The Butterfly Child

Chapter Ten

The flowers trailed down the narrow path that led to the small cottage, like red petals set for the queen. Mr. Thompson had insisted that Annie's second memorial be done in Isodama. And to everyone's surprise, relatives had come from London to support. I wore a knee length white gown and a flat pink shoe. My curly hair was pulled up and little curly strands fell across my face. I walked side by side with Celine. In front of us was Aunt Nancy and her husband and before them was Mr. Thompson and Annie's mother. It felt surreal, seeing everyone gather for the memorial. The first memorial, no one had showed. Not even Annie's mother. Mr. Thompson, heartbroken and angry had sent a letter to her telling her how he felt about her not showing up for the memorial. Annie was sad too, she had been away for two days. Over the years, things had calmed down. I still lived with my family, I gave them lots of food stuff, I avoided arguments with my father and stayed by my mother. However, most times I was with Mr. Thompson. He had been teaching me to read and write. To mark a map, the parts of a car and so many other things. He always made me feel at home. Like I was Annie. To him, I was Annie. He had called me Annie a few times and said he was sorry. He'd pull me close, hug me and then cry for Annie to return to him. He was sad, and his heart was broken. And it was simple, I was a filling a void.

We walked down the narrow cemented path that lead to the small cottage where the memorial will be held. I couldn't stop myself from staring at Aunt Nancy's golden hair that was pulled up in a bun. She was simply beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She walked with grace, head high, chest out and knees not touching the other. She smiled so easily. She had just arrived in the early hours of that morning yet she gathered up herself for the memorial.

We hadn't been introduced, but Mr. Thompson had said he'd do the honors. Over the years he had come to know my slight obsession about meeting this woman. He knew Annie adored her and I adored the images of her being an Angel as the one Annie had painted in my head. We were walking quietly, our hands clasped over each other and our faces bearing sorrow. As we walked in silence, a soft sound, soft and melodious filled the atmosphere, covering the sounds of our shoes and even our breathing. I gazed up. Seated at the far end of the room with a piano before him was Mr. Thompson. He had on a white shirt and white trousers. He sat there with his lips scrunched in dismay as he played on. I saw Annie's mother seated in the front seat. Her brown hair fell across her back, covering most of the thin strapped black blouse. She was sad too, I could tell merely by how she looked around lazily and gloomily. It was after all her daughter's second death memorial. It marked it two years since Annie's death. I sat at the end of the cottage and then, the memorial began.

Mr. Thompson stood up from where he played the piano. He walked over to the center of the room. He smiled at everyone in it and then he spoke.

"Annalisa Cecilia Thompson was born exactly fifteen years ago. She was the only child of Philip Thompson and Eloisa Whittaker. She was a vibrant child, excelled in all her endeavors and made it her goal to help others in need." his eyes met mine and I smiled. He went on. "Annie as she was fondly called was my daughter. Her death brought pain and left a void that no one else would be able to fill. She was my angel of light and I hope that wherever she may be, she'd know that I love and cherish her."

After he'd walked out of the center, her mother walked up to speak.

"When I heard about Annie's death, I was heartbroken." her eyes gleamed with tears. "She was my miracle. Annie was..." her tears fell now and she covered her mouth while she sobbed. I looked away and blinked away my tears. Annie didn't want us to cry at her memorial. She wanted us to remember her gracefully, as the girl who had impacted in our lives. I shook my head and looked back at Mrs. Whitaker.

She dabbed her eyes with a white handkerchief and went on. "When I told Annie to get on the ship that was headed for this town, I thought best for her. She seemed unhappy with me in London and so I felt her going to Isodama to stay with her father would do her good. Annie refused to go, she wanted to stay with me. I was sure though that... She wanted to see Phillip. But I shouldn't have let her go. Because if she had been with me then maybe death wouldn't have come so easily. I would never have been careless with my daughter -"