As Long As I Am With You

11

"Wake up, Winterrose!" Prim shook my shoulder. My eyes opened, her face was the first thing I saw. Scary. I pushed her away and got up immediately. I looked at the window, the moon has awoken. Shining really bright.

"I think we'll be leaving in fifteen minutes so you better get ready!" she left the room, I sighed and got up immediately. I took a quick shower and wore my outfit. I looked at my reflection. I applied a little bit of makeup.

I got my things ready and got down immediately. Mom and Dad are preparing their things and Prim's using her phone, wearing her matchy matchy outfit. They looked at me, "Seems like the youngest is ready!" Dad said. I chuckled, "I am!" I said happily.

We wore our masks and left then hopped on the car. Damn, this car. The same old car, pretty old but too many memories are made here. I looked at my window. Flashbacks played inside my head. I remember struggling with my English when I got here, my first home in America.

I sighed, I really am at home. After for a few minutes, we arrived at my grandparents' house. I got really excited and got out of the car immediately. Dad locked the car and knocked on their door.

The door opened, "Sweet Jesus! Hello Son!" grandpa hugged my old man. He saw me, his eyes widened. "Oh my god! My youngest granddaughter is here!" his eyes watered.

I approached grandpa and hugged him, "It's been ages! You have grown up! Honey! Winter is here!" He cried. My heart sank when his tears touched my shoulder. "Hi Grandpa" I patted his back. Grandma popped from behind.

"Winter! Oh, Look at you!" she opened her arms, I went to her and hugged her. "You were just a little girl! Time flies so fast! Welcome back!" she shrieked. I tightened the hug. Mom, Dad and Prim entered the house too. Grandpa welcomed them.

"I missed you so much!" I said. She broke the hug and looked at me and smiled ear to ear. She grabbed my hand, "Come sit down!" I smiled and looked around. I think I was 18 when I last visited this house.

I sat down on their sofa, my butt liked that. Mom and Prim straightly went to the kitchen. I took my mask off, Grandma sat down beside me. "How are you?" she asked, caressing my hair just like what she does back in New York. She would ask how my day has been.

"I'm good, grandma. How about you?" I smiled at her sweetly. She giggled, "I'm doing great, too! You cut your hair. It suits you so much. You're just like your mother; Rose!" she continued caressing my hair.

My mom's real name is Akahana Sasaki. When she migrated here in America, she said people had a difficult time pronuncing her name so they called her Rose instead, the definition of her Japanese name. That's where we got our name, Winterrose and Primrose.

"Thank you, Grandma! Your hair, it's all white but you still look young and beautiful." I held her hand. "Oh you don't have to say that! How's Gerald? Is he doing well?" she asked, my face lit up. I'm glad she still remembers him.

"Yeah, he's doing great. I'm sure he misses you too!" I responded. "Me too! I miss that little boy! How's New York?" she asked again. "Well, New York is busy as it is." I shook my head, I could literally hear the streets of nyc. The cars honking, the people.

"New York is New York! But I could still not believe it! Winterrose is right here! Hold on, how old are you now?" Grandma asked, eyebrows crossed. I giggled, she's just so adorable. "I'm twenty! You moved here in Houston I was sixteen!" I smiled.

Living alone at sixteen was quite tough, I lived in my school dormitory. Honestly, it was not that bad. However I wasn't comfortable living with people I don't know. I moved to my own apartment two years later.