I'm older and wiser'
Chapter 11
She walked into the hall with both of the most important people in her life beside her. Hit by the lights around her, the ball gown her grandmother once wore glittered. She looked beautiful, the dress was a show stopper on the 18-year-old. For once Eric decided not to chase after a girl which led to a peaceful night, with Aiden accompanying the both of them being the silent and witty kid as always.
They took slow steps on the red carpet listening to the chattering and mummer of the crowd. Smiling for the camera as the two boys laughed at Arylan for almost tripping over her dress. Today was the farewell, a farewell to their childhood, and their fancy introduction into the adult world. A week ago was the annual award ceremony and today was the more casual yet formal one. With food, laughter, and everything kept Pg, pure fun.
The night spent in a room full of lights and soothing yet common music to keep the crowd alive. The trio sat at their corner keeping each other company before meeting up with everyone that they spent the year with.
“ so you're telling me this is your first ball?”
“yes, I mean Eric attended every single one, I avoided all the drama each of his exes brought every single time.”
“ looks like his changed,” he said pointing towards Eric who came over with their drinks.
“ you guys look cozy, aren’t you going to join the rest of the class for their photo?”
“ I’ll pass, the majority of them are annoying and I'm not famous with the girls.”
“ yet your one," Eric said
“ Eric they calling you over, don’t break their hearts on their last night as high school students.”
“ blah blah blah, I’ll get you back for this, ” Eric said leaving.
“ do you want to go for a walk?”
“ sure thing…” Aiden said helping her up
The night went on and the final goodbyes were said, and everyone finally parted ways.
“ I’m glad that’s over, ” Eric said opening a lollipop.
“ I guess, I’m a little sad though…things are going to be different next year.”
“ True, I have to go home guys, my flights in an hour.”
“ see you then…I’m glad you could come for the matric farewell.”
“ wouldn’t have missed it for the world, ” he said rushing to a bus stop.
“ Are you leaving too?”
“ not really, I haven’t had a proper date. I had a boy and a girl with me the entire night.”
She laughed before stopping near a convenience store, “let's get something to drink,”
They walked in and sat near the school. A park where Arylan and Eric grew up at.
“ here,” he said opening the can for her
“ thank you, ”
“ you know. I’m always going to be a secretly messed up soul right?” Arylan said turning towards him
“No one said that I’m a perfect soul.”
“ I miss my grandmother, like crazy. I hope she’s okay.”
“ I bet she misses you too.”
They sat under the starlit sky, opening up to each other until they had to go home.
She walked into her house confused by the open door, standing before her was her grandmother. A tear fell from her eye, as she felt her anger melt away in her arms.
“ there, there my child, I told you I’d be back, ” she said holding Arylan even tighter, before gently wiping away her tears.
“you look beautiful, that was the same dress I wore to my first ball.”
“jee, I remember the story you told me, about how uncle Tim had to use his bike to get you guys there, then Abdullah took you guys home in a fancy car.”
“jee,” she said laughing, “ those were the good days.”
They caught up with each other, grandmother helped Arylan remove her dress before they sat near the fireplace with hot chocolate between their hands. ‘ let bygones be bygones' a saying grandmother always used when she expressed her pain and fear. Grandmother mentioning nothing about her sudden trip, or what she was up to and her coming home empty-handed.
~ the coffee mug~
After spending days away from home, and receiving threats…it finally occurred. With his company declaring its bankruptcy, Haxel decided to move away from home and start a new life in the suburb grandmother and Arylan are currently living in.
His wife and youngest child left a day before he arrived, Arylan being attached to her grandmother said she'll leave once they have settled what they needed to…Haxel dried out his bank accounts and packed what they needed.
Before they left he stopped by the masjid with young Arylan at hand, and grandmother. It was past prayer time so no one was around the area.
Haxel found himself cornered, by a few men. Not being able to fight back, or call for help he gave in.Arylan was at the back of the area playing in the garden. ‘bang’ three bullets to one leg, with a silent moan, he was then beat to a pulp. Arylan who saw her father in the state, rushed over shaking his bloody body. Grandmother grabbing her but in one moment she was out of her hands and onto the road as she looked around for her sister and mother.
Another loud bang and a young kid thrown off the road to the pavement nearby. Grandmother yelled, crying to her lord. With her son's life taken and her beloved granddaughter hurt.
The next few months were rough, grandmother was on her own…dealing with the death of her son and her daily routine of watching an 8-year-old fight for her life. In a coma for almost a year, Arylan finally woke up being blessed with the loss of her entire memory. She didn’t recognize her grandmother and remembered nothing about her childhood.
For year’s she was molded into a different individual far away from who she was…and today has made peace with not having her parents beside her for her entire life.
“ Did you find her?”
“The lady didn’t even take her scarf off, ” grandmother said ruffling the cards.
“ it was her Biel…im telling you.”
“ well she denied everything…you know what Arylan is happy now it doesn’t matter.”
“ in front of you she might seem that way, but you can see that there’s a void that can’t be filled. She misses her parents.”
“ Drop it, Tim, I don’t want to go there.”
“fine.”
The lady…was Arylans mother. Grandmother was searching for her during her quick leave.