My name is Fay Charlotte, usually called Fay. Two weeks ago I celebrated my 19th birthday at my father's funeral. Yes, my father who works as a container driver had an accident while struggling to pay for my treatment. My sister, Diana Charlotte, blamed me for my father's death. She said I should have died, not father.
From the age of ten, I suffered from Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), a cold-air allergy that required intensive treatment. Because of that disease, my life was limited, I couldn't attend formal school, nor could I move freely outside the house like humans in general. Just like my sister, I also blamed myself for my father's death. But I didn't want to just give up either, because my father had sacrificed his own life to see that I could live longer.
My father's death also forced my mother, sister and I to move from Canada to Jamaica. We will occupy a small house left by my father's family. Mother said she would grow coffee there to survive. My sister, Diana, balked at the decision. Diana did not want to drop out of college and leave Canada. But, mother had no other choice. Moving to Jamaica was the only option available.
And now, I too have arrived in a small village in Jamaica. The weather here is quite warm, ranging from 25-30 degrees Celsius. Mother hopes I can recover in this city.
"Diana! Please help mom lift these things!" mother asked Diana. But my sister didn't heed my mother's call. She immediately walked into the small house.
"Let me help you, Mom," I said offering to lift things from the truck into the house.
"No need, Fay! You just rest! You are still sick!"
"It's okay, Mother. I can do it." I also started to lift some boxes that were not too heavy, while Mother called a man who passed in front of our house.
"Hey, young man! May I ask a favor?" said the mother to the man wearing all black.
"How can I help?" replied the man. His voice sounded heavy, like the voice of a father, even though I saw his face was still young, maybe he was still the same age as me.
"Please help me lift things from this truck into the house. Later I will give you wages," said the mother.
The man nodded and began to carry out mother's orders.
Silently, I watched the man. His skin is white, his eyes are light brown, his body is thin and tall. He doesn't look like a real Jamaican. Maybe he is also an immigrant like me.
Crack...! Crack...!
Suddenly I heard something creak above my back. I turned my head and immediately screamed when I saw a pillar about to fall on me.
"Aaaaaa….!" I spontaneously squatted with my hands to cover my head.
Bruck!
After that thump, I was silent for a few seconds. It's weird, I don't feel anything hit my body. When I looked up, I saw the foreign man was holding the pillar with his back.
"Oh, God!" I flinched and immediately stood up. I helped push the pole that fell on the man's back.
"Are you okay?" I asked frantically.
The man just nodded his head, not looking in pain at all. Even though the milestone is big enough, it might even break my bones. I immediately stepped back when I noticed one more oddity. I remember very well, a few seconds before the incident he was lifting the cupboard in front of the door. Then why did he get behind me and save me like that?
"Fay! What was that sound?" Mother followed into the house.
"Oh, here, Mom!" I pointed at the fallen concrete pillar.
"Oh, God! Maybe because it has been left for a long time, the building collapses like this. Later the mother will call the builder to fix it. Are you all right, Fay?"
"I'm fine, ma'am. I was helped by this man." I pointed at the strange man, though I was still confused as to how he could possibly save me in such a manner.
"Thank you for saving my daughter. This is a reward for you as well as a token of gratitude from me." Mother gave some money to the man.
But he didn't accept it. "Can I just get a reward in the form of food?" he asked.
Mom and I looked at each other, both surprised.
"Of course. Yes," said Mother, handing him a few packets of bread.
After receiving the breads, he left my house. Because I was still curious, I went after him. "Hei! Wait!" I called him.
He turned.
"I'm Fay. What's your name?" I reached out.
"Oscar," he replied without shaking my hand.
After that he returned to continue his steps, towards the forest. He walked while eating the bread voraciously. The man looks very mysterious.
***
That night, the three of us had dinner by candlelight because the electricity in the house had not been repaired.
"Tomorrow I will call an electrician and a builder. Tonight we just rest," said Mother in the middle of the dinner.
"Do we still have any money saved, ma'am?" I asked Mother.
"Your father's pension is enough for our initial capital to live here. Next mother will garden coffee and vegetables. You guys take it easy, Mother will make sure we don't run out of food. From now on, Mother will take on the role of father to provide for the three of us."
I'm so sorry to see Mom. If I were healthy, I definitely wouldn't have left Mother working alone.
Diana got up first.
"Why isn't your food finished, Diana? Is mom's cooking bad?" Mother asked.
"I'm full," Diana replied. She immediately entered her room. I know Diana must still be mad at me.
After dinner, I slept with Mother. Mother hugged me so I wouldn't catch a cold, while it was drizzling outside.
About three hours later, I awoke to the sound of a wolf roaring. My hairs goosebumps when I hear that voice. The room was dark because the candles had run out. I rushed to wake my mother.
"Mom! Wake up, Mom!"
"What happend?" Mother asked.
"I heard a wolf's voice," I said.
"Wolf?" Mother looked surprised. "How could there be a wolf here. Maybe what you heard was the sound of a dog."
I was silent, maybe mother had a point. "But I'm so scared, Mom," I said.
"Do not be afraid. Mother is here. Wait a minute, I will light the candles first," said Mother.
Mother also lit a new candle that she deliberately placed on the edge of the bed. When the candle was lit, we saw the bedroom door opened.
"Did you forget to close the door?" Mother asked me.
"No, ma'am. I had closed the door before going to bed," I replied.
Mother stood up. Before closing the bedroom door, Mother first made sure the condition of the house. Not long after, my mother came back to see me with a panicked look on her face. "Fay! Diana is not in her room!" Mother said.
"What?" I spontaneously stood up and approached my mother. I checked the whole house again to look for Diana, but my sister was not at home, I don't know where she went.