A family cursed for taking love for granted and now a certain descendant has to live with the consequences.
She either choses to live on without love or die trying. Literally.
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Cassandra Osborne Zoë Kravitz
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Reed
I finally arrived back in Massachusetts after staying at California for three months. After my week long trip with Jade, I went straight to California. I got a call from my manager about a sponsor for my upcoming novels and was notified that I needed to be there for further discussion. I'll be officially moving back to Cali next month so I can focus more on my work. My sponsor is paying a large amount for the release of my new books, which is an opportunity I'm not planning on passing. I came back to finish packing up my apartment.
I decided to drive around out of boredom. Somehow, Thornridge feels different, possibly the December weather. Just before I decided to go home, I see The Salvator Library from the corner of my eye. I parked in front of the library then walk to the entrance. I tried opening the doors, soon realizing it's locked shut. There's a note hanging on the door.
CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Huh, that's weird. Come to think of it, I haven't heard anything from Maya since I dropped her off from the night bar we went to. I dialed Maya's number, but there's still no answer from her. I sent her a couple messages informing that I'm going to her place so we can catch up on things. Fifteen minutes later I'm at her doorstep knocking, "Maya, it's Reed! I just got back from California," I look down at my shoes guiltily, "I know I said I'll update you on things but I got busy.. I'm sorry." I patiently wait for a response. When I didn't hear anything back I knock again, "Maya?"
"Excuse me, son! Are you looking for somebody?"
I turn to my left and see a woman possibly around my age. I don't remember anyone living in that house. Then again, I don't often come over at Maya's place to know that. I replied, "Um, yeah. Have you seen the woman living here lately? She's my friend and I thought we could hangout but she isn't answering any of my calls or messages. I came over to check up on her."
The woman gave me a solemn smile, "My name's Cassandra. Why don't you come over here for a moment?" She walked back inside her house. My eyes follow her figure questionably while I stride to her place. She's sitting beside her kitchen window where there's two cups filled with hot tea and a tray of crumpets set in the middle. I sit down across from the woman and observe her as she stares at Maya's house. She doesn't look like it, but she gives an aura of someone who's lived years before my time.
"Since Maya was sixteenth, she would just eat a bowl of soup in her living room as she watched Christmas movies, then stayed in bed until the holiday's over. While the houses in the neighborhood were brightly lit and filled with cheers, her's was completely dark and quiet. She would longingly gaze at the fireworks every New Years. Every birthday, she bakes herself a cupcake with one candle lit, sings herself the song, then goes to sleep. She stopped wishing at eighteenth."
Why is she telling me all this?
I drink the cup of tea she prepared, processing everything she's told me. "I've been watching her over the years since she reminded me of someone. That girl has been suffering all her life. I believe it's time she deserved at least a bit more than what she ended up with, don't you think?" Cassandra said. Just as she uttered her last word, my mind starts to hurt. I place down the mug and grab my head hoping for the pain to stop. Suddenly, memories of Maya I didn't know I had flashes in my mind. Maya and I dancing in the library, dinner at Little Venus, picnic at Wonderland, lunch with her and Ronnie, the beach, our dates, every vulnerable moment I had with her.
When everything stopped, I look up to question Cassandra but she disappeared. I called out her name but there's no trace of her except the empty cup across from me. I dashed out to my car and dial Maya's number a couple of times. Again, no answer. I drove straight home feeling anxious by what happened. I can hear myself panting as I try to calm down. Eventually, I called Ronnie as my last resort. After a few rings she answered, "Reed?" I sighed out of great relief, "Ronnie? What happened? I just got back from Cali. Where's Maya?" It turned dead silent at the other end of the call until small whimpers were heard. "Ronnie?" I asked.
"Reed, Maya passed away three months ago," she croaked.
I felt my heart dropped. I have a hard time grasping the situation. "How? How could that happen?" I questioned. Ronnie takes out a deep breath before explaining, "It happened the night she came home from your dinner at Little Venus. We only found out the morning after. I should've known!" Ronnie cried out.
She continues sobbing, "She wasn't answering my calls that night so I thought she fell asleep. I came over the next morning to check up on her. I called her name from the door but there was no answer. I let myself in and went to her bedroom to see she was sleeping past ten. I found it unusual so I tried waking her up but she wouldn't budge. I kept yelling for her to get up, that it wasn't funny. I called 911 and she was rushed to the hospital. An hour later, the doctors finally told me Maya died from a heart attack in her sleep." By this time, I broke down into tears.
"Why didn't she try making me remember? Why?!" I croaked. I put Ronnie on speaker since my face's completely wet now. She replied, "She said you were happy so she didn't want to ruin that for you," which made me remember how I continued my engagement with Jade after the accident, "It wasn't the first time this happened to her. She believed that she'd get over it soon. I guess she really loved you, Reed." I cried harder hearing that last bit. I loved her, too. I still lover her. I got up and paced around my living room, trying to control my unlabored breathing.
I clutch my head tightly, her constant reminiscence appears through my head. Every detail of her face, smile, laughter, her nose cutely scrunched whenever she's angry, her smug look when proving me wrong, or when she'd stare lovingly into my eyes. I loudly shouted in torment as I punched the wall beside me, blood running down my knuckles. I let myself feel the pain of everything I've done to have caused her pain. Finally, I collapse to the floor, took a deep breath, then furiously pounding the ground to stop the havoc in my heart. I wailed in all earnestness, still in-denial of her death.
Ronnie told me where Maya was buried after she ended the call. I used the whole day yesterday to cope with what happen. Eventually, I passed out from all the emotions. I didn't want to waste another day, so I rushed to Maya as soon as I cleaned myself up. The weather becomes colder as time passes. Although there's the harshness off the cold, the sky illuminates the warmest colors. The crunch of dead leaves echo beneath my footsteps. A ghost of a whisper calling my name lures me faster to her.
I stand in front of her grave, holding a single white tulip. I kissed my fingers before placing it on her gravestone beside the flower whispering, "I love you, Maya. I never got to say it to you until now. I'm really sorry," I tiredly wipe away the tears, sobbing as the heartaches make their reappearance in remembrance of you, "I was planning to do it on the night of the accident once we reached Wonderland. I shouldn't have waited that long. What I'm about to say is undoubtedly the most sincere thing I'll ever say in my life. The most sincere thing I have ever felt. Never in my life have I been in love like this with anyone. The time we had together can never compare and measure to what I had with anyone else. I want you to know that I'll always remember you."
