FLOWER

CHAPTER 6.4

   I'm going in the parking lot with my sister, Sheila and Erich after class ends. The fan club left the school grounds at the speed of light. There is no trace of his presence anymore. Erich gets the message. He reads it. His face immediately becomes sad. He looks regretfully at the red-haired girl. Se notices it.

- What happened?

- I must help my father immediately. I can't go to the cemetery with you. Please forgive me. It's an emergency.

- Nothing happened. - However, the girl is already sad.

- Sorry. I know I promised. - He says nervously. - And how much you don't want to go there alone. - She stares at us pleadingly. - Girls, maybe you can take a walk with Sheila. Please.

- No need. I'll go alone. -Erich's request, however, softened my heart.

- Of course.

- You are wonderful.

- Thanks.

He approaches Sheila and seems to want to kiss her, but she hugs him at the last moment.

- There is no one left. - He whispers.

- We have to wait. - Strange. But it's none of my business.

Saying goodbye, he rushes to his car and drives away at alarming speed. And a sad face. The cemetery is nearby. Mairi took Sheila's shared vehicle so we walk.

- What does Erich's father do?

- Family detective company.

- They have a living in such a town.

- Why, they usually do it on business trips. Erich often helps them.

- You don't need to have a license for this.

- It has to be, but it's the family itself. They're probably hiding for each other, and he's never let up on what he's doing there. He takes this job seriously.

The rest of the route is spent in uncomfortable silence. When I see the first outlines of a ruined cemetery. I don't bother questioning Sheila with nonsense. And she's sad and doesn't seem willing to pursue any topic. Nasturcja footsteps can barely be heard.

The cemetery seems forgotten. Even the sun does not illuminate this piece of land. The rusty fence is so damaged that there is no trace of the original paint on it. And opening the gate causes it to creak ominously and leave behind a brown-red hand. You can hear ravens in the distance. The wind rustles the trees and vegetation growing on the paths between the graves. Some of them lost their original shape, they were covered with moss or the letters have been erased by time. Gradually we move to alleys with newer monuments. With flowers and candles. Sheila stops at one of them. Morag MacKinnon died in January this year.

A shudder ran through me. The same day I came back to life. Nasturtia swallows her saliva loudly. She is probably thinking the same thing. One of the best days for us. Even though I didn't laugh at first. Sheila's weak voice pulls me out of my reverie.

- She skidded and hit the car into a tree. She died on the spot. Mairi broke down and stopped wanting anything. Even Sofía couldn't push her to the next grade. Despite the best efforts. She talked her into going to a party once and that's where it all started. She has changed terribly. Suddenly the rich boys, Sofía, became the priority. Everything else is unnecessary inconvenience for idiots. She doesn't even want to visit her mother's grave, after all, she won't get her life back with it. And Sofía is safe and sound. Better to spend time with her.

Sheili pulls out a tissue and wipes the tears streaming down her cheeks.

- What should I tell her on her own birthday? - She says resentfully. - I'm trying so hard, but she's completely manipulated by Sofía. I don't know what to do. She even drinks this crap because she wants to be as slim as her. She became anemic recently when she fainted. Dad told me to keep an eye on her with food. But what if I take this stuff away from her if she drinks another one anyway? Or worse, she won't eat anything. After all, Sofía said I looked great and now I could have anyone. Everything this pseudo friend says is holy law. Nothing else.

- You told dad that?

- Yes, but he said I could handle it. We have to stick together because we are sisters. What did I expect from them? He doesn't even understand the basics. We lost our home. He didn't know what shopping to do to cook dinner, clean, or put in the laundry. Mom did everything herself. And now me. - Tears are flowing down her cheeks. - He works from morning to night. To sustain us. And I have to help him, relieve him somehow. And Mairi doesn't care about anything and still gets the best. For one grimace of anger. When I ask for the same thing, he tells me he can't afford it. You're the smarter one. I'm fed up with this. I have no strength. Sorry girls. I shouldn't bore you with my problems.

- Don't say that.

- Say what is on your heart.

- What would I do without you? I can't deal with it.

- If we can, we will be happy to help you.

- You've already done a lot. You are here with me.

We spend a while at the cemetery, then we take Sheila to the apartment building. Making sure she was okay. We come home later than originally planned. We don't have much time for ourselves before boxing.