I Finally Found You

Chapter 23: Your Decision

Chapter 23: Your Decision

 

When we arrived at my old home, my heart skipped a beat at the familiarity of the place. It was as if nothing changed. Suddenly, our neighbours came to welcome us with big smiles on their faces and unshed tears in their eyes.

“Oh, Charlotte, I thought this day would never come. I’m so happy!” Mrs. Alcantara exclaimed as she wrapped her frail arms around me.

I gently hugged her back saying, “Me, too, Mrs. Alcantara.”

Mrs. Rebecca Alcantara has been our neighbour ever since I was very young; maybe even before then. She was like a mellow version of Mama T. She used to babysit me when Mom and Dad had their special dates. Mrs. Alcantara would spoil me with chocolate cake while watching “The Powerpuff Girls” every time.

I used to call her “Mama Becca”, too. And I played with her daughter, Michelle, who was five years older than me. Michelle was “Ate Mit” to me and she always played with my hair. She also gave me so many beautiful dresses she outgrew.

“Mama Becca” became “Mrs. Alcantara” when Michelle went away for college. She’s married now to a guy named Dale.

Mrs. Alcantara was a very kind, very quiet, and very understanding person. She always supported whatever decision people she loved made as long as it made them happy and no harm is brought to anyone.

Mrs. Alcantara was also the one who stayed with me at the hospital while I was still recovering. When I was discharged, Mr. and Mrs. Alcantara assisted me towards my house. I remember how hollow I felt inside. I just couldn’t bring myself to enter a house filled with emptiness so I implored them to take me in. And they did without hesitation, without question, and with open arms. I spent the remaining time for recovery in their house, never once looking at my own.

When I had fully recovered, I told Mrs. Alcantara about my plans of moving away for good. With a heavy heart and tears in her eyes, she let me. She bid me goodbye as I ventured out into the world on my own.

I left the house in her care expressing that she may do anything she wanted with it. I never expected her to keep it and even to maintain its condition.

As Mrs. Alcantara and I broke away from each other’s embrace, I had a closer look at my childhood home. Nothing much has really changed and it felt like I was dreaming. But, somehow, it seemed daunting.

Mr. Alcantara, who was an even quieter counterpart, greeted me with a brief hug and as cheerful a smile he could conjure.

“Shall we?” Mrs. Alcantara asked.

“I’ve never really imagined myself in this place again,” I absentmindedly muttered.

When we stepped in, a rush of emotions and memories came flooding through me. Except for the pieces of white cloth covering every piece of furniture, everything was how it always was. I could still even imagine Mom and Dad sitting on the couch, watching TV together.

It was real and anomalous at the same time.

All this was quite overwhelming and I suddenly felt light-headed. I thought for sure that I would collapse but two strong hands, which I have grown accustomed to, held my shoulders and steadied me.

“It’s okay, Charlotte. We can leave whenever you want,” he said.

“I’m fine, Blake. I can handle this,” I reassured him.

With his aid, I walked through the living room, to the kitchen, to the guest bedroom, to my parents’ room and, lastly, to my old room.

There, I sat down on the bed and finally broke down and cried. For the whole time that I lived in the city, I had missed this place. I hid behind all the work and blocked out large chunks of my memory of this place, just as I did with memories of Blake.

“I miss this,” I murmured.

“You don’t have to. We can live here. Forget about the city and its buzz. It’s your decision,” Blake said.

He was right! I can live here. WE can live here. It seemed like a crazy idea but it was quite a good one.

“I would really love that.” I smiled as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

And I finally posted after a million years. I'm also changing the book cover to the one made by Angela (waldo97). The photo on the side is the one I made and first used for this book. I don't know when the next update will be. Peace! :)