Little Butterfly

Chapter 10 -Little butterfly

Little Butterfly~

I have to concentrate on my work for Mr. Mike; I'm determined to produce the best plans. Upstairs in the quiet of my grandparents' home, I sit casually smoking, my mind focused on the 3D models of the space I'm designing.

As I work, a curious urge overcomes me. Today, I'm home alone; my grandparents are out visiting a friend. With Mishou keeping me company, I decide to venture downstairs to their room. Perhaps, hidden away somewhere, I might find something about my parents, a clue to my own past.

The room is quiet and dimly lit, filled with the scent of lavender and old books. I carefully sift through drawers and cabinets, searching for any memento that might shed light on my parents' lives. Yet, after a thorough search, I find nothing but old photographs of distant relatives and trinkets from their travels.

Disheartened but determined, I turn to a small wooden chest tucked away in a corner. Dusting it off, I gently lift the lid and peer inside. Amongst faded letters and yellowed papers, I find a photograph tucked away in an envelope marked with my name.

My heart skips a beat as I withdraw the photograph. It's a picture of me, about ten years old, standing alone with a solemn expression on my face. My green eyes look red and puffy, my cheeks streaked with dirt. I'm not smiling; instead, there is a haunting sadness etched on my young face.

The resemblance to the dream I had is uncanny. Memories flood back, fragments of that nightmarish dream mixing with the stark reality of this photograph. Fear and confusion churn in my stomach as I try to make sense of it all.

Why have my grandparents kept this photograph hidden? What happened to me that night, captured in this haunting image? Questions swirl in my mind, unanswered and unsettling.

Mishou rubs against my leg, sensing my unease. I gather the photograph and carefully place it back in the envelope, stealing it. Closing the chest, I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts.

The discovery leaves me shaken, but it also ignites a new determination within me. I need answers, not just for myself but for the young girl in that photograph who endured whatever darkness crossed her path.

With resolve hardening in my heart, I return upstairs to my work. Mr. Mike's project awaits my attention, and now, more than ever, I'm driven to uncover the truth buried in the shadows of my past.

After my grandparents return home, I find myself withdrawing from them. I can't shake the feeling of anger and confusion swirling inside me. What are they hiding from me all these years?

During dinner that evening, I keep my gaze lowered, picking at my food without appetite. The atmosphere in the room feels heavy with unspoken words and unanswered questions. I want to confront them, demand to know the truth about the photograph I found, about my parents.

"Sophie, dear, is everything alright?" my grandmother finally asks, her voice tinged with concern.

I look up sharply, meeting her gaze. "Why didn't you ever tell me about my parents?" I blurt out, unable to contain the frustration and hurt simmering within me.

My grandfather's eyes flicker with a mix of emotions—sadness, guilt, and something else I can't quite decipher. "We wanted to protect you, Sophie," he begins quietly. "Your parents... they were involved in something dangerous. They... they didn't make it out."

My heart sinks at his words, a mix of sorrow and disbelief washing over me. "But why keep it from me? I deserved to know," I reply, my voice wavering with emotion.

"We were afraid," my grandmother admits softly, her eyes brimming with tears. "Afraid that knowing the truth would put you in danger too."

Silence settles over us like a heavy blanket, punctuated only by the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. I struggle to process everything they have just revealed, the pieces of my fractured past finally coming together.

"I understand you wanted to protect me," I finally say, my voice barely above a whisper. "But keeping me in the dark... it hurts more than you can imagine."

Tears well up in my eyes as I excuse myself from the table, needing time alone to process everything. Upstairs in my room, I hug Mishou close, seeking comfort in his warm presence.

The revelation has opened old wounds and stirred up new questions. Despite the pain, a part of me is grateful for finally knowing the truth, no matter how painful it is. Tomorrow, I will decide what to do next, how to reconcile this newfound knowledge with the path ahead. But for now, I allow myself to grieve for the family I lost and the innocence that shattered long ago.