The Perfect Mask

"Clara, No, wake up, we're still here." My mother stammered as she caressed my sister's corpse. She is the perfect daughter among the five of us. She’s the eldest and 20 years of age, tall, beautiful, and intelligent. Caring, loving, and obedient, she got it all.  No wonder why everyone loves her.

But why was she found in a road near a bar. She was choked using her favorite necklace. The police say she was drunk when she died. Many people know that she never did drink and hates clubs and bars. All she does is study, help my father with our business, bond with our sisters, and many say that her boyfriend is a good guy. I just stood there looking at my mother and my sisters crying over her dead body. I went to the comfort room to relax myself. I hate to see corpses in movies, how much more in person?

I don’t feel like crying. She was always the one who stood up. My parents never appreciated my efforts. I am Claire, the 2nd daughter of Ricardo Montello. I did everything I can just to please them but they never did see those efforts. All they see is Clara, Clara, and Clara. Everyone loves her, especially Clarisse, our sister. She’s just a year younger than me. She always admired her “perfect” sister. They shop, paint, and cook together.  Even though I hate her, I still don’t want to lose any of my sisters. I still see them as my family.

*A day later*

We went to a funeral home. Many people came. My mother is so depressed that our father insisted her to rest even though just for now. I just sat at the back seat of the room simply looking at different people take a peek at her coffin in front. They gave us their condolences for a hundred times already, saddened by Clara’s horrible death.  At the other side of the row of seats, there sat Clarisse and her boyfriend. I don’t know about them much but they were together for 3 years. I never imagined myself staying with a guy that long. I already had many boyfriends but I find them all boring. I am not surprised how Clarisse cried that night. It was her favorite sister after all. I think, it really is a big loss, since she’s just too good to die young. We don’t really have any idea when a person dies. But I never thought she would die that way. She was drunk and with the dress she wore, she seemed to have gone out to party.

 I went out to feel some fresh air. The ambiance of the funeral home just sickens me.  I was simply sitting in a bench outside when my little sister approached me. She’s a six year old with ponytails and a stuffed bear, which she carries with her a lot.

“Claire, big sis isn’t waking up right?” Christine went near me. She was so sad that Clara died. She loves to sing in front of us and Clara was her biggest fan.

“Yes, she won’t ‘cause she’s dead. “ I told her as she sat beside me. After I told her that Clara won’t be waking up, she started crying. I pulled her to sit in my lap and brushed her hair.

“People die. We can’t change that fact. You’ll understand it better when you grow up. You still have me and our sisters. There’s also Mom and Dad.” She wiped her tears and hugged me. She was shivering a little.

“It’s cold in here, we better go inside.” I carried her at my back as she curled my hair using her fingers. I hate how Clara made Christine sad. She’s just a six year old but she’s crying this much.

Before we could get in, I saw Clara’s boyfriend sitting on the bench near the pine trees. I can recognize him despite the darkness of the night. I can’t stop staring at him. He can’t see us by the way.

“Claire, what’s wrong?” My sister caught my attention as her small hands spun my head towards her face.

“Nothing’s wrong Chris.”  I gave her a plain smile. But before moving, I took one last glance at the guy. What he did gave me goose bumps. He bowed his head and smiled... like a psycho. I don’t want any more of his creep so I decided to head back inside.