An Ordinary Day

It was 7 in the evening, and trees began to lost their leaves. Winter is almost coming. I walked outside the cafeteria and everybody bid me goodbye. I can feel my body pulling me down...

I saw people preparing for winter. Old steel barrels were filled with firewood, some people gave homeless people sweaters and any clothes to fight the harsh cold winter.

I almost came to a stop when I saw a little girl in front of me. She was wearing this brown ragged clothes, and an old shoe that was bigger than her feet.

"Hi, merry Christmas" she lively said as she was looking at me with a smile.

I bent my knees down so I could see her better. She has this amber eyes, a beautiful long red hair and red lips and cheeks.

I smiled at her and replied, "Hello, Merry Christmas too. What's your name?"

"I am Aaliyah, would you want some candy cane?" she said me as she offers me some.

I picked the smaller one in her hand, "Thank you, you're very kind."

I was about to give her some coins but she refused, "I am not selling this. You looked like my sister"

"Where is she?" I asked her.

She turned silent as she bow her head down, "I-I don't k-know..."

"Aaliyah!" a soft toned voice called her, she raised her head to look at the person who called her. I looked at a woman about 30s in age, she's wearing an old jacket reaching down to her knees.

She looked at me, "I apologize for my daughter's..." she didn't finished what she's saying when I stood up and smiled at them, "She didn't do anything. You have a very kind and caring daughter". I brushed Aaliyah's hair, "I better get going now."

I missed my mom. I started to walked again but not far enough I turned to take a glimpse of them, "Thank..."

Their gone, maybe they went to inside the dark alley.

I just came home, almost exhausted. I just came home from my part time job, I sat down on the couch and I put my bag on it. I never imagined I will be inheriting such enormous house.

It has three bedrooms that are on the second floor, two bathrooms, a spa room that is located near my bedroom, a library and an office, a swimming pool which I rarely use, two living rooms, a gorgeous kitchen and a garden.

I stood up and walked to the kitchen. The walls were painted light yellow, the floor was covered with dark brown carpet.

I opened the steel door of the fridge finding only a bottle of milk and a couple of chocolates. I heave a sigh at the sight. It's been a long while since I saw my fridge full of supplies, but now it was empty. I never noticed it since my schedule was loaded.

I get the milk and sip a little. By the way I am Catherine, 19, student and a part timer.

I worked at the café near the university where I study. I worked for five hours during weekend, and an hour during weekdays.

I never knew my parents because I grew up in an orphanage, and was adopted by Mrs. Hilda Matsumoto. I usually reminisce the days I was with her, especially the day of my adoption.

“Aren’t they adorable, ma’am?” the young clerk at the orphanage asked the middle age woman with black, medium length hair.

She looked at the little girls that were inside the classroom, she was observing them at the back of the classroom.

She squinted her eyes, as she clasped of her hands. With a serious yet soft tone she looked at the clerk she’s with and asked, “What is the name of that girl with coffee brown hair, third row second to the left.”

The clerk followed her sight to the girl she’s talking about and replied, “Oh, that is Catherine.”

The woman looked straight, “I want to see her documents, please.”

The clerk nodded, “This way, please.”

The woman followed her to her office and went straight to the filing cabinet beside her table.

“Mrs. Matsumoto, this is her file.” She gave her the folder and Mrs. Matsumoto checked it.

“Catherine Thompsons, 5 years old…” she scanned the documents thoroughly and looked at the clerk.

“What are the procedures and requirements to adopt Catherine?”

The clerk smiled and prepare the papers for adoption.

She has a son whom she had before me, he was Hajime. They were already successful in their business, and it was still growing. Yet Mrs. Matsumoto really wanted a daughter. I was elated when I knew I was about to be adopted.

I feel everything was perfect because we were always happy...but I was wrong.

One snowy morning of December, Mrs. Matsumoto felt a sharp pain on her chest.

"Cath, call an ambulance now! Mom, hold on." Hajime panics, screaming. He placed her on the couch as he rushed to the fridge to get a glass of water for our mom.

The ambulance came immediately and we rushed her to the hospital. We were both worried as we sat at the bench outside the room.

Hajime can’t contain himself, he walks back and forth. He was already biting his thumb nail. Then he would sit and his foot will tap relentlessly.

The door to the emergency room opened and the doctor came out, Hajime and I stood up, "Doc, how's our mom?"

The doctor called Hajime and whispered on him. The doctor looked at me worriedly then back to Hajime. Then, the doctor left him with a tap on Hajime’s shoulder.

He returned to the bench, he dropped himself and he was staring blankly, his tears flowed. I was curious and very worried, "Hajime, what did the doctor say?" he didn't look at me, he just slowly shook his head 'no'. He covered his hands to his face.

My hands closed my mouth and suddenly my tears flowed. He looked at me then, held my hand and hugged me, this was the first and last memory of my brother who calmed me.

Few minutes passed, mom was brought to the morgue. Hajime called mom’s secretary to fix mom's wake and burial.

On the day of her wake, almost all of mom's visitors were her employees and few friends. Her relatives didn't promised us that they can come, because they are all in abroad and it may take awhile before they reach us here.

I was just sitting on a couch, in front of me was mom's casket. It was silver and gold in color, mom's favorite flowers were roses and chrysanthemum.

The candles were floating around her casket, vanilla and  lavender scented candles were lit, and its smell rotates in the room. It was relaxing.

One thing that I noticed was that everyone’s wearing white clothes while Hajime and I wore black.

I remembered that it was one of her wish, everyone should wear white when she dies. I talked to Hajime regarding mom’s wish, so we changed our clothes to white.

It was only three days, before we sent mom to her place. Hajime stayed beside me. We couldn't believe that this happened. We were still shocked, we tried to comfort each other and together we greet mom's friends and employees who came at her wake.

Days later after the burial, an attorney came, to legalize and transfer the properties.

Almost everything was transferred to me. In short I inherited everything, the 2 storey, 400 sq./m house and its items including the antique cabinet in her bedroom, the garden filled with chrysanthemum and orange roses that she used to tend (I now have someone else to tend it), I also have the silver AUV that was registered as a courier, and the whopping $2M.

On the other hand, she gave her company to her only son, Hajime. He inherited the two door condominium that she bought for him and the $3M. Hajime and I always visit our mom. We rarely see each other. Hajime was a silent one, he was very alike to Mrs. Matsumoto, however he was a lone wolf. I think he is a sort of introvert...

But it's okay and Hajime is not jealous since he has the company to monitor and maybe, he has a big salary aside from the money he inherited.

Jealousy is out of our vocabulary.

As a matter of fact, I can survive without working, I have a monthly allowance of Five thousand dollars, but still I prefer to work. I want to earn my own money, so I could learn how to spend and save.

Its been 2 years now, I earn well in my part time job and sooner I may be a part of it.

I opened an account in the bank where they can put the monthly allowance. I never spent a single penny there... I might use it someday but not now.

Well, I got home a bit early and as usual I am alone in this enormous house, no one to talk to, nor a pet to cuddle…

As I walk the corridor I felt very sleepy, don't know why..

My sight became blurry...

I'm dizzy. I blacked out

(Silence overwhelmed)