Mori

Chapter 1

My parents call me Mim but my name is Mori. They named me after their belief— memento mori which means "remember you have to die" it's a quote from St. Paul of France. They started to believe in that quote when my grandfather died because of leprosy. He was seventy years old at that time, they believe that people must die and that's the very end of the tragic life that we are living. I am now an 18-year-old woman and my mom— Monaliza Hanson is currently the queen of the United Kingdom.

The weather's cloudy with a little bit of rain on the ground it's muddy. the smell is very moist and it looks like the place is very pale. My relatives are crying and dressed all in black. They were giving flowers to my father for he also died because of leprosy and pestilence. I feel no emotion and I remember my father used to tell me the meaning of my name every night and I guess that's why I don't feel any emotion right now. Going back to our house with my mother's dusty old car. Her driver asked me with a complete hesitation, "W-why did you not cry at all, Miss Mori?"

"Why should I cry, pal?"

He was very shocked to hear my answer, and he responded, "Uhm sorry ma'am I shouldn't ask that, pardon me"

I saw him peeking at me in the mirror of the car with terror. As we got home, I tried to clean my room and saw my mom crying at my father's photo in her office. I decided not to do anything for it is all right to mourn people's death and when I finished cleaning, I took a quick shower. Whilst I'm combing my hair, I walked to my mother's room to have a conversation.

I can say that she's the strictest person I've ever met but I still love her, I remember the time when my teacher reported me to my mother that I'm always sleeping in the class and without a doubt, she shouted at me in front of my classmates. I felt very ashamed that time but I choose not to get angry or feel embarrassed and I thought to myself that I guess she does expect a lot from me for I am the only child that she chooses to be born. She did an abortion on my brother when I was 9 years old. She was very open to me, and she did explain to me why she wanted to have an abortion, "I don't want to be a parent of two children, Mim. I rather abort this child than be a bad one to him. To be completely honest, I am more guilty to you who are alive than to this baby in my womb" she said. I was very shocked that time and cried with her. 

When I went to my mom's office she asked me to make a tea for her and whilst I'm making tea she suddenly asked, "I saw you earlier to your dad's burial. You did not cry why is that? Mim", with utter curiosity.

"Do I have to mourn my father's death? is it a requirement, mum?"

she takes the tea from the table and took a sip then said, "You're a brilliant young lady. Do you still remember what your father's used to tell you every night?"

"Memento Mori. of course, mum", I nodded my head a few times

"Well, that's more important my dear than to mourn to your father. You're a very strong and intelligent woman", she said

"No, I'm not", with a slight smile

After that, I decided to go back to my room and read some books to make me sleepy and I didn't notice that I have already fallen asleep. When it's already morning I run to my bathroom and wash my face after that I went to our kitchen to make some breakfast with my mum. Speaking of which my mum is sitting at the dining table and said,

"Why do you seem very active today, Mim?"

"Uh, I just want to make some breakfast for you and me, mum"

but in the back of my mind, I just want to adjust our situation and to move on from my dad's, for he is the one who always prepares our breakfast. I don't think that my mum will ever be going to move on because he puts a lot of memory into my mum's mind but I'll try it anyway. While she's eating her tuna sandwich she unpredictably says, "Queen Mori Hanson hmm... does it sounds good?" she rolled her eyes at me sarcastically.

"I guess so. Nevertheless, I don't want to be a queen at all"

She leaned back to her chair and her looks is very mysterious and said, "and why?"

"I don't think that I can handle such a responsibility like that mum and also people think that I'm a rugged teenage woman", She laughs loudly and said that she also get that a lot when she was still a child.