Always Been Ours

5

Esmeray got off the subway going up the stairs on her way to work drinking her coffee for her early shift. She looked out for any crowded sidewalk at this hour when she noticed the newspaper with a picture of Chucky. 'Lakeshore Strangler Dead.' Esmeray shook her head knowing that day he was going to pay for what he did and now isnt her problem anymore and began moving on with her life. She went inside the mall to do her routine even helping out the new employee from yesterday. "Esmeray? Hi. Listen would you mind picking up Andy? I just remembered that i have to pick up my dry cleanings." said the woman. "Alright, Maggie. I'll keep him busy while Karen gets Andy's present." said Esmeray. "Oh. But she will. Theres a peddler who has one thanks for reminding me. You're a peach." said Maggie running off to find Karen. "Excuse but you have another size?" said a young plus size woman holding a pair of jeans. Esmeray looked at the size on the jeans humming in thought before gesturing her follow her to the fitting room. She had the woman put the jeans on seeing it can barely be button in the front and went grab her mini sewing bag with thread, pins, needles, and extra accessories. Esmeray used her sewing scissors to snip the sides to expand it and sew in the extra fabric until the woman can be able button it. "I'm normally dont do this for customers but i can see you pulling this off. I can ring this up for you." said Esmeray. "Thank you." said the woman then changed out of the jeans to pay for it. After her shift was over Esmeray went to the school where Andy is waiting outside for him with the other parents. She looked around once the school went off seeing the children walking out and found a small boy wearing heavy winter clothes looking up seeing her. "Aunt Esme!" said the boy running into her arms. "Hi Andy. My special birthday boy." said Esmeray kissing his face making him giggle. "What are you doing here?" said Andy holding her hand as they walked. "Im here for you. Cant miss you turning what eight?" said Esmeray looking down at him. "Im turning six." said Andy. "Youre not turning six?" said Esmeray. "But i am." said Andy then screamed once Esmeray quickly scooped him in her arms holding upside down. "Put me down." he say laughing as Esmeray did so. "I cant help that youre adorable." said Esmeray holding his hand again walking them to the apartment. She opened the door letting him first taking the elevator to the top floor walking down the hall seeing Karen just coming home. "Hi mommy." said Andy getting her attention.

"Hi Andy. Hi Esmeray." said Karen opening the door letting them in since she has large package in her arms. "Need help with that?" said Esmeray. "Just with the door. Andy don't you want to open your other present." said Karen having Andy face her. He eagerly opened it seeing it was the Good Guy doll that Andy wanted. "Wow mom. Thanks. Aunt Esme look what mommy got me." said Andy pulling the doll out. "A Good Guy Doll. Thats amazing. How does he work?" said Esmeray. "Go show her." said Karen smiling as they all went to the living room. "Hi im Andy. What your name?" said Andy looking at the doll. "Hi I'm Chucky. And I'm your friend til the end." said the doll in a robot voice. "Thats great." said Karen while Esmeray looked surprised by this. "Oh and guess what. Aunt Esme is going to sleep over here tonight." she says. "Really?" said Andy. "I am." said Esmeray as Andy ran to give her a hug. "Maggie is coming with cake soon. Why dont you get Chucky settled while we get your bath ready? Can't have a birthday get a cold now do we?" said Esmeray. "Okay. Thanks mommy." said Andy carrying Chucky to his room after hugging Karen. Esmeray placed her bag down rubbing her face with both hands lean forward a bit having her elbows rest on her knees. "Is everything okay, Esmeray?" said Karen. "Yeah. Just that name, Chucky. It was a nickname of old boyfriend before i was adopted. Ran into him yesterday and heard he was dead." said Esmeray. "Must be a coincidence." said Karen walking to the kitchen. "Maybe." said Esmeray. "By the way, what were you doing with that woman?" said Karen. "Oh i was helping her fit a pair of jeans by doing my magic touch." said Esmeray. "You know you're going get in trouble for this. Its not the first time that you did this." said Karen. "I know but designing clothes and making it come alive is my thing." said Esmeray. "I know and your sketches are incredible. Not i have ever seen but this isnt the way to get your dream career started." said Karen. "This is my therapy to forget about my . . . " Esmeray stopped to see Andy coming back holding Chucky. "Chucky wants you to hold him while i get my toys in the tub." said Andy handing Chucky to her. "Okay. But let me get the water going for you or do you want to do that?" said Esmeray. "i can do it." sad Andy walking away. "You were saying." said Karen looking at her. "I often get nightmare of my dad or brother sexually abusing me since i was eight." said Esmeray. "I havent talked about it in a long time." she says. "Didn't your family pick up the signs that it was happening?" said Karen. "No one believed me. Until i told my neighbors and friends from school." siad Esmeray. "I like to be hugged." said Chucky. Esmeray held him close as her body began to shake when Karen decided to make some coffee for her and herself. "Im sorry that happened to you but hey its all over now." said Karen then walked off to check on Andy who walked into the bathroom.

Later that night Esmeray finished her dinner that Karen made leaving her hot cup of tea in the coffee table to cool down and help put the dishes away with Maggie. She washed her plate and dried it putting where it belongs including the utensils hearing Andy play with Chucky. "Andy its bedtime." Said Maggie. "Come on Chucky." Sa jd Andy getting up to go to his room but stopping to hear a whisper. Esmeray looked to see him leaning over to Chucky like he was talking and turned to her and Maggie. "Chucky wants to stay to watch the news." Said Andy. "Its late and you have school in the morning." Said Esmeray. "I got him." Said Maggie taking Andy and Chucky to get ready for bed. Esmeray walked over to her cup of tea drinking slowly until it was gone and went to wash and put away. She then to feel really tired all of a sudden went to sit on the aide of the couch. "You okay there?" Said Maggie coming back. "Just feeling tired." Said Esmeray letting out a yawn. "Must be the cake or the tea. Go sleep i got this taken care of." Said Maggie seeing how tired she looked. Esmeray laid down on the couch getting comfortable then felt her body drift off. She didnt know how long has been asleep but all Esmeray knew was she heard yelling and loud crash jolted her awake. "Maggie?! Andy?!" Said Esmeray sitting up to look around finding the window was broken. She got up fast to look out and saw Maggie lay on top of a van not moving. "Aunt Esme?" Said Andy. "Stay in your room, Andy." Said Esmeray going to the telephone. "Yes. I want report a horrible accident." Said Esmeray. She just told them what happened and hanged up going to Andy's room. "Whats going on?" Sais Andy rubbing his eyes. "The police will be here to check on Maggie. She had an accident. We have to wait out in the hall and see what happened." Said Esmeray. "Is she okay?" Said Andy. "I dont know. But the police woll be here soon. Im going to put my shoes on and we can get out." Said Esmeray. She put on her shoes while Andy held Chucky and held her hand going out of the apartment waiting by the door. When the polive arrived Esmeray explained everything she knew before falling asleep. She then saw Karen coming looking for Andy finding him of the men in charge who told her the news of Maggie's death. "What do you ladies see here?" Said the man. He gestured the floor with tiny footprints having Eameray look at him in disbelief. "Are you fucking kidding me?!" Said Esmeray. "Ma'am. I know that . . ." "That what a six year old would commit a crime like this?" Esmeray cut the man off when Andy came ocer with Chucky. "Andy go to yo ur room. Aunt Esme has to home but will see you soon okay." Said Karen. "We also need to do a investigation with her too." Said the amn looking at Esmeray. "Why?" Said Esmeray. She was then lead to the living room with less officers to get some privacy. "We have questions with your connection to Charles Lee Ray."