Chapter 33 Rosalyn (pt 1)

I wake up this morning with the noise of someone coughing and sniffling. I walk out of the bedroom and head to the kitchen.

Sain is cooking.

I see him cutting vegetables as well as coughing.

He looks over his shoulder and smiles. "You're awake, mom?"

His voice sounds hoarse. Is he sick?

I stretch my hand at him but pull it back to me. I freshen up as he sets the breakfast on the table. I come and sit together with him today. Usually he leaves food for me on the table. Since I slept well and woke up early, I can at least join him for breakfast.

"Mom. You can write, can't you?"

I say nothing like always. So. What if I can? Did you think I couldn't?

"You wrote a letter to the restaurant waiter that time when you fainted, didn't you? Did you ask him for help?"

I stop eating and look up at him. He found out!

"Given your reactions I assume you did. You left the purse willingly that day so that he could read the letter inside and find our address."

I drop the spoons from my hands and crawl back until my back touches the wall.

He winces his eyebrows out of worry and steps closer to me. "You don't have to be scared anymore mom." He kneels and says with his heavy tone. "He won't be coming anymore."

I look at him smiling.

"I eliminated him."

He… what?!

"You should know who you're asking help from. He had every ill intentions about you-"

I shove him and pin him on the ground by sitting on top of him.

Why! Why did you do that?! That guy was the only one who could've helped me escape from this hell!

He grins at me with his fangs out.

"Do you know what I did to him?"

I clutch the collar of his uniform and jerk his head against the floor. He coughs before moving his head and turns it at me.

"I. Cut. Him. To. ****. Heh."

Several memories flash before my eyes. I stand up. To support my swaying body, I lean on the table. While coughing he gets up and grins.

That look of delight on his face…

Scary!

I pick up a plate and shove it at him.

"Ahhhhhhhh!" While screaming I grab more plates and throw them at him.

He guards his head with his arms. At times, he looks above his arms and says while chuckling.

"You don't have to worry any more. I won't let anyone take you away from me."

One of the plates hit his face and he bleeds.

Oh no. I made him bleed again. Why do I always do that?! I'm so pathetic! I'm scared of myself! One day I might kill him as well!

I shriek. He embraces me, pressing my head on his chest.

"I know it. You're not insane, mom. So please stop screaming."

I shove him aside and lock myself in my room.

I can hear him coughing a lot from the room while he locks me inside the house. I wrap my shivering body inside the blanket.

This is all happening because of me! I brought it upon myself!

If that day i had only left him there..

8 years ago.

I left my maternal uncle's family. They never treated me badly but I had the sense that I shouldn't impose on them forever. I was aware that I'm only a burden to them.

I got into a university in the next town and rented a house there.

"Is this okay? It looks like someone lives here." I asked the landlord.

"Yes. They were very troublesome tenants. But don't worry. They left 5 months ago. So it isn't in use anymore."

"Are you sure I can use the furnitures as well?"

"Yes. They will never come back here."

At first I found it a bit suspicious how the rent was so cheap which I later found out..

"There's a boy unconscious inside the cupboard!!"

I was so surprised that my heart might've actually jumped out of my mouth.

We immediately took him to the hospital. He was so thin and skinny that his bones stuck out on top of his skin. He almost looked like a skeleton.

Nobody knew that the seven year old boy hid inside the cupboard for five months. At first his condition wasn't very bad. Even if it was raw he could at least eat human food. But for the past two months he lived on bugs.

My heart trembled the whole time I heard his despair from the doctor.

If I was even two days late, the boy might have died.

I heard the rest of the story from the landlord that his mother killed herself five months ago after murdering his father in fear of being treated as a criminal. Maybe out of fear he hid in the cupboard and never approached for any help.

I couldn't help but burst out in tears.

Such a small child.. why did he had to go through so much! Its just horrible!

He slept for a week in the hospital. When he woke up I was beside him. After all I couldn't bring myself to leave him.

I was an orphan myself. So I know how lonely he must've felt.

He grabbed my hand and uttered. "Mom?"

I was taken aback.

He thinks I'm his mom!

"Mom. You came back?! Like you told me.. I was a good boy and hid in that closet. I'm sorry I might've come out at times but I made sure I hid back inside. I waited for you for soooo long."

"But i.."

He sat up and hugged me.

"I'm so happy you're back mom! I thought I'd never see you again! I'm so happy!"

I can feel his snots sticking to my clothes near my stomach.

What should I do with him? He thinks I'm his mother. I can't just leave him alone either. What should I do?

"Eerr. I might've forgotten your name.."

I feel embarrassed.

He giggled. "Haha. How could you forget my name, mom? You used to say that my name is what reminds you of your sanity." He looked up at him. "You named me Sain Sinzer!"

What a unique name!

I smiled back at him. "Okay, Sain. The doctor said that you should stay at the hospital for a few more days. So recover as early as possible. I'll make a feast at home for your return!"

"Yay!"

Thats when I decided I'll raise that boy myself. As an orphan I'm closely accustomed to his agony. I'll give him all the happiness in the world!