Scars Left By Memories - Book II

Gone

The last box was half way filled up. I stood up as Grandma called me down for dinner. I looked around at my room. It was as if I was preparing for college. It was nearly empty. As in it, I meant my room.

I walk over to my window, pulling up the blinds. I take a deep glance out the window. I saw some kids racing down the hill. Some were some on bicycles and others on scooters, along with the traditional classic skaters.

I set my the half full box down onto the bed. I looked down at my box full of shoes. I closed the top and applied the large piece of clear tape onto the flaps of the box. As I was finished taping it down, I placed the box on top of the other two boxes of my stuff.

I opened my bedroom door. I took a deep breathe of the amazing smell of food. I skipped my way down the stairs. Grandma used the spoon to put some soup into a bowls

"Some dinner for you and Francisco before you leave on your long trip." Grandma says placing the bowl down at my the table where I would usually sit.

Francisco sat down in the middle chair which was at the head of the table. Steam was still coming from his soup. Grandma poured herself a bowl before joining Francisco and I.

I grabbed my spoon and begin to dip it into the bowl of hot soup. I was interrupted by Grandma. She held up a single finger.

"Remember to blow and not burn your tongue, Sage." Grandma reminds me.

"Of course, I would never forget your great advice." I reply. Francisco stayed silent through all of this. It probably made him feel guilty.

When dinner was finished. Francisco and I helped Grandma clean up the kitchen and dining table. Francisco and I played a small game of who would clean up the most objects or counters first. I won, obviously.

Francisco walked up the stairs once we were done. I turned to the stairs. Grandma stopped me, once more. I didn't care, I wanted to spend all of the time with her. She's been there since I was a toddler.

"Now, I don't know if Francisco was exaggerating or being serious about leaving for many of years. But I want you to have this pearl bracelet your great grandmother gave me." Grandma says pulling the white pearl bracelet.

"No, I want you to keep it. It was from your mother." I reply.

"I want to pass it on to you. I know the mafia won't tamper with me because your mother doesn't want anything to do with me. I want this to be in your heart." She says closing the palm of my hand as it wrapped around the pearl bracelet.

I walked up the stairs. I see Francisco finishing taping the other boxes. I enter my room. I opened my jewelry box which was the one I had left on my bed. I place the pearl bracelet in the box.

"You didn't need to help me." I began.

"It would just make the process go faster." Francisco replies pulling the tape from the roller. "I'll tape up the rest of box and you can check if there is  anything else you need to get."

"Yeah, that's sounds like a good idea." I agreed, leaving the room and head over to my bathroom. I open the door. Everything was gone. Good.

I kneel down and opened the cabinet down on the bottom of the counter. I find nothing except cleaning supplies, a bucket, and a trash bin. I close the cabinet. I stand up before staring at myself in the mirror.

The days where I would wake up and take a glance out the window. Getting ready for school, and always have enjoyed doing it. I would know I was safe. Halle and I would walk to school together, get up to amazing smelling breakfast. Such as fresh new waffles or toast.

But now, all of that is gone.

I make my way out of the bathroom into my bedroom again. Francisco looks up at me and finds nothing in my hand.

"The bathroom is cleared." I say. He nods taping up the last box.

"Well, I'm going to go put some of these in the car. I'll be back." Francisco says carrying the last box he taped out of the room. In a couple of seconds I hear him going down the steps.

I walk over to the window. The kids still racing each other down the hill. Something has caught my attention, it was Halle walking over to my house. I back away from the window and ran out of my room, down the stairs. I opened the door for Halle. But she was out talking with Francisco.

I put on my sandals and walk over to them. Halle looks over at me.

"And who are you to tell me I am not allowed to take Sage? We signed the papers and everything. She is under guardian of me." Francisco says walking past Halle.

"Is this for real Sage?" Halle ask walking over to me. I nodded. That's when a tear slipped from my eye and down my cheek. But I rubbed it away quickly. "Hopefully soon I'll be over to go to New Jersey."

"Just to help Francisco out, I have to continue and help him move boxes from my room."'I said.

"But what if you don't have to leave? My mom could call the police and get your cleared from Francisco." Halle suggest.

"No Halle." I reply. "There is a real reason why he's taking me back. Why I can't be here anymore."

"Why?" Halle ask grabbing my arm. "I am your friend, I deserve to know."

"My mother is still alive. She wants me back over in New Jersey. So, this was the only solution, I guess." Halle lets go of my arm.

"I'll try and come visit soon." Halle says tearing up. I pulled her into a tight hug. Over her shoulder I see Francisco placing the boxes in his car. I nodded as she parted away.

An hour after packing up, we are completely finished. Two boxes in the trunk with my duffle bag and luggage. Two other boxes in the back seat.

"Who wants popsicles!" I hear Mrs. Jones call. Probably for Taylor and his friends. They all hop of their bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Throwing it to the lawn before getting some from her. I closed the back door.

"Sage, please call me and let me know how are you are." Grandma says grabbing my attention away from Mrs. Jones. I nodded.

"I will everyday." I say as we embraced each other for what felt like hours. We pulled away. I got into the passenger seat of Francisco's car.

Francisco and Grandma talk for a minute or so. They wave, I hear the door open. Francisco finally closes the his door. I look at the house for one last time. Francisco plugs the key into the ignition. He presses his foot on the gas.

Soon enough, everything would be gone.