Memories In Red

Chapter 3: The Bloody Truth

Trigger Warning: Abuse

  I woke up to a room shrouded in darkness, only to see someone turning away from me, clad in the exact same clothes as Mommy.

“Mommy? Mommy!” I yelled and ran towards her, embracing her tightly, missing her presence immensely.

“Mommy, wag niyo po ako iwan please,” I said as tears streamed down my face incessantly.

She turned to me, offering a smile, as beautiful as ever.

“Mommy, bakit wala 'yung isa niyong d-daliri?” I asked, confusion clouding my thoughts as she glanced at her hand, circling it around.

“The moment I gave you that ring, my life became perilous. The ring you now hold was the cause of my demise!”

I woke up to the sound of the alarm, I quickly sat up and held my heart as it was beating so fast. I was so terrified, the...ring that I was wearing was the cause of Grandma's death? But.. how?

“Adreanna!” I heard a loud knock from my door as it swung open. “Ah, natutulog ka pa!? Get up lazy head at magdamit kana, pag talaga ako na-late  dahil sa'yo tingnan mo lang  ha,” Mother said angrily.

She left immediately, leaving the door wide open. I stood up, approached the door, and shut it. Leaning against it, I sat on the floor.

I looked up at the ceiling as little dusty cement fell due to Mom's steps from above. Her room was directly overhead, amplifying every sound she made.

This is my life now.

After Grandmother's death, I was left in my biological mother's care.  Though I wanted to disagree, I wasn't old enough to live alone.

Perhaps there are many ways to escape my own mother, but how can I make a plan when I'm still grieving my grandmother's death?

Flashback

“Mommy…?” I entered the hospital in a rush, unable to hear the surroundings as if my sole focus was finding Grandma.

Kennedy trailed behind me. I had already told him to leave, but he insisted on staying until he knew I was safe.

“She’s at the emergency room,” I heard Kennedy from behind . “I already asked one of the nurses so-” I didn’t wait for him to finish his sentence.

“Thank you so much Ken, you can now return to the party. I’ll be on my own right now,” I assured him so he nodded and finally bid his bye.

I went to the emergency room, only to find our maids there—panicking and trembling.

“Hija!” Manang Nina exclaimed and ran towards me, embracing me tightly. She was the one who had called me earlier and was also one of Mommy's old and loyal maids.

“S-si M-mommy po..?” She broke our hug. Before she could even talk we heard a noise from beside.

“Doc!” As the sliding door opened fully, the medical staff greeted us in their blue uniforms.

“Are you perhaps the granddaughter of Mrs. Harriett?” The doctor paused, and his companions followed suit.

“Yes, I am. W-what happened to Mommy..?” I asked, trembling. I felt Manang Nina's hand on mine, calming it down.

“We are deeply sorry. We couldn't save your grandmother at the last minute. She gave up, unable to endure the pain any longer,” The doctor's words hit me like a wave, and I collapsed to my knees, feeling completely numb.