“C’mon, let’s go in,” Aaron said in a low voice.
The atmosphere had changed. It was more solemn, now that the two went through their childhood memories in their home.
They were happy memories but it had a sad ending that the two thought best not to talk about.
The two entered into the hallway with Lucky trailing behind them and sniffing at every corner. He had somehow sensed the calm environment and decided not to make a fuss.
Aaron pulled their luggages across the shiny wooden parquet. The house smelt of fresh paint and floor polish because it was renovated.
“I’ll take this stuff upstairs” he grunted and dragged the heavy suitcases up the stairs. “Ok. I’ll just look around then” she shouted after him and took off to explore the place.
It had been so long since she saw her home that she could barely remember what was in it.
The living room had comfy looking cushions and a wooden coffee table at the centre, a nice chandelier above it. There was a new TV with a sound system too with a few potted plants beside them.
The dining table was just on the other side with six chairs around it and a bowl of that fake fruit on top.
She chuckled softly remembering the time when Aaron gave her a fake Apple to eat.
She was doubtful at first because the apple felt weird in her tiny hands but she ended up eating a bit after Aaron convinced her that it was a special kind of apple.
The kind that turned you into a princess.
Well after eating it, she did feel like a princess. She felt like snow white when she found herself in the hospital…
The kitchen looked great. The floor was made of black and white checkered tiles and the counters of black marble.
She could feel the cool on her warm palms as she touched it.
The wall was covered in green flowery wallpaper. The kitchen was better than the one they had at the orphanage.
Isa made her way to the backyard and Lucky who had been walking silently behind her ran ahead of her with excitement and began to bark.
She laughed happily and said “yeah I like it too”.
The back was spacious with lush green grass and trimmed hedges. There were sprinklers in a few corners and a few cute garden gnomes. There were beautiful flowers at almost every corner.
It was simply beautiful but the most beautiful thing there brought tears to her eyes.
Under a shady tree was a white swing. Her dad used to sit on it with her on his laps and she would tell him about all her adventures of the day. She would often fall asleep in his arms after some time.
Even if I can’t remember a lot from my childhood, I cherish these memories a lot… she thought.
Lucky felt her sadness and rubbed his head on her knee while doing that whiny voice. “I’m ok Lucky, I just thought of my dad for a bit. You don’t need to worry about me”
He nudged her knee again and cocked his head to the side. “I’m serious buddy, I’m ok” Isa rubbed his head to emphasise her words.
‘I’m glad I have you Lucky…’
“Lucky, come here boy,” Aaron called. He had with him a box of dog treats. After giving him some treats Aaron said “I’m going out to buy pizza. What’d you think?”
“I want the chicken pizza” she said heading for the stairs.
Aaron left and Isa went up the stairs and into the hallway.
There were pictures of ancient looking people and landscapes that reminded Isa of the pictures she had seen on her trip to the museum at Corebright city. The pictures gave her the creeps.
Their eyes… it felt like they were looking right through her; like they could see something she couldn’t; like they were gazing right into her soul.
“Gosh” she face palmed herself. ‘I’m thinking nonsense again’
She entered her parents library. It was no ordinary library as it looked like an archive. She remembered them spending hours inside the library going through large volumes of books and most times staying up late studying those old books.
Isa went over to one of the shelves and traced the spine of a particularly large book. It had intricate designs embedded in what looked like silver colour. She pulled it out and dropped it onto the table.
A cloud of dust rose in the air.
‘Why was it so dusty; like it hasn’t been touched for years…’
“Of course it hasn’t been touched for years,” she said, rolling her eyes at her own thoughts. She opened the book very carefully. The pages looked like they’d fall off at the first touch…
“What language is this?…” She asked herself.
There were both words and symbols in it. Is this Egyptian or… Greek?
She tried to read a few words and after a few tries, closed the book.
She pulled out a less bigger book and opened it.
I think this is Spanish, unfortunately… I skipped Spanish class almost every time.
She spent the next five minutes trying to read what was written. Unfortunately, she gave up and closed the book. Looking around the shelves she sighed.
Who knows, these books may be in some language I don’t know
Feeling stupid, she picked another book much smaller than the last one to read and was met with a pair of eyes.
“Eeeeeeeee” she squealed and dropped the book. Isa had her hands to her chest with wide eyes staring back at what she saw and that’s when she heard his familiar yet annoying laugh.
How could he scare her like that? How did he even get back so fast?!
“Jeez Isa, why’d you scream like that” he laughed, enjoying the flustered look on his sister’s face. Bella put the books back on the shelf and angrily turned “what were you thinking scaring me like that. I could have gotten a heart attack and died”
“You didn’t get one and you’re still alive so…”
Are you serious?!
Isa threw a punch at him which he lazily dodged and smirked.
“O you!…”
Isa loved her brother, she really did but sometimes she felt like ripping his head off. After a few more attempts to punch Aaron, she gave up and stuck her tongue out. It was the only way to show her anger at him.
“Stop being so dramatic and follow me” he ruffled her hair and grinned clearly unaffected by the death glare he was receiving.
Isa followed Aaron to another hallway with two doors. “Your room sis…” He opened one and the two went in. “Wow, my room is… wow”
The walls were painted in purple and white with purple framed pictures of flowers and a dog clock hung on them. The floor was completely rugged in soft white rug. A vanity was stationed by the window with tiny potted plants. The closet was massive… at least for her it was.
“I made a few changes to your bedroom. Hope you like it” Aaron said enjoying the reaction Isa gave. “Aaron, this…” She walked over to her bed and felt the soft blanket. She laid on the bed and literally sank in. It was incredibly soft; so soft that it made her jump off and hug Aaron with tears flowing down her eyes.
“Hey hey kiddo, you’ll drench my shirt if you keep crying” he said while rubbing her back. The tears didn’t stop though. She cried even more.
They were tears of relief.
She was actually free now! She was free from the orphanage and its white washed walls, its over bleached bathrooms, its murky smelling beds and stale smelling kitchens.
She had never been so grateful as she was now.
“C’mon Isa, it’s my favorite shirt” Aaron groaned feeling helpless against his sister’s tears. She sniffled and wiped her nose on his shirt making him groan in desperation. Hearing that, she giggled until she had hiccups. It was funny to see Aaron stressed out sometimes.
He smiled and said “no more tears Isa, only laugh from now on. We’re finally free and home again”
We are home…
“Now, who wants pizza?”
She laughed softly “I do”
Isa and Aaron spent the next morning cleaning and unpacking their stuff. They talked, laughed and teased each other till noon when their stomach grumbled in protest for food.
Obviously they’d had nothing to eat except the leftover pizza from last night and their refrigerator was barely occupied.
Aaron suggested a drive to the store for grocery shopping but Isa complained that she was tired from all the work and didn’t want to go so he went alone.
After Aaron left, Isa’s legs made their way to the library. She was somewhat surprised to find herself there. Obviously her legs had a mind of their own.
Deciding to skip the overlarge cryptic books, she went to check out the desk drawers. Maybe they contained something she could actually read.
Touching the cold handle of the first drawer, she pulled it out and searched through. There were bundles of newspapers, paper clips and loose worksheets. She glanced through the paper reading the articles out loud.