Forlot: A Girl Who Needs Her Space - Book Thirty-Two

Chapter Twelve

I could not understand what he meant when he said that I was in the past - until he explained it all to me. Now I understood, and it made total sense. I did not care if it sounded crazy. I did not care if my grandma and my grandpa were off their rockers. Okay, maybe I cared a little. But I was just relieved that somebody here finally answered all my questions.

When Grandpa finished explaining, he asked, "So do you have any more questions? 'Cause your grandma and I will be more than happy to answer them."

I shook my head and pushed up my glasses. "Nope. I think that you answered all my future questions too. Is that not something?"

"That is something, seeing that we are discussing the topic of time travel."

"But time travel explains why my family and I are in our hometown. Why we are still in this rotten house, and why I am still attending my old school." I sighed. "I really wish that Karma was here."

"'Karma'?" Grandma repeated my friend's name. She sat up straight. "Who in the world is Karma?"

"Karma is my friend. My best friend."

"Is this friend of yours a guy or a girl?"

"A girl."

"Oh, thank goodness. I was going to say that you are too young to have a boyfriend."

"I am a teenager, Grandma. And I am mature."

She giggled. "Well, you were not a teen this year, and since that you are in the past, I stand corrected."

"I may be in the past, but I am still the same age and still have the same looks...right?"

"Until you return to the present time, you will never be the same..." She paused. "...especially if you make the mistake of running into you."

"Running into me? What does that mean?"

"Your grandma means that if you run into yourself - your past self - time can and will alter the present in a way that you will not want," Grandpa said, shaking his finger at me. "Your grandma and I know that you arrived to this time period by accident, but we do not want you to come here ever again."

"Is it because my past self is here?"

"Exactly."

I tapped my chin. "What if I am a baby?"

"I am sure that is okay...but it is not worth the risk," Grandma said. "It is best that you stay away from the time period in which you exist."

I massaged the back of my neck and grunted.

"You feeling alright, sweetie?"

"Yeah. It is just that my neck has been killing me. As a matter of fact, all the muscles in my body have just been killing me lately."

"Has your mother taken you to your doctor?"

"No, she has not, but I brought it to her attention the day that you both passed."

Grandpa chuckled and gently elbowed Grandma.

My face twisted in confusion. "What is so funny?"

"I know how you can get rid of those muscle pains of yours," he said. "You should use the music box."

I blinked a few times. "You mean the music box that you guys gave me?"

They nodded.

"The music box used to be mine," Grandma said with a smile. She clasped her hands in her lap and sighed. "I could have used my music box to save me and my husband...but I knew that it was our time to go."

I looked at the wristwatch that used to belong to my grandpa, and then back at them. "Is your music box magical like this watch?"

"You mean your music box, Carmen. And yes. It is as magical as your watch."

"What can the music box do?"

She and my grandpa gave each other a grin, and then glanced back up at me.

Grandpa took my hand into his and patted the top of it. "You are a smart girl. You will figure it out. But we will gladly give you a hint if you would like."

"Yes, please. I would love a hint. But do not make it a riddle. I am terrible at riddles."

"So am I, Carmen. So am I."

Grandma straightened out her black hair and cleared her throat. "If you want something, then you have to play the game. If you do not, then you must leave all of it as it should be. But do not allow it to control you or your insides."

I fiddled with my fingers. "Uh...was that it?"

Grandma nodded. "Would you like me to repeat it?"

"No, no. It is okay. I got it all...I think."

I am oblivious as to what she was talking about. I do not think that I will be using the music box any time soon.

Grandpa released my hand. "As much as we want for you to stay longer so that we can catch up...you need to get going, Carmen. I am positive that your mother and brothers are wondering where the heck you are."

I let out a whoosh of air through my nose. "Grandpa, you are right about my mother...but not about my six brothers."

Grandma clicked her tongue. "I do not understand. I really do not understand why she decided to have six brothers. Carmen, I can only imagine how it is being the only girl in a house of boys. Besides your mom."

"Grandma? Grandpa?"

"Yes, honey?" they said in unison.

"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to reside in a house without any siblings. It would only be my mom and aunt and my best friend. Oh, and my dad. My biological father."

"Sweetheart," Grandpa said. "You should be blessed that your biological father wants nothing to do with you or your mom."

I gasped. "How can you say such a thing?"

"I understand how much you want him to be in your life...but he abused your mom and older brothers."