The Queen || ✔

Chapter 25: Queen's Sister

Claudia

"What happened to you, my baby?" She asked me lovingly, but with regret in her tone.

I shook my head, not wanting to tell her about all that had happened to me after they'd disappeared, it would only hurt her even more than what she had already endured.

I looked away from her, and stared at the beautiful Australian sunset. I looked back at her and placed my hands on her hers which were on her lap.

"Don't worry about that now, mom, all that matters is that we are reunited. Where are Charlene and Cynthia?"

"Oh, Charlene is at work. She's a Maths teacher at the local high school. She's doing extremely well."

"Local high school? The great mathematician herself?"

"She had gotten a job offer to be a lecturer at Oxford..."

"... in the UK?! That's huge!"

"I know, but unfortunately there were obstacles." My mother said, smiling sadly at me. I immediately became disheartened at the vision of her dismay.

"What obstacles?"

"Well, she fell in love. It's a good thing, she gave me such beautiful grandchildren. And her husband, Alex, is a pure jem." My mother said, but I could tell that she was hiding something. The way she wanted to lighten the mood so fast, completely avoiding the real reason Charlene had to stay back.

I could hear it in her words. I could sense it in her tone. I could see it in her eyes. There was another reason.

"What really held her back mom, I want to know the real reason? Why didn't she follow her dreams?"

"Claudia..."

"... I'm home!" A familiar voice yelled from inside. I immediately ran inside and paced up the stairs towards the front door where I saw my sister, holding a tall white man's hand in hers. This had to be Alex.

"Charlene, guess who's here?" My mother said from behind me while walking towards her. She couldn't see me, she'd have to use her other senses, like how I remembered she used to do.

"What are you talking about, who's here? Is it Elaine? What is she doing here, she's supposed to be in Sydney!" She said while my mother took her hand and pulled her towards me. I faced my sister, not believing that it was actually her in front of me.

I took in her scent while breathing, she smelt like lavender. I took in her sight. She had short brown hair, wider hips and a brighter glow on her face. She was dressed in a pink skirt and a white sweater with white pumps.

I looked to my right and saw her husband holding her hand, staring confusingly at me with his blue eyes, and I smiled at him.

"Elaine? Is that you?" She asked, being completely oblivious that it was me.

I held her hand in mine and the atmosphere grew thicker in anticipation. Steps from downstairs could be heard coming up, I looked back and saw Mary, still emotionless.

I looked back at my sister and she looked scared now. I had been silent for so long, I hadn't realised how awkward she was getting.