Once Upon A Time

'Once upon a time, there was a dog that said 'woof woof.' He didn't like the meowing cat, always tickling her tail on his nose. One day, a mouse came to play hide and seek with the cat and dog. The mouse said, 'squeak squeak' every time it won...' This was my 'Father's' story. I was sitting on his lap. We were going somewhere with Uncle and his family in our car. It was late at night. We were going home. We went to the beach and now we're going home. We went home. Everything is nice and safe.

. . .

It's 3.45 a.m. Mother came today. She sat next to me in bed. 'I know you remember him.' She whispered. 'I've been watching you. That is my duty.'

Her palm rubbed against my forehead. 'Time might come to an end soon. You have to choose between revelation and search or peace and safety for those around you...' She paused. The silence in the air echoed our heartbeats. 'Choose revelation and search; the only ones remaining will be you.'

I keep quiet. I know what she means. It's a risk. She pats my head. Her hand trembling.

'I'll tell you a story from your childhood. You may remember it by now. If not let's hope this will...' Her tone changed. her voice resembles my cousin. Uncle's daughter. Somehow I feel at ease. He tells me a story. The memory I recovered today. The story I remembered after many years gone by.