Will You Keep My All?

Chapter 4

Alcea had to push aside her emotions to fix every document her parents left for her. Donnie hides it from her. The antique shop her parents owned is still doing business because of that man's doing. The ownership is under her name, so every money that was earned through the years of her absence will go directly to her bank account. The legal documents proved it to the court, and Donnie's revelation was clear enough that he did steal some of her parents' properties. The things she received, it didn't make her happy. Donnie still managed to give her another wound she would never forget, no matter how much she denied it.

She requested Emerly to get some information about Donnie's daughter. She had to extend her stay in her old town because of her personal business. She couldn't find the strength to reply to Maple's messages through email. She didn't even try to open them. If she would, she might lose the last strength she had saved for this personal business. If she keeps moping from the shock and hurt, she won't finish the work why she is here. Donnie's state didn't give any peace to her. It's so unfair that he can escape all the sins he has done. Once he is dead, there's no justice. He still wins.

"Donnie only did is to give child support," Emerly handed the old pictures to Alcea.

She stares at the cute little girl in the picture. It's a two-year-old Maple. Maple's mother is half-German and half-American. The older woman decided to take care of Maple in America and settled there when she met her husband. Maple grew up without learning any German words but knew about Donnie as her biological father. Donnie is an asshole for not introducing himself to her and never at least try to get to know his only daughter.

"Are you alright, Alcea?" Emerly tried to touch Alcea's arm, but the younger woman flinched.

"S-Sorry," Alcea swallowed hard.

Emerly sigh. "I am also shocked about this. I never expected such a coincidence to happen in real life just like this. I only saw her once when I visited you. How do you feel about this?"

Alcea avoided making eye contact with Emerly. "I don't know,"

Emerly understand her. "Don't make rush decisions, Alcea. Don't let your emotion ruin your thoughts,"

Alcea becomes silent. It already ruined her. No matter how sad and hurt she was by the revelation, she had no choice but to face the truth.

The next day, they received a call that Donnie had passed away at 3 a.m. last night. He died during his sleep. The only people who attended his funeral were his parents and the authority. Alcea didn't attend it. She didn't feel anything about his death. She continues finishing those documents with the help of Emerly. She stays there for two weeks. She only contacted the school and ignored Maple. She never visions her friend as the daughter of that sick and selfish man. But she visions Maple as her girlfriend and, sometimes, as her wife. She felt pathetic for feeling that way over a woman, worse—her only close friend.

When she had to go back, Emerly wanted her to extend her stay. But she had to decline because of her work. She's still a professional teacher. Emerly reminded her that she could still return to where she was born since Donnie was already gone forever. But she already found a place for her. She had faced her parents' grave and apologized to them for not visiting. It's been 18 years since they died, but she never forgot their death anniversary. Those days, she never found the courage to visit them in their grave. The trauma from the past affected her so badly. But this time, she finally found the courage to visit them.

"Mama, Papa...Ich werde dein Grab besuchen, wann immer dein Todestag ist," (Mom, Dad...I will visit your grave whenever it's your death anniversary). She touched their gravestones as she slowly trailed her fingertips to their engraved names. Thanks to Emerly, she found someone who could always clean their graves. She's the one who is sending the money. "Ich liebe dich. Wir sehen uns wieder," (I love you. See you again)