Left In the Dark

Chapter Five-Surpises

Chapter 5-Surprises

EDITED VERSION ONE 

(Michelle’s POV)

I stared at my cousin, shock and horror filling my chest. Dread tightly clenched my heart, as I tried to get a grip on myself.

“Oh, my mum will be temporary staying here to help with your father disappearance.” She frowned when she saw my face becoming even paler and I suddenly felt like fainting. “Are you all right? You have gone all white.”

She had done exactly what I had thought she would! Now how was I going to find out what my mother was up to!

“Oh it’s nothing. Where will you be sleeping at?”

“In your room! I already unpacked my clothes already…” I took a look at my clothes dumped on the bed and hers occupying my entire wardrobe and inwardly groaned. This would be a long day…

Sophie followed me like a lost puppy the entire week. Exactly what my mother had planned her to do. My aunt would be staying for a week and ‘help’ to clear up the mess. My cousin that was a year younger than I adored me was making me crazy. She took up all of my space, crawled into my bed to sleep when there was a spare one in the room and liked to invade my privacy.

I thought I had hidden it well, turned out I was wrong.

“Micky, what is this? Is this a locket or something? So pretty! Can I have it?”

I turned around only to see her examining it. She was prying it open and said, “Wait, there is a picture in there—“

I immediately snatched it away from her. I said in a low voice. “You can touch my other things, invade my privacy, take up all my space and be an annoying brat for all I care, but LAY OFF THIS!”

My voice rose uncontrollably. Sophie’s lower lip started to tremble and I was afraid that she was going to start crying.

“Oh honey, I’m really sorry. It’s just—”

She looked at me, and understanding and realization dawned in her amber eyes. “Wait. It’s –Is it him?”

I sighed and held out the picture for her to see. “Yes, you are right.”

“But, that was like, a year before! You still cannot forget him?”

I smiled a smile that did not reach my eyes. “You will understand when you meet your true love, Sophie. It’s not your turn yet. But—”

I gripped her shoulders tight. “Promise me that you will not be like me! You will not give up on love! You must remain strong and not give in! Do you understand? You will regret it, when you let go… There will be nothing left of you, like an empty shell that craves him but he is long gone… Because of you…”

I started to sob. “Oh, Micky,” Sophie reached out her arms and embraced me tightly. “I promise okay? I’m sure that he will understand how much you love him one day.”

“It was my fault! Wasn’t it mine? Wasn’t it cause of me, she—she died?”

“No, it wasn’t. It was your mother, alright?”

I was startled by how serious she was and actually comforted me when I thought she was on my mother’s side all along.

“I—I thought that you approved of—”

“I didn’t. I had to act like it, or the consequences will be worse. But I felt my heart break when you had to say you didn’t love him when you did.”

“I’m so sorry, Sophie. All along you were helping me. After all she would and could kill him you know? Do you now that? But he doesn’t, and now he hates me…”

“No, I’m sure he doesn’t when he realizes that it was your mother that forced you to.”

“But he will never know now…”

“He will, I promise alright? I swear he will know.”

“Really? Oh Sophie, thank you so much, although I know that that will never come true… And to think I hated you so much for just standing there, seeing everything without stepping in…” I felt ashamed of myself. We were so close then, how could I have thought that she would not support me?

Sophie chuckled. “I know that, and I do not blame you… You have a good reason to. But don’t worry anymore; I will take care of it…”

“Just, just don’t hurt anyone in the process, okay? I know that he hates me now and nothing can change the fact that he would never be able to know the truth…”

Sophie handed me a drink and after drinking it, I felt dizzy.

“Soph—you—you…” Darkness descended, leaving a bitter aftertaste of betrayal on my tongue.

(Sophie’s POV)

I sighed and looked at my cousin’s sleeping face. She looked more relaxed and there were no worry creases around her eyes, but her lack of sleep was evident by the dark shadow underneath her eyes. I slipped the small bottle into my pocket and poured the rest of the content left in the cup away.

“I’m sorry, Mickey… But I’ll fulfil my promise to you, don’t worry. No matter what are the consequences. Get some rest, cousin. You will see him right in front of you when you wake up.” I laughed, irony lacing in my voice. “But perhaps… Not me though.”

Bracing me for what was supposed to come; I closed my eyes momentarily and reached for the locket still in Michelle’s tight grasp. “What will it be like, it love someone so deeply that you are willing to let him go for his sake?” I mused, tucking the locket in my pocket. “Even willing to sacrifice your everything to him, including your life? I guess I’ll never know.”

I stood up and gave Michelle one last look. I was never someone that she truly knew. To her, I was her baby cousin, someone that she has to give protection to, to lend a shoulder to lean on. “I’ll prove you wrong, Micky.”

After all, I had also lost someone that I had loved dearly. That I had willingly, selfishly let him go, unlike Michelle. I was impressed and sad about her true love for him. I felt ashamed. I had not known how much I had loved him before letting him go, and unlike her, he has no chance of getting back. He is dead.

“It is time to make up for it.” I walked out of the door.

His house was like a gold mansion. I was unaffected by it, since my house was even bigger than his. He used to live in a run-down flat, after the compromise with Michelle… It was all her fault. Everything in the end, all came down to her. She fired his father, broke their relationship and caused Michelle and him such misery.

Sighing, I went up to the gate and rung the door.

“Who is it?” It was him, with his dark, deep voice.

“Sophie.”

There was a stunned silence as he tried to process what I was saying. Finally he choked out. “You—You mean… Michelle’s cousin?!” He incredulously saying Michelle’s name.

“Yes.” I tried not to let the relief, amusement and exasperation show in my voice.  “I have to speak to you.”

There was a moment of hesitation and a ‘beep’ sounded as the gates swung open. “Come in.”