Mother's Love

I opened the door. She is there again, sitting at the side of her window talking to a doll that she thought is her daughter. “Auntie, it’s me, Louise,” I said to her, but she just glared at me. I quickly closed the door. 

She is really scary; I can’t live peacefully in this house because of her. She is my Auntie; her name is Lorie, sister of my mother. She has a 3 years old daughter while her husband is working abroad. She is a good mother and a good husband until her unica ija died.

It was 10 months ago…

I, auntie and her daughter are on the rooftop. Our house is a fifth floor and here in the top is our favorite place because we can see from here the nice view of this place and can feel the fresh air. “Mommy, I want milk! Mommy! “her daughter said while crying. “Wait, baby, I will just finish braiding ate’s hair.” She answered. “Louise, help me to wash these clothes! “ My mama shouted from down floor. “Yes, mommy, I’m coming!” I answered yelling so she can hear me. “Auntie, I will just help mama first, if it is okay with you? I will be quick then go back here and you will finish braiding my hair.” “Sure, ija,” Auntie answered. "I will also pick a rose and put it in my head," I follow. "Okay, be quick, you really love rose huh?" she said before I leave. “Mommy, where is my milk?” I heard from my cousin before I left them.

When I reach our washing area, “Mama, what should I do first?” I ask mama. “Separate the white shirt and colored shirt, then put the white shirt in the washing machine first,” Mama answered. “Okay ma, I can do this by myself, you can rest.” “Oww, you’re so sweet. Thank you.” Mama sweetly said then hugs me tightly before she left. I started washing our clothes; I followed what my mama said to me.

♪ ♫ Party girls don't get hurt

Can’t feel anything, when will I learn

I push it down, push it down

I'm g----♪ ♫

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh! ” A scream from above interrupted me from singing. “What is that noise?! “Murmur to myself. I heard someone is running towards me, oh it’s my mama. “Louise, your cousin!“ Mama said with a teary eye. “What happened, mama?” “She’s—she’s—“ She can’t say it, her tears started to fall. “Mama, what happened?! “ I asked her shouting because I’m curious about what happens. All she can say is, “Let’s go to your auntie.” She’s can’t stop from crying. While we are going upstairs, mama’s legs are shaking. I don’t know what is happening, I’m confused but all I can feel is I am afraid of what is happening. When we reached the top, I saw my auntie. She’s about to jump. Mama runs the fastest as she can to stop Auntie. Mama hugs Auntie very tight and they both cry. I looked around, my cousin is not here. “Where is she?” I ask to myself. I walked to them on the edge of the rooftop to help mama but… My world stops from turning. The clock stops from running. I can’t feel my body. I can’t feel anything. I’m numb until I felt water coming from my eyes. I saw her… I saw my cousin lying on the ground. Her body is disjointed like a scrambled puzzle that is missing a piece that cannot be fixed again. Her arms, her legs, and her head are chopped. “It is not true, it can’t be. She’s now dead, my cousin is dead. “Those words are running through my mind.

“It’s my fault.” After a few minutes of silence, Auntie said it. “I left her alone here to make her milk, when I came back she’s not here anymore and then I looked for her... and-- and… I saw …” she said stuttering then cry again as it is her last.

Since that day happened she’s changed, auntie changed. She lost her smile, her mind, she lost everything even her husband left her because of what happened. We brought her to the psychiatrist but there is something that is an unexpected thing that happened. She killed someone who's stolen her doll, that is why mama decided to just bring her home though when she is here she is just quiet and mama knows that Auntie will not hurt us.

End of Flashback

After I closed the door I run to our kitchen. “Ma, auntie don’t want to eat. She is talking to the doll again.” I said. (Sigh) “Okay, I will just bring food to her room. Let’s eat and after this clean yourself then go to bed, okay? ” Mama said. “Yes, ma” I answered. “Sleep early or else?” Mama said with scary tone. “I will be having a nightmare hahaha. Yes, mama, I know” I said. That is her tactic for me to sleep early, she scares me.

