AUNTY DONNA POV
After the doctor checked her condition, he told my niece to stay in the hospital for several days.
I visit her regularly after my shift is over. Thankfully, Iliya's boss has also given them some days off for her recuperation. Some of her colleagues also visit her and chatted a while. I am glad.
At least, after a couple of years of her misfortunes, she finally could have a normal life. A bit.
Looking at her always reminds me of my older sister, Isha, who passed away ten years ago. Her appearance, gesture, and attitude are pretty similar. They are also the firstborn in our family.
As the firstborn, there is a common fact in our history that they would inherit some special abilities from our ancestors. Indigo traits. My grandparents have told us this story but at that time, I thought that it just bullshit. A bluffing fantasy tale from old people. As for me, personally, things like angels, demons, and ghosts never exist. All I care about is just having fun with our friends, playing video games, doing school kinds of stuff, and many more. But supernatural things have never been my cup of tea. Or so I thought, until that day when I proved myself so wrong.
Isha and I were very close. We're like a sisterhood goal for everyone else. We share everything. Our secrets, friends, hobbies, and many more. If there is one difference between us, it would be our fashion preferences. Isha is more mature and fashionable. She doesn't have lots of clothes but she was able to mix and match them perfectly. I, on the opposite, am more ignorant and laid-back. T-shirt and jeans are the best pair of mines that I often wore during my youth. I also never use any makeup on my bare face. I don't even know how to do a makeover when I got to my first prom. Isha was the one who helped me and teach me everything that I need to know as a grown-up girl. I feel so lucky for having her as my sister.
But things changed when she hit seventeen. She started to act weird and lock herself up in her room. She started to eat less than her regular meal. And most of the time, she would look around and feel scared which I don't know why. I started to get worried about her wellbeing. Her face turned pale so many times. She often stared at something that I couldn't see and was horrified afterward. Afterward, her hands turned as cold as ice. She became so distant.
So different from the Isha that I knew before. My parents were also confused about her changing behavior. In the end, we decided to talk about this problem with our grandparents.
On that day, after we discussed the awkwardness that my sister having right now, they decided to move temporarily to our house and spent more time with her. Ever since their arrival, for the next couple of days, Isha started changing back into her old self. To my lovely and wonderful sister that I have known before. Her rejuvenating smiles are gradually coming back and we get along as we used to. The only difference was that she became more careful and attentive to her whereabouts. At first, I thought it was fine until one day, she told me something. A fact which utterly shocked me.
"Donna…. Do you remember Erica? The one who brought us an apple pie at Thanksgiving to our house last year?"
I was chewing gum at that time while reading my favorite e-book on kindle.
"Yes?" I replied to her shortly without looking back at her, staying focused on the reading.
"She died ten minutes ago…"
"Oh, yeah? Why?" I keep answering lazily. Well… this is a joke, right? Because I have just called her half an hour ago and she was perfectly fine. She's at a flower shop and was buying a bouquet to celebrate her mother's birthday today as a surprise.
"She got hit accidentally by a car that took her last breath on her way to the hospital..."
"So, how do you know this stuff?" I asked her back in disbelief.
"Because she is standing behind you right now, Donna..."
"WHAT THE F**K!!!!"
I jolted up and cursed spontaneously. Frantically looked around with a horrified expression but I couldn't see anyone. However, Isha is different. She smiled at a space where I was sitting before and said:
"Thank you for trusting me with your message, Erica. I will surely pass it to your family…"
Since that day, I know that my day would never be the same.
..................…..
I look around when we were attending Erica's funeral. As my sister's saying, after she called me, she got hit accidentally by a car while she was crossing the street to buy a bouquet for her mom. It was a hit-and-run case. The cops are still doing their investigation in this matter and trying their best to find the culprit.
We were there with different circumstances while I was still struggling as I grieve greatly for losing her, Isha looked like she is ready for all this. She was talking and persuaded Erica's family members to let go, soothing their painful heartache. Telling them about the last message that Erica has told her before. Howling and whimpers filled the room. Sadness is flown out as well as our tears. I feel helpless and numb. I can't do anything except letting my tears burst out and stared hollowly at one of my best friend's white coffins in front of me.
The next day, during the burial, we stood there and salute our last farewell while her coffin was lowered underground. I still feel the pain stung my heart greatly. Choking my breath in grief, when I felt a handhold my shoulder from aside. Strengthen me.
"Don't worry, Donna. She's fine now. And she said thank you. Thank you for being her best friend before she's gone…"
I couldn't stand it anymore and howl painfully in her embrace. That day, I knew that what my grandparents told us a long time ago is true.
"The firstborn child in our family is particularly unique. At some point in their life, their power will awake. A supranatural ability. An inheritance from our ancestors. And it would pass to the next generation until it reached the last descendant. The seventh-generation…"
Isha is the sixth generation. And Iliya… she is the last firstborn in our family. The last one. Even though she would never share her little secrets with me, I knew that her supernatural abilities have awakened much far earlier than I thought before.
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ILIYA NARA POV
I went home several days after I got hospitalized. Aunt Donna paid the bill, helped me out to pack up, and drove me home. She was unusually very calm and quiet on our way home. I didn't say anything either because I don't want her to worry about my circumstance more than this.
Once we arrived, she told me to get rest while she is preparing dinner for us. I nodded my head obediently and did exactly what she told me to do. I lied down on my bed and fell asleep shortly.
When I woke up, I can smell my favorite meal. A smell of roasted minced beef mixed with cheese. I know she made my favorite dish. Lasagna. I went downstairs hurriedly and sprinted into the dining room. On the table, there was a freshly baked homemade lasagna inside an aluminum plate.
"Aunty Donna..."
I called her name and searched for her whereabouts when I finally found her snoring lightly on the couch while the television is on. I sighed and turned it off. Then, I observed her face closely. I still can see her youthful beauty aside from her small wrinkles here and there. Her rugged palm because she often works harder than she could, to take care of me. A lone tear falls from my eyes and I wiped it out immediately. I could see a dark mist seeped out from her body. I know what it is. It's her tiredness. Her misery. Her sorrow. Slowly, I raised my palm and direct it upwards.
Soon, the mist dissipated and gradually gone in mid-air. I put the same hand and strokes her head gently. A golden aura radiated from my hand and entered her body. A weak smile curved on her face and I know I have made her feel better. I kissed her forehead softly.
"Nighty night, my dear aunty. Have a nice dream. I love you to the moon and back…"
.........................
A hundred meters from the house…
A man dressed in black watched the whole scene and chuckled.
"Interesting…"
"A Touch of Miracles. Healing the inner pain and soothe the heartache to those in need…"
"Iliya Nara, you never fail to surprise me every day. What else can you do? What else do you have, girl?"
"Who are you exactly?"
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