2

The hunter took the little baby back to his house and decided to raise her as his own child. He had no child of his own and his wife had passed away years ago. He raised her to be a smart and a beautiful girl. She was excellent in her academics. Aurelia helped in the kitchen and in cleaning and in doing other chores. In the evenings she would often go out with her father for hunting. She had a sharp sense of hearing which really amused her father. Her skills were just so refined, her aim, her steadiness. Everything! It was like she was born to hunt.

She had a very loving Aunt Cindy who got divorced five years after her marriage. She had two sons, Mike and James. Aurelia created a strong bond with them. They were the only siblings she had and she adored them with all her heart.

They were happy. Just the two of them! Living an ordinary life, there was nothing special, nothing luxurious. But then of course, it’s all about how you define things. For Aurelia, this was luxury. Doing all the chores, going out hunting with her father, laughing at the table while enjoying his luscious meals and playing with the dogs. All this was more than enough for her.

Until, it was tragically taken away.

Her father left in the afternoon for grocery. An hour later, a police officer came knocking at their door. Aurelia greeted.

“Is this the residence of William Connor?”

“Yes” she replied softly.

“Are you his daughter?”

She took a little pause. “Yes”

“Is your mother at home?”

“I don’t uhm- she passed away when I was little. Is everything alright?”

The officer took his hat off. What he told her next left her completely numb. Just like that, everything was gone. She wanted to run and run and scream. What about the evening hunting her father had promised before he left? What about the cheese ravioli he was going to bake for dinner? He was gone.

Forever!

Hours later her Aunt was by her side, trying to soothe her out. What could she really say? She, herself was fighting herself to keep sane.

Aurelia had turned 19 a few months before the death of her father. Despite her suggestion of staying alone, Aunt Cindy insisted that she move in with them to Pasadena, California. It was northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Pasadena is also known as City of Roses.   

She packed everything and left with her Aunt leaving her home behind. A place where she once found happiness.

Everything had changed. The change wasn’t bad though. The brothers didn’t leave Aurelia’s side for a second the first three months. Aunt Cindy was trying her best to keep her happy. And Aurelia was happy for all the effort and love Aunt Cindy and her brothers’ were putting in but from deep within that girl was shattered completely.

During daytime, she’d walk Max and Rover, the German Shepherds’, and play with them. She would often stay up all night and stare out her window, looking at the moon, recalling the good old days. She missed hunting. She missed her father’s scolding, his lessons on hunting, his lame jokes, his taunts, his hugs, his kisses, his smile and his voice. Him!

It was haunting her to know she won’t be able to see him ever again.  

Life goes by so quickly, she thought.

It was a normal day. The children were playing in the parks, people were walking their dogs, and the young couples were out on dates. I, single and very happy by the way, was stuck babysitting my two little brothers, Mike and James.

“Mike, don’t fight with your brother” I yelled. I was casually sitting on the sofa minding my business on the phone when I heard James shout ‘go away.’

There was a moment of silence and I smiled victoriously but it faded as soon as I heard the door bang. Huffing, I got up the sofa and stomped upstairs.

“Seriously, you boys are getting on my nerves now” I said, gritting my teeth.

Mike was 16 and James, 14. I’m older than them being 19. From the beginning, we held a strong bond. I love those two idiots more than anything in my entire life. Yes, I would die for them without a second thought. Now I don’t want to go on and start praising them so let’s stop here. 

Mike was standing outside James room.

“What did you do Mike?” my hands landed on my waist. 

“I didn’t do anything” Mike whined, “He’s crying!”

My face softened. “Crying?”

“I was just trying to figure out why. I didn’t mean to make him more upset” he reasoned.

I walked to him and roughed his hair, “You were doing the right thing,” I softly knocked on James door, “Jamie? Are you okay buddy?”

“Go away” I heard him sob.

“We can talk about it you know. Mike and I are here for you” I looked at Mike hopefully.

“I don’t want to go to school,”

“Jamie, come out and we’ll talk about it, yeah?”

A moment later the door clicked and he opened the door. His cheeks were red and eyes watery. I squeezed his shoulder, “Hey, what’s the matter?”

“What happened, Jamie?” Mike inquired.

He slumped down on his bed, “Some kids from the school added me in a group on i*******m and they made fun of me. There were so many kids, Aurelia. And…” he sobbed, “and then they said that I don’t belong here. That if I die it wouldn’t matter.”

“Who said that?” Mike got angry and stood up.

“Mike, sit down.” I told him sternly. He scoffed and sat down, rage in his eyes, “Was it Bobby again?” I asked James.

He nodded.

“Alright, listen to me, Jamie” I said holding his shoulder, “No matter what the others say about you, you ignore them. They’re just big mean bullies picking up on their juniors. You understand?”

“I do.”

“They are just jealous,” a sly smile appeared on my face, “You are so cool and intelligent that they just want to break your confidence. Don’t let them.”

“Thank you Aurelia”

“Of course! What about Bobby though? If we let him go this time too, he’ll just keep bullying Jamie”

“Leave that to me,” a wicked grin came on Mikes face as he punched his fist with his palm.

Bobby was a senior at Mike and James’ school. The big bully! The boys had been complaining about Bobby for a long time. It was finally time to end it.

I drove to their school to pick them up. He was standing beside his black Cadillac.

I rolled down my window with a smirk because he seemed angry. My brothers had executed the plan successfully. 

“Your brothers messed with my Cadillac. Nobody messes with her” he said through gritted teeth. My gaze went past him. His tires were flat and there was a splashed egg on his bonnet.

“Ah, it’s got a nice touch to it” I said, my eyebrows rose in amusement. They overdid it. “How’d you know it was them?” I asked, simply.

He showed me his fist, “I swear to you if they mess with me again…”

I didn’t let him finish. I opened my door and he jumped back. He was taller than me but at the moment I was more intimidating. I got close to him and poked his chest, “You listen to me jackass. You better stay away from my brothers or I swear to you, you won’t even recognize that piece of shit” I pointed at his car.

He moved back. “I don’t want to fight you. You’re a girl” he mocked.

I scoffed at his lame excuse. “Why don’t you try big guy?”

He started laughing. We already caught attention but now everyone was looking at us when he shouted, “She wants to fight me”

I wasn’t laughing. I was in a full mood for war. He pointed at me so I grabbed his hand and twisted it back. He groaned in pain as I pushed him against his car and his face land on an egg splash. His back faced me as I pressed his wrist.

“Ah!” he screamed. By now some of the guys started filming us. More publicity, nice! Some of them were laughing.

“Whoa!”

“Aury?”

 I heard Mike and James behind me.

“Say you’re sorry” I ordered him.

“Sorry my ass” he said stubbornly.

I pressed more, “Say that you are sorry to my brothers…Bobby,”

He groaned, “Okay, okay” he said and I lightened my grip, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry; I won’t mess with your brothers. Sorry Mike and James” He grunted.

I let go of him. “And you call yourself tough. Is this the guy who bullies you, huh?” I asked the juniors who were watching. “What a joke!” I scoffed. “Let’s go boys”

As soon as we got inside the car James and Mike started praising me.

“You were awesome Aury” Mike complimented.

“That was amazing Aury. Thank you so much” James thanked.

Who says brothers aren’t expressive?

God, I love them to the world.

Who knew I had to leave them forever!