The life we live here

Chapter 4: Bring back the memories

The girls were not aware of each others encounters and they kept feeling a bit disillusioned by it all. Their beliefs made them question what they saw and individually they came to the conclusion that it was all in their mind, everyone except Ten. She was trying hard to  process everything , but she was afraid to come to any conclusion. At the age of eleven, she had lost her mother , so most of her memories were foggy and some she already felt like she had forgotten along the way. It was a frustrating feeling for her to live this way, but she thought the less she spoke about it the more okay she would feel. Her reasoning felt rational , but there were times when she went back home and her brother mention some  similarities between Ten and their mother and it made her feel a bit embarrassed that she could not remember.

Time went by so fast that it was almost a  week before commemoration of their loved ones. There would be a special dinner that all needed to attend, as it had been ten years since their passing. It had been a time with mixed emotions leading up to the day, as everyone felt a bit anxious to recall it all.  Their hometown was Rhode Island and some had to travel quite a distance to be back in time. Trent and his father still lived in Rhode Island in their home, Paige's family home was sold a year after the accident and Skyla's father lived in their home with her older sister Serena living quite close by. The younger and older siblings of Paige lived together in Boston. They didn't always get to see each other in person, but Paige sometimes went to Boston to help Penelope with Parker. Even though they had been through so much as a family at such a young age, their bonds were really unbreakable and everyone tried to lend a hand where they can. When the accident happened back then, everyone was so broken that it was really hard to pick up the pieces, but with so many young kids needing to be consoled they did a blended family approach. The older kids helped the two fathers a lot in raising the younger kids, ensured that they created a loving environment for everyone to feel accepted and loved in. As the kids all grew older, it became a bit easier to manage. Serena, Penelope and Trent did a lot of co parenting too, but they felt useful being able to help out so much. As a result they felt like parents in a way too and were more protective when the younger ones became teenagers.

Ten, Paige and Skyla were flying in the same day and would then drive to their family homes together. They had not seen each other in months and were excited to catch up, as the drive home was another forty five minutes. The weather was a bit warm with a slight cool wind in the air. Paige and Skyla arrived first and collected their luggage and a rental car whilst waiting for Ten's plane to arrive. After thirty minutes, her plane landed and they waited at the arrivals area for her. As soon as Ten came through the doors, she had a bright smile on her face that was so contagious and she ran towards her cousins and wrapped her arms around both of them.

"I missed you guys so much!!" she hugged them extra tight.

"We missed you too!" Paige said trying to breathe through Ten's tight grip.

"Can we breathe a now?" Skyla asked sarcastically.

They laughed and let go of each other as they made they way to the rental car. Settling in and grabbing some take away drinks along the way at a local cafe, they set off on the journey home.

"I can't wait to see everyone, besides Trent" Ten said enthused.

"What did Trent do now again?" Paige mocked.

"He thinks his my dad! He keeps nagging me!"

"They all are like that..Unfortunately, they had too mature fast to take care of us back then. So they act like our parents too. Penelope does the same, but she eased up over the years"

"Hmmm.. I can't wait for Trent to ease up!" she mocked.

"Why are you so quiet, Skyla?" Ten asked as she had no said a word since she started driving them.

"No, nothing..Just have a lot on my mind" she tried to sound cheerful.

"Things at university? You need to relax on your off days Sky" Paige interrupted when she noticed Skyla's frown.

"Yeah, like me! Once I am off campus, everything is off my mind till I return" Ten joked.

"I'll take your word, Miss free spirit!" Skyla teased.

"You sound like Trent now"

They all burst out into laughter, but then a sudden filled the car as they were passing a family picnic spot they used to go to when they were kids. It brought back memories to them and bittersweet feelings.

"I'm glad we all still remember it.." Skyla lagged off.

"Some memories we can never forget" Paige said pridefully.

" I wish.." Ten mumbled to herself.

Paige turned around in the passenger seat to look at Ten who had seem a bit sullen now.

"What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"

"It's nothing.." she tried not to make eye contact.

"Ten...! talk to us" Skyla reprimanded her in the rear view mirror.

"I don't remember..." she confessed softly.

"Don't remember what?" Paige asked confused.

"I don't remember much of my memories. My memories of my mom especially are foggy and some are forgotten. Trent always mentions how alike I am to her or brings up a memory, but most I have no recall of. I feel like a disappointment like a bad daughter! I can't even bear to tell Trent or my dad, I feel embarrassed" Ten started crying as she looked down at her lap.

Skyla stopped by a nearby lookout point and she and Paige took Ten out of the backseat. They stood outside and looked at the view in front of them, whilst comforting Ten. After a tight group hug, they leaned against the car and looked at the cloudy sky above.

"Ten, it's not a crime to forget and you were quite young when it all happened. Do not blame yourself"

"Yes, I agree with Paige. Our childhoods were not easy and it's not like the average childhood either. We lost our mothers and Paige had it harder losing both her parents. There are a lot of things our older siblings remember more clearly than we do and that's fine , as it's not a competition. If you feel this way you should speak up, don't let it dishearten you. Trauma can also block out certain things even if they are good memories. A psychological way of protecting yourself in a way ... to not relive the pain"

Skyla knew what Ten was experiencing and she knew it's not an easy journey either to recover.

"I saw her..she came to me..." Ten blurted out.

"Who?" they both asked.

"My mother, she came to me... "

Paige and Skyla's  eyes widened as they looked at Ten to stunned to speak. They looked at each other in disbelief, until Paige said;

"I did too..."

Now everything became more mysterious, as Skyla recalled her incident in the lecture hall.

"What's going on?!" Ten asked freaked out.

"I don't know, but I will find out the truth..." Skyla said determined.