"It is time to wake up!"
In the morning, Irena's shout echoed the house. Awaking the girl in her room. As usual, Veda sat up on bed instantly, only to suffer from migraine. "Ugh.." a groan escaped between her lips. She was already at the age of sixteen yet she always panic over her mother's shout.
Yep. Time flied too fast. Ten years had passed since the day her father, Luke passed away. Her mother who had heart disease was still alive. Irena fed herself and her daughter by opening a small restaurant. She truly worked alone by herself to look after her dear daughter.
Now, there were waiters and workers in the restaurant even. Customers walked in and out always because of the fair price and food. Even Irena could rest at her home peacefully and collect money every month. Everything was fine now. There was no more problems.
Veda furrowed her brows in pain. Pressing her temples as she squeezed her eyes in agony. "Wake up, Veda! Today is an important day!" again, Irena yelled. "I am up already, mom!!" as a response, the girl shouted back so her mother would not yell repeatedly.
She got out of the bed promptly to commence the morning routine. However, migraine was murdering her. Making her quietly leaned on the wall before stepping into the bathroom. The headache was not gone yet. The reason why she had to cease herself from working up.
As usual,
after a few minutes, the migraine disappeared. Vanishing pretty quick. It caused the girl to let out a sigh in relief at last. She thought it would not go away. Turned out she was concerning over nothing every morning. Veda quickly finished her morning routine.
And she went to the dining room hurriedly. "Good morning, mom" With a smile tugged at her lips, she greeted the woman who was already sitting at the table. "Good morning, sweetheart" Irena flashed a grin back at the girl who had grown up into teenager.
Her daughter had a pretty face like a celebrity now. Not an adorable kid who had puppy eyes anymore. She gave aura of mystery. Her gaze had turned into an alluring one. The soft and shoulder length brown colored hair was a match like heaven with grey colored hazel eyes.
The pretty long legs of hers could enter the world of models. Irena somehow wondered who the real parents of this girl were so that she looked this beautiful. "Have you revised for the exam, darling?" Irena asked. Earning a nod back from the girl who sat down.
Today was the last day of the test. The day, Veda would be leaving school life after examination. "Did you sleep well though? You look exhausted. Don't tell me you were studying all night" in curiosity, Irena asked. Brows pulling together in hope for the girl to deny.
However,
Veda sheepishly beamed only as a response. It was the moment, the woman's face dropped in disappointment. "I told you not to stay up late till morning, Veda. Even though the exam is important, you need to rest well and get enough sleep" Irena lectured.
Revealing her displeasement through words and expression. "I am sorry, mom. I really had to pull an all night" Veda disclosed. Frowning to show off how she did not mean to bug her mother. It made the woman let out a sigh in the end. "Don't stay up late again"
Due to her worry and affection, Irena alerted. "Yes! I will listen to my dear mother!" thrillingly, the girl shouted. Causing the woman to chuckle in amusement. They two continued the breakfast in tranquility. "I should go now, mom" Veda stated after checking the time.
Jumping up from the seat and seizing the bag from the chair. "Oh sure!" The woman promptly got up as soon as her daughter stood up. Stepping near to the girl with smile on her face. "Good luck, sweetheart" Irena smiled. Embracing the girl tightly. "I love you" they whispered.
The lovely moments appeared as if it would last forever. But of course, everything fell apart that day. All of them were ruined. That evening after the exam, Veda returned back to home in delight. She could not wait anymore to inform back to her mother about her luck in test.
She passed the exam clearly.
However, as Veda stepped into the house with a grin tugged at her lips, the darkness was the first thing she encountered instead of the woman with a grin. The whole house was in deep silence which was kinda off. Not to mention how no light was on even though it was dark outside.
The place appeared as if the girl just walked into the haunted house. Even Veda had to question herself to make sure she did not step into the wrong house. "Mom.." with brows pulled together, the girl voiced and headed forward. Turning the switch on to lighten the house.
Still, no response came up. The house might be brightened up with lights on but the tranquility was loud enough for the girl to be confused. Did her mother go to the restaurant because some matters occurred? Then why was the house door unlocked openly?
"Ah fuck.." out of fury, Veda murmured. Dropping the bag from her grasp promptly as she ran into the room of her mother. As she anticipated, there the woman was. Laying down on the floor lifelessly. "MOM!!" a shout echoed the whole house. Veda quickly knelt down.
Testing her mother to check if she was breathing still or not. But, no breath brushed against the girl's finger. The woman's body was soulless for real. "Fuck fuck fuck" the girl began to panic. This could not be true. This must be a dream. Tears started forming in Veda's eyes.
Tears began to roll down on cheeks.
Pulling her mother between her arms in disbelief. "Please don't play with me, mom. This is not a good prank you know" along with a smile, the girl voiced. Firmly hugging her mother's body. Yet, no response came up. Making the girl pressed her lips tightly in sorrow.
"Mom, I have so many things to speak still. Please reply to me" Veda begged. Gritting her teeth as she caressed the cheeks of the woman. Irena's eyes were shut completely. Her body was light. Lips were white. She was lifeless. She left. She was gone unannounced.
"Mom! Wake up! Your daughter is back!" Veda shouted in the end. Wrapping her arms around her mother tightly. No.. No.. No.. No.. This was not happening for real. She was dreaming. Right. She was just afraid that her mother might leave her and probably dreamt about it.
This was not reality. No matter how much the girl convinced herself to believe this was not occuring for real, the soulless body of the woman broke her. Making Veda sobbed out loud in pain. "Mom... please don't leave me like this. Please.. I can't live on my own"
In a whisper, Veda disclosed. Pleading her mother to come back to life. But of course, this was not feasible. "I am sorry. Just please embrace me one more time. Please kiss me one more time. Please show me your smile one more time. Just.. just one more time"
With a harsh voice, Veda begged.
Lips trembling as tears did not stop. She wanted to feel the warmth of her mother for the last time. "Mom.." the girl whined. Knowing so damn well that Irena was not coming back. But she kept calling for the woman to return. She hated this situation. She disliked this.
Even though, Veda already was aware of the fact that Irena would be passing away one day, she did not expect that one day to be today. She required more days, years to be that one day. Why did it have to be today? Couldn't she celebrate her success with her mother?
Why did the world have to be this cruel? All she wanted was just more days, months and years to spend with her mother. Not money, not to be immortal. It was just a much more time. But the universe did not fulfill her desire. It crushed her wish entirely. The world was heartless.
Veda could not even find energy to yell out loud. She was tired already since she had been studying for hours last night. Now, this sorrowful situation happened. The girl clenched her jaw in exasperation. This world was literally testing her. Making her wanted to end her life.
The girl placed Irena on the bed. Then she grabbed the knife from the table. Ready to slit her neck. However, her hand ceased from proceeding. How could she break the promise she vowed to her mother? She avowed to never end her life easily. She had to be strong.
Even her mother showed her to stand on own after her husband's death, how could she end her life simply because of the toughness? "Ugh! Fuck you all! How dare you take everything away from me?! I fucking hate you all!" in the end, Veda yelled out loud her feelings.
Crying out loud all night,
till she passed out.