(Note: Moved from third to first person to help with the visualization.)
The next few hours, people she'd touched filed in and out saying their goodbyes. I washed the adhesives off her skin.
"Mom what are they doing?" My son said as I wiped her down. He watched my uncle douse her in her favorite perfume.
"You didn't teach him?" My uncle said as he continued. "Boy, you gotta put it on so if she visits, you can smell her."
"I didn't ever wear that much! Tarantado..." Aunt Bella muttered. A gust entered the room. I looked up. A man walked toward my cousin. His hair slicked back. My aunt steeled against me. Her nails digging into my skin. I tried to concentrate on me task. He looked familiar. Who is he though? I couldn't stop it. As he neared closer, he leaned in for a hug.
"Noelle, anak, its been a long time. Almost 20 years, you got big, huh?" I smiled cordially ignoring the feeling of disgust rolling through my body. "Too bad it's under these circumstances."
"Indeed." He sniffed my hair. Ewww. He pulled back and walked away.
"Stay away from him, Mom." I looked at my son. "He creeps me out."
My aunt whispered "He's right. I'll explain later."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We left for the night. My uncles took my son because they needed to "educate" him. I left my aunt with her son. She needed to be there. As much as it was going to be hard, they needed closure somehow. And I... Needed to research what was going on.
I pulled into my driveway. In front of me was that man. He walked to my car. Instinctively, I locked my door. "Hello, little one. Come out. Let's catch up." Quickly, I dialed the security company and put them on speaker.
Through the crack in my window, "How did you find my house? Please leave."
"Open up. We can talk about it in the house." He answered.
"Um... Hard pass." He sneered as I said that. He took his fist and pounded on the window. I put the car into reverse. He ran to get behind my car.
"Ukininam you little bitch! I was going to be nice." He took something out of his pocket. A baton extended. I watched in my rear view mirror as he shattered my windows. He got to my door and broke through. Unlocking the car he dragged me out by my collar. His eyes flashed with anger. His hand covered my throat. I struggled. My feet unable to touch the ground. Is this how it ends? I thrashed and attempted to kick him. My nails digging into his skin. That's when I saw a movement behind him.
*Thump* We both fell to the ground. I watched as he convulsed from the taser. I ran behind the security guard, Christian, and watched him pass out.
"Noelle, who the fuck is that guy?" He asked.
"I don't know..."
