Someone Who Returns

I remember the first time I met him again. A handsome man with piercing blue eyes, but still charming. A hard face with slightly messy brown hair, looking very charming.

At that time, I was really in a state of turmoil on the day my parents died.

 

It was the worst day of all when my parents were supposed to go on their honeymoon again. They were involved in a terrible accident and went into a ravine.

 

"Dad! Mom!" I screamed hysterically, fell to the ground, looked down and roared right in front of my parents' two coffins.

 

The funeral that day was shrouded in rain. My black dress fell to the ground. I hugged the two coffins tightly. This chest was painful and tight. My throat choked as if something wanted to come out of my body but was held back.

 

Several middle-aged women approached, shading me. "Never mind, Nyla. They have to be buried soon."

 

I shook my head vigorously. "Not yet."

 

There was a snicker from one of the women. "How long are you going to stay here? If the funeral doesn't take place, the hole will be flooded. You'll get sick if it keeps raining, Nyla."

 

Everyone attending the funeral looked upset. I didn't care about their stares. I still wanted to be with them. Why are they leaving so soon? I couldn't let them go. Even for the rest of my life, this pain will linger.

 

I bit my lower lip, holding back a sob. "I still want to be with my parents."

 

"Never mind, Nyla. Let the priest start the funeral. You have to let them go." A soft, delicate hand touched my shoulder. "Let them rest in peace."

 

I gave in, listening to their words. My parents' funeral started and ended quickly without me realising it. None of Mom and Dad's relatives came to offer their condolences at the funeral like I was used to seeing at other people's funerals because they had no family.

 

At a time when I felt alone, alone without anyone to accompany me back home, he was someone I had forgotten about.

 

"Nyla." A handsome man hugged me tightly. "Sorry for coming late."

 

I let go of his hug with a confused look on my face. "Who are you?"

 

"I'm Matthew, your uncle, Nyla." He introduced himself.

 

I frowned, trying to remember a familiar name. "Uncle Matthew," I said softly, calling his name.

 

That day was my second meeting with him after 12 years of not seeing each other. He was my father's half-brother.

 

Seventeen years ago, my grandfather remarried a woman with a son. And that son was Uncle Matthew. That's what I remember from my father's story, but I don't remember the relationship between these two brothers because we rarely met.

 

My first meeting with him was when I was nine years old. We have an age gap of 13 years. That means Uncle Matthew is now 34 years old.

 

"I will always be by your side, Nyla." Uncle Matthew's heavy voice rang clearly in my ears. His warm fingers gently stroked my hair.

Like a cool breeze coming through, I felt happy to hear it. I was grateful to meet him at that time. I thought that by doing so, I could live a little better.

 

My body, wet from the rain for too long, felt tired. I almost fell, but luckily, Uncle Matthew immediately held me up.

 

"You must be tired. Go to your room and rest." Uncle Matthew told me to rest in a low tone.

 

I obeyed, going straight to my room. I felt calmer.

 

In the room, I lay thinking about the interaction between Uncle Matthew and their father, unlike a normal brother. Their relationship was cold, like strangers.

 

Father never mentioned Uncle Matthew, that name. Even Father rarely talked about him. "There are no memories that I can recall between them. I don't know if it's because they were half-brothers, so they were never as close as normal brothers."

 

Still, I'm glad he's here. I could rest for a while, falling asleep after changing my clothes.

 

I don't know how long I slept. When I woke up, it was already night. I was surprised to feel a great pain in my chest. The house was tranquil and desolate. The atmosphere suffocated me like I was trapped in a stuffy room. I couldn't breathe.

 

"I'm alone here. Dad, Mom, why did you leave me so soon?" I cried out their names while beating my chest. That hurt so much.

 

My room was still dark. Only relying on the dim light from the moon in the night sky.

 

"Nyla." Uncle Matthew's voice startled me. Uncle Matthew immediately turned on the light switch.

 

He approached me and then placed the tray he was carrying onto the nightstand. His hand touched my face, wiping away my tears.

 

"Uncle," I said his name softly between my sobs.

 

Without hesitation, Uncle Matthew cupped my face. "Calm down. You're not alone here, Nyla. Uncle is with you."

 

Uncle Matthew tried to calm me down. His two big hands hugged me warmly. The smell of his perfume was strong in my nose, but it made me feel calm. His broad chest also felt so comfortable. I didn't expect that she would change so drastically. His body, which used to look skinny, now looks athletic and powerful.

 

I could feel the strength of his muscles as he released our embrace. My tears slowly subsided with the gentle way he treated me.

 

"Drink up." Uncle Matthew held out a white cup to me, breaking my daydream about him.

 

The cup puffs out hot smoke. It was perfect for my body, which was cold after the rain. Even though I had changed my clothes, it still made my body shudder from the cold. Even my thick, warm blanket didn't feel like enough.

 

I don't remember what clothes she was wearing, but back then, her skin looked tan. He had changed so much. He had become very handsome.

 

I grabbed the cup and sipped slowly. "Thank you." My tone was a little low because this atmosphere still felt awkward.

 

Uncle Matthew blinked his eyes in response to my thanks. He looked at me closely. "We should stay together."  He opened his voice again.

 

He placed my used cup on the bedside table. "I will be your guardian."

 

My forehead scrunched up. What was he guarding me for? I felt uncomfortable because we had just met again.

 

Quickly, I shook my head, declining his offer. "There's no need. I can take care of myself."

 

Uncle Matthew touched my hand with his blue eyes that looked at me warmly. "I know you still can't hold your own, Nyla. I'll stay here to keep you company so you don't feel lonely."

 

I was surprised to hear Uncle would stay here with me while we had just met. It felt uncomfortable and strange having to live with him. But after I thought about it, it was a good thing. It was possible that my uncle would be as warm as my father and be kind like him.