Connected

Daisies

The appliances looked somewhat newer since the last time I had seen them, but the cabinets were still the same drab gray as years ago. Back then, clutter had sat on the countertops as if ruling the kitchen. But now, hardly anything sat out. It made it seem so clean and unlived in. Lee Know must have cleaned up significantly after his father died.

Chan had gone ahead into the kitchen, but turned back around when he noticed that I hadn't followed him all of the way into the room. I was busy taking in the changes.

"You ok?"

I nodded, then slowly walked over to a tall but slim cabinet in between the fridge and the wall. I reached up to open it, and I smiled when I saw that it still had the watercolor daisies painted on the inside. They had dulled slightly with age, but still had a certain vibrancy since they were very rarely exposed to sunlight.

Hands came to sit on my waist. "Whoa. How did you know those were in there?"

My fingers drew over the lines. "I repainted them." The familiar lines and colors were comforting in this house of nightmares.

I heard Chan chuckle. "How many other hidden talents do you have?"

I shrugged. "That's about it."

My eyes ventured up to the top shelf. "Help me with something?"

"Sure what's up?" His hands twitched slightly on my waist, reminding me of their presence.

I smiled. "Catch me if I fall."

"Uh, what?"

I had already moved out of Chan's grasp and was starting to climb up onto the countertop. No easy feat, considering the tiny amount of counter space. Really the cabinet had no business being in this corner.

I must have grown slightly since the last time I was here. Then, my eyes just barely were above the second shelf from the top. Now my eyes were just below the top shelf. 5 years really does make a difference I guess.

"Are you good?" I looked down at Chan who had his hands up slightly, ready to catch me if I did indeed fall.

"Oh yeah, no problem." I reassured him.

I reached up into the top shelf and began pulling out a few things. Several chocolate bars, an old bag of chips, and a half empty container of Oreos. I pulled everything out and tried to set them onto the counter at my feet nicely, but they just ended up falling down my legs in a mess.

"How long has that all been up there?" Chan asked as the snacks hit the counter.

"5 years would be my guess."

"Was that... umm..."

I looked back down at Chan. His hands were still up and ready but he had looked away.

"When I was here last?" I offered.

He looked back up into my eyes. "Yeah?"

I smiled sadly at him and nodded. "Mmhm."

Then I turned back around and reached back into the cabinet. My fingers brushed the back of the cabinet. What I was looking for wasn't there though. Or, at least, I wasn't finding it.

I stood there for a second, trying to decide the best next action. I knew Chan wouldn't like it but I had to find out if there was any left that I wasn't reaching. I glanced back to make sure he was still here and he smiled back up at me. Now or never Y/N.

"Don't get mad at me."

"Wha..?"

I jumped. Straight up. Not super high, but just enough to see that the back of the cabinet was indeed empty. My feet came back down and I wobbled slightly my right heel coming down onto the edge of the countertop. I held onto the cabinet for support.