Last Summer 🔪Scream 1996

Ch. 29: Aunt Carrie

"You ready to go, Sugar?"

My bedroom door opens, the older boy poking his head in. I laugh under my breath at his face not moving from his view of the ground. I shake my head, grabbing my bag from my desk.

"Yeah, Marty. As ready as I'll ever be."

He nods, still not looking up. I grab the doorknob and pull it open. Marty almost falls, catching himself before he can land. Sophia and my mom are out for the day, both being gone before I even woke up. I guess that's good considering what I'm doing.

"You good?"

"Yeah. Let's get going, Sugar."

——

"You want me to wait here?"

"Please?"

I sigh, unbuckling the seatbelt. Marty nods, turning up the radio. I see him get comfy in the driver seat as I shut the door, turning towards the place I haven't been in a year. Tears threaten to fall as I walk towards the stone steps. Granite, marble, and rock all lay in rows, each carved and shaped for someone's loved long past.

I follow the familiar path, winding between markers and gifts left for the ones buried here. My feet carry me to one in particular, one decorated with bouquets of wilting roses and dead lilies. The same flowers blossom in my hold, beautifully wrapped for this very moment.

"Hi, Aunt Carrie..."

I sit on the grass before her gravestone, rereading the same letters and numbers carved into the stone. The years give me chills every time. She was so young...

Carrie Ann Blu

Born December 20, 1968
Died June 17, 1987

"It's hard to believe you're gone...even now." I wipe a single tear, sighing out before looking back up. "You'll never guess who sent me a birthday gift..."

The wind blows my hair around, making it tickle my neck. I wipe my eyes of the tears still threatening to fall. A smile at what she would say takes over my face as I let out a sad laugh.

"My dad. Your brother. He sent me a dress. Can you believe that? After five years of no letter, no call, no showing of his face, he sends me a dress! God I wish you were here to kick his ass for me..."

I fail to fight my tears as they slip down my cheeks. I grab the two vases from the base, replacing her flowers that she loved so much. Reaching into my bag, I pull out the bottle of water I made sure to bring.

"There you go...all fresh and beautiful..."

More tears fall as I stare at the flowers. I sit back, letting them flow as hazy memories flash behind my eyes. Memories of the life long taken from my family.

——

Summer of 1987

"But Aunt Carrie! You said we could watch it!"

"I don't care. It's after your bedtime. And with both your parents out for the week, I promised to make sure you were both on your best behavior."

"But tomorrow's Saturday....you said we could stay up later."

Little identical twins whine, an older version of them both sighing out. The only difference between their appearances is the obvious ages and the fact that the older girl is clearly not old enough to be their mother.

"I did didn't I..."

She hums, looking at her dainty watch on her wrist. She thinks for a second before standing. Both twins watch her as she moves towards the pamphlet that holds what the tv will play for the night.