One Hundred and ninety two

CHAPTER 192

Alicia stood in front of the city cemetery. She stood in a knee-length black dress with long sleeves, black ankle boots that reached her knees, and her black beret. The air wasn't as cold as before, but the wind that surrounded Alicia hit her pale face. Alicia took a deep breath, then exhaled heavily. Her eyes felt hot, water held in the corners of her blue eyes.

The cemetery was quite quiet, with only a few people seen visiting their family graves there. Alicia felt there was no need to worry about that. After all, the day was still long, no one would dare to touch her during the day.

"Mom, how are you doing in there? Is it nice to celebrate Christmas from heaven?"

Alicia spoke to the gravestone with Michelle's name on it. It was her mother's grave, next to Edward's. They were Alicia's adoptive parents who had taken care of her since the death of her previous parents. Alicia's journey with her family had not gone well. None of them ended up surviving. There was no happy ending.

"Is Dad still annoying and asking you to make coffee in the middle of the night, Mom?" Alicia smiled bitterly. This was a hard reality to accept. "I'm sorry for having to make your body damaged, it must have been painful because they tore your body apart and sewed it back together. I didn't make your body look good on your last day."

The wind hit Alicia's face, making her long hair move with the wind. Alicia took another breath, then placed the bouquet in her hand onto the grave. Smiling bitterly, she said, "I'll be back tomorrow. Make sure you enjoy your Christmas in heaven, Mom. I'm fine, I'm sure I'll be fine."

Alicia was talking to herself, as if her mother and father were there. She looked around, then said goodbye to the grave that never made a sound.

"I'll be going, see you soon, Mom, Dad."

The girl left the cemetery, with a car following her. Inside the car was Angela, sitting in the back seat, while the car was driven by a private driver.

Angela watched Alicia's movements. She saw Alicia go to the cemetery, and even waited for her to visit her parents' graves, until Alicia left in a taxi.

"Are we going to follow her, ma'am?"

The question made Angela sigh. She tightened the furry coat she bought from England, then she said, "No need. I have to meet with Anna. I heard Professor Kyoto is coming to New York, we should meet some colleagues."

"Yes, ma'am."

Angela crossed her arms over her chest, then turned her face toward the window at her side. "Looks like we missed a lot."

****

Alicia alighted in front of Uncle Chuck's shop in a taxi. Her blue eyes stared at the building furiously. There were feelings of confusion, guilt, and sadness mixed together when she saw her favorite building. She steeled her resolve, her hands clenched into fists, and she nodded her head reassuringly to herself, before finally entering Uncle Chuck's shop.

The bell above the door rang. Alicia walked in and made Ethan, who was clearing the table, look over curiously.

"Hey, Al!" greeted Ethan, he was always like that, looking friendly and excited.

Uncle Chuck came out of the kitchen to put down his ice cream boxes, before finally noticing Alicia's presence there.

"Alicia, you're here! Get dressed and help me with this."

But Alicia didn't move as Uncle Chuck requested, she just looked at the two men in front of her in turn. Smiling bitterly, Alicia walked over to the two of them. And Ethan, was the first to notice the sadness on the girl's face.

Ethan had a rag in his hand and approached Alicia, "What's wrong, Al? Your face looks glum. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I mean, physically, I'm fine. It's about my work, Ethan, Uncle Chuck."

Uncle Chuck, who had been unfocused, now put down everything he was holding and looked at Alicia straight on. "Is something wrong, Alicia?"

"I'm going to stop working from today," Alicia said, surprising everyone.

As Alicia's announcement hung in the air, a thick silence fell over the ice cream shop. Ethan's friendly expression turned into a worried one, and Uncle Chuck's brows furrowed with worry.

"Stopped working? But why, Alicia?" Ethan asked, his eyes searching for an explanation from Alicia.

Alicia took a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I've been chasing something for so long, something that has left me with nothing but pain and emptiness. It's time for me to end it, to find a different path."

Uncle Chuck, a man who had seen Alicia grow and overcome many challenges, stepped closer. "You've been through a lot, son. We've seen you at your best and worst. If this decision is what you need, we support you. But can you tell us what happened? I mean, I just want to know what just happened to you?"

Alicia hesitated, the weight of her emotions visible in her eyes. "It's about my family, Uncle Chuck. My parents, the people who adopted me, are gone. I've been searching for answers and justice for their deaths, but all I get is pain. I need a break, a chance to heal."

Understanding appeared in Uncle Chuck's eyes, and he placed a comforting hand on Alicia's shoulder. "Family is important, Alicia. Take the time you need. We'll be here for you."

Ethan nodded in agreement, his concern turning into genuine empathy. "You have a family here too, Al. We're not just coworkers; we're friends, we’re family."

Alicia managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, both of you. I appreciate your understanding."

"Ethan is right about family, I already consider you and Ethan as my children. I intend to make you permanent workers here, well, that's if you want it too," Uncle Chuck said, he looked at Ethan and then back at Alicia. "I'm glad that my job has become easier since you two came along."

"Thank you, Uncle Chuck. But... the bad things that have been happening over the past few days have been making me worry and I can't help it."