I throw my clutch on my dresser and do the same on the bed. I'm exhausted from the night. Stress keeps creeping up to the surface, the image of her face keeps stirring mud pools in my mind.
The whole evening had gone by perfectly until Kevin had come up to me and told me he had seen a young lady who he suspected to be my daughter. I had brushed him off, but before I had taken a single step away from him, I was met by a moving bomb.
Red hair, blue eyes, a stunning height. I had no way to prove it was her but if my gut feeling was enough, then she is her.
I get off the bed,I need to remove the make-up on my face. Some of it is already smeared on the bed. I didn't put in enough effort into it today, I even skipped applying setting spray.
I sit before my dresser, when I look into the mirror, my chest tightens, I almost lose my breath. My eyes are the exact same color as the ones that had looked back at me at the party. My hair is the exact same shade as hers, a color only unique to the ladies of my family. It's been like this for ages, everyone who was related to the craft had like hair.
I hope I won't lose my mind over this.
I dab cleansing water over my face to get rid of what remains of my makeup.
I head to bed, exhausted from a long night but I can't find sleep. The insomnia from all this pressure has finally caught up with me. I decide to continue with my sister's thought box, partly to pass time and I also still need to find out how I ended up with Lynn.
The voice booms out, sending an unsettling feeling in my gut. I'm still not used to the whole thing.
"We named her Himala, which means miracle. She was my pride and joy even though she'd achieved nothing yet. She was a happy baby, had a loving mom and a dad who never wanted to hear her cry. He couldn't stand it, he insisted on keeping her crib beside our bed just so he could be there to tend to her every need."
"The 5 months we had her were beautiful, I can't begin to explain it to you. She brought a new air with her into the family. Something that complemented us."
"You need to hear this." Her laugh rings all around me, still the same as it were all those years ago. I felt goosebumps creep up my arms. I really need to get myself together.
"So, I was doing laundry outside and Triek had gone out for some work. I had left our miracle lying, asleep, in her crib. I decided to check up on her after some time, and I witnessed the most surprising and mesmerizing thing ever. It's one of the memories I will always cherish as a mother."
"She was floating over her crib."
I clasp my hand to my mouth in disbelief, no, no,no. Lynn can't be one of us. She can't be a witch.
"Yes, you guessed that right. She is one of us, a witch. I was so over the moon. It felt like the universe was giving me my family back. A witch addition to the family was a welcome change."
"She must have sensed my presence because as soon as she was in full view, she landed back on her blanket. I'm guessing it's a protective feature, she can't practice when people are watching."
OmG, it keeps getting harder on me. I force air in and out of my lungs because breathing has just gotten difficult. I never thought along the lines of Lynn being one of us neither did I even suspect it.
I kick at my bed sheets, why didn't my stupid mind join the dots when I found out about her birth mother. I missed such an obvious case, Lynn's birth mother is a witch, so should she.
Why is this happening now, why not 10 or 15 years ago. I should be careful around Lynn. Firstly because I don't know what she is capable of and– if she hasn't found out– so that she won't ever do. I've built my house away from people and thoroughly scrutinized my acquaintances to avoid any contact with a witch only to adopt and live with one under one roof.
My life that has been making sense is probably going to get ripped away from me to be replaced with one I'm not well acquainted with.
All the while I'm lost in my head, the box pauses. I'm only realizing it now. I wonder how she did it. She has surprised me enough I'm sure nothing more can really surprise me.
I reach for my side dresser and retrieve anti- depressants.
The pressure is really catching up with me. A stress headache erupts around my head threatening to rip my head into symmetrical halves. It feels like a tight hat has been put on my head.
I still need to find out how we ended up in the same place for Lynn to end up in my custody. I ignore the headache and continue with Kira's thoughts.
"One fine morning Triek surprised us with tickets to Luna park. The excitement was almost tangible, especially for my little miracle, being her first time going outside the house."
"We drove into the city in our Toyota Camry. Triek telling stories about his adventures in plantations. Lynn was securely strapped in her booster seat."
"It was still early in the morning so the traffic wasn't heavy. We were cruising at a reasonable speed chit chatting. A sudden bang on Triek's side sends us rolling until the car lands on it's top."
I'm heartbroken, torn, grieved. Too many emotions are running through me, I can't move. Tears stream down my cheeks. These are going to my sister, her dotting husband and her daughter, who is now mine.
I wonder if it was just an accident or it's something close to what brought me to that same place, in that same situation that day.
I can't go on anymore. I don't want to hear any more of it. I feel like screaming, if it weren't for Lynn sleeping downstairs, I would have. Why would fate play such a dirty trick on me.
Getting rid of one witch to have her replaced with another. I don't know how I'm going to survive this.
I manage to slowly put the box away and force myself to sleep. Maybe this nightmare will be over by the time i wake up tomorrow. The morning light will have to bring along with it my old life back.
I think I manage to fall asleep because I have a red haired child with me. She holds my hand and we go running through a field of yellow orchids. She tells me that they are her favorite, that's why she brought me here. We run for miles, when I'm almost out of breath she screeches to a stop.
When I look up, I realize that she has led me to the day that changed my life, 18 years 5 months ago.
I scream awake, and find myself in my bed, drenched in my own sweat. An excruciating pain spears through my head. The headache from last night is still persisting. A sign that my life is continuing from where I left it yesterday.
Lynn budges into my room, statling me out of my head. "Mom, are you alright." She asks, concern written all over her face.
I stare blankly at her without replying. I'm wondering if the way she treats me will change if she finds out I'm not her birth mother. I'm trying to find signs, anything that may prove that she is one of the witches community.
Her hair color has never changed like mine did and her mom's. Maybe I'm just worrying for no reason. She has been standing there allowing me to peruse her, confusion and panic replacing the concern.
I clear my throat, trying to gather my scattered thoughts and before I can reply, her hand flies to my forehead and she gasps. "Get dressed we need to take you to the hospital." She commands, panic evident in her voice. She has panicked to a point of forgetting that she can simply call in a doctor.
I move my hand to my forehead and I'm as equally surprised. I'm running a fever, and it's running really high. "Cream pie, get my phone and call Dr. Mia." I say,calmly, trying to remind her of the privilege we have. I also don't want to worry her.
"Let me take a quick shower." I say, moving out of bed trying to assure her that I'm not dying– atleast not yet. She opens her mouth to protest but keeps it in. "Prepare a small bowl of fresh fruit salad for me please." I say, with a smile on.
The doctor comes in during my first bite of the salad. She has been my doctor for the longest time and she knows some things other doctors don't.
Her diagnosis after the tests and check up shocks me.
"You have witches fever."