Chapter 1: Uncommon Surprise

Christian's Point of View

I bumped my head onto the windowpane of the bus I'm riding and smiled uncontrollably. It is the day I'm finally getting to meet my daughter, Cheska, and my wife, Elizabeth.

It's been five years since I last hugged and kissed them. I had to leave my hometown to find a proper job in the city. Sacrificing is always present in my life.

Since then, my daughter has always been taken care by my wife in my parents' home.

But now that I have saved enough money, I can finally buy a house in the city and live with my family together.

I looked at the window and saw the noisy Sunnyside Theme Park telling me that I finally have arrived in my hometown.

I lifted my bag resting on the seat next to me and without a doubt, I stood up from my seat smiling as I wait for the bus to stop on the side of the highway.

When the bus stopped and its doors opened, I quickly walk through the isle with a bubbly mood as the cool breeze from the air conditioner of the bus fades away and the hot, humid air touches my skin.

"I'm finally back as a different person," I whispered and watched the birds up the sky fly high.

Despite the hot weather, I used my energy to run towards my parent's house. I missed seeing their faces in person. I missed hearing their gentle voices and laughs. I missed the so much.

I looked at every familiar person I'm meeting in our street, every house I usually see and every cars that are always parked in front of it.

How sad that I sacrificed all the memories for the better improvement of our lives.

"Oh hey Christian!" I stopped running as some familiar voice called me.

I looked behind my back and saw Uncle Leonard holding a bag of meat. I smiled at him and walked towards him

"Uncle! It's been years since I last saw you!" I shouted even if some people around us would hear us. I just missed my uncle. My uncle who took care for me when no one bats an eye at me. My uncle who is the only one who trusted me when I was little. My uncle who stood as a great father when my real father was no where to be seen.

"You seem very healthy! Looks like you've gone rich!" Uncle Leonard joked. I, too, laughed with him. I've always felt comfortable with Uncle.

"How's life? How is dad and mom? My wife and my daughter?" I asked him with a wide smile.

"Oh, I think they're doing good. They've come very cold lately. All of them barely go out the house. They don't even smiled at us in the last few weeks," Uncle Leonard's smile fades away as he spoke very fast.

"I don't know the reason why they're acting like that lately. I'm too old to gossip," he explained while patting my shoulder.

My mind started to boggle why my family has been acting that way. I then started to worry and turn my back away from Uncle Leonard.

"Thank you for telling me this, uncle! If I may, I'm going there already.

See you later, Uncle Leo!" I lifted my free hand and waved at Uncle Leonard who smiled and waved back at me. We both parted ways, Uncle Leonard feeling chill and me feeling worried.

I swiftly ran towards my house, passing all the people walking. My heart starts to ache as I wonder what the fate will greet me in my parent's house. Why am I feeling like this? Why am I acting like crazy suddenly?

As soon as I arrived in front of my house. I was greeted by my dad who is standing in front of the door while wearing a suit and a black bowler.

"Dad! I am back!" I shouted as loud as he can hear. He looked at me with a blank face and continued to stare at me without feeling anything.

I wonder why he is not reacting to my response. It's like I was not gone for too long. What's his matter?

I walked towards him with tears on my eyes as the sun shines on the path.

"Christian! You came!" My dad's eyes widen as he open his slightly thin arms to me.

I sped up my running and tried hugging him tightly once I arrived. It felt good to have my father back and feeling him. It felt good.

Suddenly, I felt water in my clothes while hugging him to which I pulled back. I got nervous and my hands started to shake when I saw my father whimpering very hard.

"Son, I-I'm s-sorry but Elizabeth is now gone."

One statement fully changed my whole life. I do not know what to do. Am I hearing things? Did I hear it wrong?

My knees shaken in fear and shock that I got to kneel down on the marble foundation. I did not feel any tears in my eyes. I got blind from how my world suddenly collapsed. I felt nothing but the beat of my heart pumping fast as I hold my hair tightly.

•••••

"Elizabeth! Why did you end your life?!"

As I sat down on the pew together with my father while watching my stepmother cry in pain on the coffin where my wife is lying on. We are in a funeral home near the street of our house, one of the saddest places.

The whole funeral home is quiet. It is real quiet but my mind is full of noisy thoughts while looking at my wife's coffin in front of me.

I don't know how to act. I can't cry to let my pain out. My chest is hurting and my throat is dry that I can't speak out.

All of a sudden, a warm and soft hand grabbed my neck behind me causing me to feel nervous.

I looked around and saw a tiny figure smiling at me. I started to whine as I forced my lips to smile back at her.

"You're late, papa, you did not get to see mama one last time."

Cheska grinned at me while I opened my arms to hugged her tightly. I closed my eyes as I gently touched my daughter's hair.

"I-I'm sorry."

•••••

A few hours pass by and I could see the sky turning dark by the window of the funeral home. My daughter and my stepmother returned home while I'm out here with my father guarding my wife.

It was supposed to be a great day but it turned out to be one of the worst days I will ever experience.

I walked through the isle and towards the coffin to check my wife before going back home.

Her face is very pale, but her beauty remains. The beauty that attracted me and will ever attract me. But her golden heart would forever be special in my life. Her sweet personality will stick to my minds like sugar and her wonderful soul will always remain in my heart.

As I spent a few minutes thinking about her, I stood up and decided to return home. I stared at dad who fell asleep on the pew while some neighbors are sitting along the pews to condem the death of my wife.

I walked outside the funeral home with a fake smile to present anyone I will meet along the streets. Just like any person, we always hide our real emotions. We try our best to be strong, but if we break down, we often hide it because of fear.

A few minutes of walking has passed, I looked at the lonely blue moon up the sky and the stars which are nowhere to be seen. I finally arrived at the house of my parents again, but with different face.

As I stand in front of the door, I suddenly heard a scream, Cheska's scream. The door suddenly opened by my stepmother who has a messy hair and torn dress with my daughter being held by her tightly.

"What are you doing to Cheska?!" I exclaimed.

"It's time for both of you to leave the house."