Chapter 19

"Really? That's great!" Yvonne exclaimed.

"Why did you say that?"

"Nothing!" 

[Flashback ends]

"When my sister died, I had just graduated from high school," Yvonne recalled, her thoughts returning to a painful memory. 

[Flashback]

"Grandpa, why has Faith not come yet? I'll miss it," Yvonne said anxiously.

Her grandfather's phone rang.

"Maybe it's her; pick it up," he suggested. 

Yvonne took the phone, and her mouth slightly opened in shock. 

"Is it Faith?" her grandfather inquired. 

Yvonne didn't say anything; she was too stunned by what she had heard. Her grandfather took the phone from her trembling hands. 

"Hello," he answered. 

"Your daughter is dead. She is at the morgue," A voice on the other end of the line delivered the devastating news. Her grandfather almost fell down, but he steadied himself by gripping the wall for support. He ended the call.

Her grandfather finally got himself together and told Yvonne to get their jackets so that they could leave. 

"Oh, okay."

As she was going to their rooms to get the jackets, her legs shook with each step. She stopped walking and said to herself, "What are you scared of? The call is probably a prank; maybe they mistook her for someone else." She tried to reassure herself, but her trembling legs betrayed her.

"You stupid leg, stop shaking."

"Why are you taking that long?" her grandfather shouted, grabbing his car keys.

"I am coming," Yvonne replied. 

A few minutes later, Yvonne brought their jacket, and they headed to the morgue. Thirty minutes later, they arrived, and Yvonne was shocked to see Faith in that state.

"Faith, why are you here?" she said, bending down. "You should stand up; this prank is enough."

Yvonne swallowed hard. She touched Faith's face and felt its coldness. 

"Are you cold?" she whispered.

She looked at her grandfather and then back to Faith.

"You never like cold, so why are you here?."

"Grandpa, she isn't listening to me." Tears fell from her eyes. 

Her grandfather held Yvonne close.

"Your sister is dead and gone forever."

"Not true," Yvonne said, as she shook her head. 

She removed her grandfather's hand and held Faith's cold hand.

"You promise me you will take me out today," she said. "I was waiting for you. Is this your gift to me on my birthday?"

She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"If you wake up, I promise you, I will be obedient. I will listen to you. I will also give you my favorite things, so please wake up." she cried.

Her sobs grew heavier, and she eventually fainted from the overwhelming grief. 

Her grandfather quickly rushed Yvonne to the hospital, and as the doctor attended to her, he called Javier. However, Javier didn't pick up, so he left a voicemail.

Her grandfather called Javier, and Javier didn't pick up. He left a voicemail.

"Javier, what happened to Faith?" he said. "Was the operation not successful? If you receive this message, call me. I need an answer about what happened to her."

Three hours later, Yvonne woke up to find her grandfather holding her hand. 

"Grandpa, I had a dream that Faith died. It was just a dream, right?"

Her grandfather looked at her sadly and whispered, "It's not a dream; it is reality."

"It is not a dream." Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned away from her grandfather. 

Yvonne wished so dearly that it was just a dream. Why wasn't it a dream? Her heart hurt deeply. 

[Flashback ends]

"So, how did both of you get married?" Dr. Phillip asked.

"Before my sister died, we met at least five times, but after she died, we..." she recalled.

[Flashback]

"Grandpa, Grandpa!" 

Yvonne woke up and called for her grandfather, but there was no response. She searched everywhere in the house but couldn't find him, only a letter.

"It has been six months since your sister's death; I hope you have started to become strong. But for me, your sister's death hurts so much that I won't be able to take care of you for the time being." As Yvonne read the letter, her hands shook with each word. "Take care of this house while I am away, and take care of yourself. I love you."

Yvonne called her grandfather, but he didn't pick up. As she opened the door, she was met by Javier.

"My grandpa left me,"

"I know about that; he told me." Javier said, entering inside. 

"Did he tell you where he went?"

"No!"

Yvonne was about to fall when Javier caught her and took her to the couch. 

"Why are people leaving me? My mom left me, my sister also left me, and now my grandfather." Tears streamed down her face. "Am I cursed?"

"No, you are not," he reassured her. "Listen to me; none of that is your fault. Your grandfather just wanted to be in seclusion and not be disturbed. Once he is done, he will come back."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I am sure."

"How can I stay here myself?" she said, looking around the house.

"You can stay at my place; it's big enough for you."

"How can I? I don't want to disturb you."

"How will you disturb me?" 

[Flashback ends]

"And that was how I stayed at his place, and from there we got married for two years," she explained. "He was very good to me; I never suspected anything until I later found out it was because of my sister." 

"So, was it the reason you wanted to leave him?" Dr. Phillip inquired. 

"Yeah, I figured I couldn't stay with a man who does not genuinely like me, and I am only making him happy by not being with him. He hates breaking promises; that is the reason why he has never given me the divorce."

As they were talking, the door handle clicked. Yvonne and Dr.Phillip looked at the door and were shocked.