A Total Nightmare

Chap. 5

I raise my brow and look at mom. "Uh... Mom? What's this? Because it just looks like a normal bracelet." She takes it and studies it. The complex metal just looking like any other bracelet. "Well..." She says with a smile. "It's something your father made for you. I... Never got to see it up close. But he had mentioned it to me a few times. But that was years ago. When you were.... Around, 5 years old." "My dad... Made. This?" I say as take it from mom. I look at it. Study it. "Yes." She says with a nod. I never thought my dad to be a.... Tech person. When I was around him he had been making stuff out of wood and other things. He was always making "trinkets." it's what he used to call them. "Well... What is it exactly? I mean... Is it just a bracelet? Or... Something.... More?" "Try it on. I think you'll figure out soon enough." "Um... Ok. Sure." I then look at it one more time before I put it on. I frown when I find it doesn't fit. I look up at mom. "Mom. It doesn't fit." "Oh... I think it will. just... Try again." "Ok." I say with a shrug. I then pick it up off the couch again and go to put it on. Just as I do, it seems to expand right before it touches my skin. My eyes widen in amazement as I slip it on and it retracks to fit my wrist. It's stylish and comfortable. Even though I'd never really been into jewelry, I can make an exception with this. And besides. It's a gift from my dad. Mom's voice suddenly breaks through my thoughts. "It was supposed to be for you're 19th birthday. But.... After what happened? Between me and you. And I'd found out that Shiro had given you those pills, since you'd lost yours. And the talk about you're father and Hirugoto Industries.... It made me think that it was time to give it to you." I am silent for moment. Not sure what to say. My mind reels at the questions at how dad could've made this. It all doesn't make sense.  My mom,  somehow, seems to read my expression. As if I am made of glass. "Honey.... You remember what I had said? Before?" I nod. "Well... He wasn't..." She takes a breath. The subject is pretty hard on her. "He wasn't who he seemed. He wasn't some craftsman. He did have a talent for the stuff. Many things. But... That wasn't his profession." I tilt my head. "What are you you saying, mom? What do you mean?" She takes another deep breath. "Honey... He- you're father had made many.... Mistakes. Choices. And... Well. When he was around his early 20s,  he had decided to go to college for science and a few other things. When he was 25 he got an invitation from Hirugoto Industries. But. He hesitated at first. He had this dream of making his own company one day and that's what he was trying to work toward. But when they offered him a job, especially one he couldn't resist,  all he had made, fell apart. He left his family and moved here. At the age of 26, he met me again. Of course, we met in high school and went to the same college, but we never really... Saw. Each other. Actually met. But it was then that we started to date and time passed. We got married and had you. Well, as more time went on he got caught up in his work. Of course he made time for you. But it just seemed as if it wasn't enough. When I'd had enough of it, I confronted him. Well... It didn't go so great.... And. It only made things worse between us. But one night something happened. He came home, pale. Scared. I tried to ask him what was wrong but all he had said is that we had to move. So. That's what we did. We moved, in a sense. At least.... Remember the trip to Tennessee?" I nod. my brow raised. "Yea. Why?" She takes a breath again. "Well... That's where we went. That's why we had went there. He said we had to get away. Leave town for awhile. And apparently. He thought that your grandfather's cabin was the best place to go. Well....  After a few months had passed, he had went to go sell some of his projects he had made. But when he had went to sell this box. Things didn't go like he wanted it to and he had started coming home. Of course, me and you were with him. He had handed me the box while we were in the car. Said that he decided to give it to you when you were old enough. But at the time I didn't know that the bracelet was in the box. That is, until he had told me. Well... He had went to go get something from the store. We stayed in the car. But after a long time I started to get worried. I looked everywhere for him. But, he had just... Vanished. He disappeared. I took the car and drove to the police station. Told them about what had happened. For months they searched but could never find him. Not long after that. I took you and we moved back here  to Chicago." I sit here. Holding the box tightly without knowing it. After a few moments, I look at mom and say. "So... What are you saying? Why tell me all this?" My mom sighs. "What I'm saying is.... You're father is out there. What I'm saying is, you may be in danger. And... What I'm saying is... You're father gave that bracelet to you- made it for you, for a reason. I don't know what it is yet. But I know you will find out soon." My eyes widen when she says that dad may still be alive. And also the fact I may be in danger. "W why would you say I'm in danger?" I ask, nervous. "Well uh... Honey... I'm not entirely sure." She admits somberly. "But. Let's just say... With what happened to you're father and the fact he made that and gave it to you- now. I'm not saying that I'm right. You may not be in danger. But I do know your father is.... Wherever he may be." She looks out a window, a distant look in her eye. There is a long moment of silence between us. After that, I head to my bedroom and go to bed. But sleep doesn't exactly come. My mind is reeling. I have so many questions. Yet, I'm still trying to process what I was told. Soon my mind settles down and I fall asleep. The bracelet still on my left wrist. A comfort to me because it's something of my dad's. Something he had made for me before he had disappeared.