Chapter 3: Before the Apocalypse (2)
I drove for an hour going to my brother's house. It was located a little out of the city borders where I need to drive along tall thick trees. It was dark once we arrived at their house. Paul had invited us to spend the night there rather than drive back to the city at the middle of the night.
When I pulled over, I saw my parents' car parked at front. I can feel my heart thumping hard getting nervous to come face to face with my mother again.
The last time we saw each other was in the new year which was nearly a year has passed. Mother and I always get into arguments because of the cold treatment and retort she always throws my way every time we meet. My mother's eyes that were full of disdain always gets my blood boiling.
After Cindy was born, I tried to patch things up with my parents. My father was accepting, but my mother was like a solid brick wall that was unbreakable. I thought that as time passed by her wall could break, but as years had gone by and nothing has changed. I lost hope and resentment had started to fester inside my heart. Every time my mother reminds me of my 'mistake' it irritates rubs me the wrong way, and an argument will start between us.
"Do not worry mommy." Cindy held my mother's hand and smiled.
"Let's do this," I inhaled deeply like I was ready to go into a battlefield.
I walked towards the porch and rang the doorbell.
*RING*
Not long, we heard footsteps going towards the door. It opened and we saw Paul standing in front of us.
"Hi Claudia, I am happy to see you." Paul hugged me tightly.
"Hey bro, how have you been." I hugged him back.
"Good, good." Paul replied. "Look at my little niece. How are you doing baby girl?" He lifted Cindy in his arms with a warm smile.
"I am good Uncle Paul." Cindy replied with a smile. "I got an A+ in my test today." She said proudly.
"Oh really, that's great!" Paul said. "My niece is really a smart girl like her mommy."
"Hehe, yeah." Cindy giggled.
"Well, let us go inside. It is cold out." Paul ushered us inside. "Mom, dad and Alison are already inside waiting."
"Okay." I replied and stepped inside the house.
Every step I take felt heavier as we were walking towards the living room. Once there, I saw my parents sitting on the sofa.
"Hello dad, hello mom." I walked towards them and gave my dad a kiss first.
"Hello, my dear." My father smiled gently.
I kissed my mother's check after, but she kept silent. Her eyes looked at me coldly as always.
"You're late." My mother said. "You know we can't start dinner without you."
My heart felt a pinch after hearing my mother's words. She was doing her usual cold tone on me again together with the usual retorts.
"It's okay mom, Alison is still not yet done with cooking dinner." Paul quickly took my side.
"That's right honey. We did not wait for that long anyway." My father said in my defense.
"Hi grandpa and grandma." Cindy waved to my grandparents to ease the situation.
"Oh my, look who is here." My father took Cindy from Paul and carried her. "How is my little darling girl?"
"I am doing fine grandpa." Cindy kissed her grandpa by the cheek and kissed her grandma who was beside her. "Did you know, I got an A+ in my test today?" She said with a bright smile.
"Wow, that is good sweetheart." My mother replied with a smile. "If only someone here used their brains like you."
I felt another pinch on my heart. The stinging words from my mother has been a norm since then and I was getting used to it. But even though I was used to it does not mean I was numb from the pain.
"Mother, please don't start." Paul said. "This is a special day for us so please…"
"Hmph." My mother stopped talking after she got reprimanded by her son.
"Claudia, you're here." Alison said with a bright tone when she arrived at the living room. "Just in time, the food is ready. Let's eat dinner."
All of us then headed to the dining area and took our respective seats. The dinner that Alison cooked looked quite special for the evening. There was roasted chicken, stir fried vegetables and mashed potatoes. There was also the high priced good wine that Paul bought and aged for a few years. He had told me back then when he first bought it years ago that he would only open it in a special occasion, and this was the special occasion.
"Then let's start eating." Paul said after leading the prayer.
We started to eat peacefully. I had missed having such a peaceful time eating like a family once again. It has been eight years since that one 'mistake' I made. But I did not regret having Cindy. I was happy that Cindy came into my life.
"So, do the two of you have a date prepared?" My father started to chat.
"Well, we were thinking to hold the wedding on June next year." Paul said with a smile. "Alison wants to be a June bride." He held Alison's hand gently and smiled at her sweetly.
"We have already hired a reliable wedding planner. The budget is also set, and everything is planned accordingly." Alison added.
"That is good to hear. At least both of you have a plan for your future." My mother had a sharp gaze at me. I knew that my mother's words were aimed at me.
