella. How have you been lately?" He asked and Ella immediately wiped off the tears that threatened to flow.
"Hi, doc. I've been better." Ella said with a smile.
"Well, I have big news. I called your mother so she should be here in a few minutes." He said with a smile.
"Don't tell me you have the results already, it's barely been a day," Ella said a little astounded.
"What can I say, I work quick." He said with confidence. "By the way, what's that?" He asked pointing at her pendant. Ella looked at it and gave a painful smile.
"It was a gift..." Those were the only words that escaped her lips.