CHAPTER 4—She Doubt It

Rain’s Point of View

I could barely step inside the Butterfly Haven. The garden, according to my daddy, is my Granny Aitana’s favorite place. Everything is in order. It covered the floor with a red carpet, even though the ground was coated with grass. There are chairs that are decorated with flowers and other plants. The place is clean. They shield the said area. Only the sky blue net is the barrier on the side and roof to prevent the butterflies from flying and escaping.

If I hadn’t known that it was a hill, I would have thought that a wedding would take place there. Well-wishers and people wore white and had roses. No one wears black.

“Mommy, why is Granny’s wake like this? It looks like a wedding venue. It’s beautiful!” I said while smiling and looking at the flying butterflies. I cannot believe that the place looks like this.

“Because this is your granny’s favorite insect and place—well, except for the floral garden that you and grandma often hang out in. She has been very strict since then and when she dies, she doesn’t want to be buried inside the mansion or anywhere else. It’s just here. Because, according to your granny, her butterflies will take her to a true paradise in the company of God.”

“Wow!”

“Then he said he didn’t want the people he was leaving behind to feel sad. Did you, when you first met me? Were you sad?” Mommy asked me.

I shook my head. “Mommy. Actually, it felt good when I saw this place. It was relaxing.”

“That’s what your granny wants,” she said to me with a smile.

We walked to the center. Only then did I notice that there was a big cross at the end? They placed a white coffin in front of it. It has many flowers stuck around it. When I saw my granny’s face, I felt a strange sadness. I tried to stop the tears from falling from my eyes, but I failed. Tears poured from my eyes because it was hard to accept that it was gone now. I said a brief prayer to Granny with tears falling.

‘Rest in peace, granny.’

ON THE FIRST NIGHT of the wake, many other relatives on my daddy’s side recognized me. I say the rest of them have talked or played with me before, but I really remember. I am just on the side and sitting holding a book I’m currently reading. I know that the attention of our other relatives often goes to me, but I do not look at them.

I also had earphones on both ears, so I couldn’t really hear anything from the surrounding people. My full attention was on the book I was reading.

I turned to the person holding my shoulder and frowned as I waited for her to speak.

“A-ay... Sorry if we bothered you. What... We were just going to invite you to eat.”

I looked at cousin Aliona. She smiled at me, but I didn’t even reciprocate and showed interest. I shook my head without emotion. “I’m busy.”

Aliona seemed to nod shyly, then turned away and returned to the behavior of the other cousins.

My mommy’s look turned around me. Mommy smiled at me narrowly while Daddy shook his head. I secretly shrugged, then resumed reading the book.

It was eleven o’clock at night when I approached Mommy and whispered, “Are you sleepy, Mommy? Let’s go now?” I asked him.

She nodded, then addressed the people she was talking to. “Rain and I will go first, huh?” She turned to Daddy. “Dad, your son and I will go to the bedroom first.”

“I’ll take you.” He was about to stand up, but I immediately spoke.

“I can manage, Dad,” I said, then carefully grabbed Mommy’s wheelchair. I slowly pushed you inside the mansion.

“Oh, Ember, we should agree with your daddy. No one will pick me up.”

I just looked at Mommy before taking a deep breath and picking up the cell phone. I was about to call Daddy’s number when someone approached us.

“Excuse me, Ma’am. Is there a problem?” asked the man, who couldn’t make out his appearance. Its voice is full.

“Is that you, Ali?” Mommy asked the man.

I frowned when I gradually saw the man walking towards us. I was wondering who it was, but when a little light shone on it from the light on the pole, my brow furrowed even more. “Y-you!?” I asked.

The man just smiled at me, then crouched down to talk to my mommy. “Yes, it’s me." He look at my mom. "Do you need help, Ma'am?”

“Oh, I hope so. Rain’s daddy is busy.”

“I’ll take care of you, Ma’am.”

My mommy smiled. “Oh, thank you, Ali.”

“Mommy, wait!" I look at this man. "You’re going to lift her up?” I asked in disbelief. My eyes were still wide as I looked at the two of them.

“Yes, Ember. Don’t worry, Ali is really kind.”

“But—"

The man stood up and approached me. There was no reason for me to back down to give him the way. The man took a position behind Mommy’s wheelchair, but his eyes couldn’t take his eyes off of me.

I looked away.

“I’ll take care of your mommy, Miss Ember.”

I looked there, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. I want to ask him to call me by my middle name. This is the only person who called me before, apart from my family.

‘And what right does he have to call me by my second name, right?’ I asked myself.

The man slowly pushed Mommy’s wheelchair to the bottom of the stairs. I just followed and silently watched the two. Ali carefully picked up my mommy, then started to climb the stairs.

I just shook my head. I thought it was necessary to move my mommy and daddy’s room. There are many rooms in the mansion. Maybe they can move to the room that is only on the ground floor.