'Hold it in.' I told myself. 'This dinner is for Paul and Alison. Let's be patient.'
"Then when are we going to meet your parents?" My father butted in before my mother had followed up on her remark. "It will be good to meet with the in laws soon."
"Yes, I have already told my parents." Alison replied. "They will be free next weekend. If you are free, then we can book a restaurant this week."
"Of course, we are free my dear." My mother replied. "We are not that busy as to not meet up with them. Unlike others, we do not need to work to the bone to make ends meet. At least we have good paying jobs because of our good education and planning. I am happy that you and Paul have been planning ahead for your future."
"Mother…" Paul tried to hush their mother gently but heard the utensils on the table clatter.
*BANG*
I was at my last straw. My mother's remarks aimed at me were taking a toll that I banged the table hard.
"Just please stop with the remarks mom." I tried to suppress my anger. "I know very well that you are aiming at me with those words."
"Oh, I did no such thing." My mother played innocent. "If you felt guilty then it was not my intention to do so."
"JUST STOP IT!" I burst out in anger. "I know what I have done but that was a long time ago. I have apologized to you countless of times since then, but you have not even given me the chance to redeem myself!" Tears started to go down my cheeks.
"Do not use that tone on me Claudia!" My mother retorted.
"I have tried to accept all of your words, but you are going too far mom!" I replied. "Yes, I have done a mistake that I cannot undo. But I do not regret because I have Cindy after that mistake. I loved Gray mom, I loved him so much that it broke my heart when he left me. When I needed you to comfort me, to be a mother to me, you were not there. You shunned me because of the one mistake I made."
Everyone was silent in the dining room. Words were thrown by mother and I, and they hit hard. I knew I have hit a spot on her and that was enough.
"I cannot stay here any longer." I said and pulled Cindy from her seat. "We will be going."
"Claudia, please don't." Paul stood up and tried to stop me. "It is dark outside, and the road is dangerous at night."
"I can't stand being here another minute if I will only hear words that stings me out of her mouth." I said with anger. "I am sorry Paul, but I need to leave."
I stomped towards the entrance and readied Cindy to go out.
"Claudia, why don't you talk to your mother calmly." My father caught in on doorway. "I am sure that you two can work things out."
I looked at the aisle and saw my mother standing while looking at us.
"If she wanted to talk, she would have done it ages ago when I was begging for her forgiveness." I said with a cold tone. "I am sorry dad, but I believe I lost a mother since I made that 'one' mistake." I said with an icy tone and left.
"Claudia… Claudia." Paul ran and tried to stop us, but I closed the car door and reversed it at a tremendous speed.
**
The road was dark on the way home. The huge trees were casting shadows that can give illusions for drivers driving at night. I was driving with a lot in mind. I knew that the relationship with my mother had been strained years ago and I tried to mend it. But years had gone by and my mother had just been so hard that I had given up hope.
"Mommy, are you okay?" Cindy asked with a worried tone.
"Don't worry baby girl, I'm fine." I wiped the tears off my eyes. I was driving at a good enough speed, but it did not help on what was to come next.
In the trees by the side, I saw shadows moving. I thought that it maybe from the headlights of the car, but then something bounced out of the trees. On the road in front of our car, I saw a silver white wolf with burning red eyes. It was relatively a little bigger than the wolves that were natives in this area. I was so surprised that I turned the steering wheel to the right hard, and the car swerved hard. I lost control of the car in an instant.
"Cindy, get down!" I yelled.
*CRASH*
Our car rammed into a tree by the side of the road. The crash was big that the hood of the car was crushed. I hit the steering wheel hard, I can feel my head throbbing in pain.
"Mmhhmm…" I moaned. I tried to open my eyes, but all I can see are blurs.
I smelled blood and I can feel something wet trickling from my forehead.
"C-Cindy…" I looked by my side and saw my daughter unconscious.
Then I heard footsteps getting closer. I looked by my side and saw a shape of someone.
"M-My daughter… please… save her." I muttered to whomever was there.
*CREAK BANG CRASH*
I did not know what was happening, but I felt that the door on my left was yanked out of its hinges. I tried see better, and I thought I saw the young boy from the grocery earlier.
'No, that's impossible.' I thought.
"Sorry…" I heard the person say. "I'm so sorry…"
That was the last thing I heard when my visions went black.