I held my textbook, and figurine in my hands. The crash had happened yesterday morning, and my uncle was here to look after myself and the house. Uncle Jim sat downstairs on the couch he lent to my dad, while his wife made tea to comfort him. Just in a few moments yesterday my world changed forever. I was in the backseat, and there was a truck spinning out of control. My father turned the wheel quickly trying to get out of the way. I closed my eyes in fear, and felt almost weightless for a few moments. When I became aware of my surroundings, I saw flames coming from the car. I was a few feet away from the vehicle, and my parents inside. Both of them died.
The fresh memory made me cringe. My mother and father were the best parents ever. They adopted me, and gave me lovely home. They never yelled, and didn't shy away from telling me about my birth parents, although they didn't know very much. Mom and dad didn't deserve to die. They were the kindest people in the neighbourhood. Tears came down my face, and I tried to focus on the warmth of the quilt my mom made for me. She had made it from material dad bought from the most expensive fabric store in our city.
In my hands were my textbook and figurine from my favourite class. Ancient civilizations. My teacher Miss Tease let me keep the textbook as a momentum. I was top of the class. The figurine I held was Aphrodite. I bought the little figurine when we went on a field trip to the museum. I loved learning about ancient gods and goddesses. Aphrodite was my favourite, because of how much love I longed to give people. Sadly in this time, Holding onto my little statue didn't bring me peace. I wept under the quilt, curling up into a little ball. In this moment I thought of my birth fathers watch. It was left with me as a baby. It was the one thing I had to connect to him. My fathers watch had a note attached to it with the explicit instructions for me not to open it until there came a day when I truly felt it was time. I wasn't sure what it meant, but something inside told me there was no better time than now. Finding out what was kept in the watch may distract me from the grief.
I walked down the stairs slowly, with my little Aphrodite in my hands still. I saw Uncle Jim crying on the couch in my aunts arms now. She looked up to see me.
"Seraphina. Dear, how are you? Poor girl. My poor niece." She held out one hand to me. My face was still a bit red from tears, so she could plainly see I wasn't keeping it in. I crept closer seeing my uncle still burying his face in his wife's hair.
"It hurts." I whispered in my mezzo soprano voice. "What... what will happen to me?" I knew for sure I'd be saying goodbye to the house soon. Where would I go after? My aunt gestured me to come closer.
"Oh! Dear, of course we'll take care of you! The kids will love their cousin moving in, and another mouth to feed isn't a burden. Well dear Jim got a raise recently. Nothing to worry about." I was brought into a huge hug by the two of them. Even though I knew i'd be taken care of I was not at rest. The watch was my focus now.
"Uncle Jim?" I looked at his mournful face. He wiped his eyes.
"Yes child?"
"Can you open the vault for me? I want to get the watch." I asked. He hesitated, but I knew my big golden coloured eyes were cuter than a puppy. He sighed.
"You remember the note that was left with it. Are you sure it is time? Whatever is in the watch can't take away your pain." He warned.
"I know. But I have a feeling inside. It's time. I know it is." I was sure of it. Jim looked at me with a blank expression for a while, then looked at my aunt. He got off the couch with a grunt.
"Okay..." He took a sip of his tea, and headed to the vault. My mother had kept all her jewelry in there, and my watch with it for protection. Jim knew what the combination was. Dad told him so my Uncle knew he had a place to put items, if he ever had something to hide.