Roll. Roll. Roll. Roll. Roll

I look at the time, 11:55 PM. I went downstairs to get water. While walking, I look at the room of Auntie, her door is open. I walk near to the door to see what she is doing. My eyes open wide. I can’t explain what I’m seeing. I don’t know what to feel right now. My legs are shaking. “What is this? What is she doing? Why she’s doing this? “All of those questions are running through my mind. “Auntie, why you are doing this?” I said to myself. I saw Auntie holding a box, wait a box? I take a step closer to her to see what it is. No way! It’s not a box! It’s a coffin. A coffin where her daughter buried. She opened it. Her daughter’s body exposed. “Shoc---!” Good thing I covered my mouth immediately. I’m scared; I do not know what to do. My feet are like planted in cement, I can’t move. I need to tell this to mama. I am about to run but “Ting!” (Sound of shovel) “Omyyy!” I did not notice that there is a shovel at my side. I look at Auntie. My heart jumps, she’s glaring at me. She smiles, it’s scary. I heard her steps, she’s walking towards me. I run but why there is something wrong? I can run properly. I look at the back, she is still following me so I continue running. I’m scared; I don’t know what to do. I knocked the door of the room of mama but she’s already sleeping, she can’t hear me. I continue running I don’t know where to go, I did not notice that I reached our kitchen. I turn my head back to check if Auntie is still following as I expected, still, she’s at my back. Boooogsh! Wrong timing! I bumped into the chair that causes me to stumble. I look at her, she’s looking at me I slowly crawl but... “Ahhhh! Auntie! No! It hurts!” She’s now pulling up my hair that makes me stand. We are now both in the sink. Auntie looks around, she’s looking for something. I look where she looks. Oh no! Please no. She took the knife, “Auntie, please! Don’t!” she’s acting stabbing me so I shout loudest as I can. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh----“

“Louise, wake up, wake up!” I hear mama. And suddenly I wake up. “Whoooo!” I breathe deeply. It’s just a nightmare. “Thank’s God!” that’s the only words that I can say then I pray. “Louise, are you okay?” Mama asked. “Yes, ma, I just had a nightmare.” I answered. “Here, I brought you water.” “Thanks, ma” “Take a bit rest then prepare your clothes it's Monday you should go to school. You can’t be late so faster, okay?” “Yes, ma. Uhh, ma? Where is Auntie?” I asked. “As usual she’s in her room why? Is there something wrong?” “Ahm. Nothing, Mama, It is just I had a nightmare about Auntie. Auntie Lorie took the coffin where her daughter buried and she’s about to stab me, good thing you wake me up.” I said. “Really? Are you scared, Louise?” She said worriedly. “To be honest, mama, yes I’m afraid. I am afraid that she will kill us like what she did in the past.” I answered. “Don,t worry, I will promise you that tomorrow she will be okay” “But how?”I ask. “Later before I go to work I will talk to her, okay?” Mama said then hugs me. “Thank you, ma, I can already live peacefully in this house.” "No worries, Louise, I can do all things just to make my sister and especially you to be happy. Always remember that whatever happens, I love you very much. And don't forget to take care of your Auntie and love her as you love me." She hugs me again but now it's like the last then she left me. I prepared my things and myself. 

While I’m in the car going to school, my nightmare is bothering me. It seems real, but never mind I will just forget it I will just focus on my study.

Criiiing! Criiing! “Okay, class dismissed.” As our teacher said those words everyone prepare their things and we, go home.

“Mama! I’m home!” I said but no one is answering me maybe she is still at work. I'm about to go to my room but I saw something weird. Why there is a sand here? Baaaaaag! “What’s that? Mama, are you there?” I yelled. I continue walking, Tiing! “Huh?a shovel inside, why?” I ask to myself. Wait, what?! A shovel? I remembered my nightmare. No! It can’t be. I quickly run where the sounds came from. It’s in my mama’s room. I opened the door and I saw Auntie crying. What happened? Where’s mama? When I looked at the corner of the room. I saw mama hanging. “Nooooooooo!”

Auntie gives me a paper. “What is this?!” I said yelling because I hate her, she killed mama. “That is a letter, I saw it there in your mama’s table.” I opened it. She's right it’s a letter, a letter from mama.

After reading, Auntie hugs me. "She talked to me earlier, she asked me what I need," Auntie said. "I said, all I want is to have a daughter. I don't have an idea that she can do this." She follows. I look at her, she's crying. I hugged her. "I will take care of you like what your mother did," Auntie said. And we both cry

Really love is so powerful yet dangerous. You can do everything just for love or should I say for the one you love. Appreciate every love that others gives to us especially a Mother's love.