Blood Bound - Chapter 90

>>Maya

When I reached Quincy’s house it was late and Nena had already gone to sleep. Quincy was up and received me.

I decided to sleep next to Nena and talk to her in the morning.

Slowly and quietly I entered her room. She was sleeping like a baby on the queen sized bed that was clearly too big for her. I sighed softly.

Well, at least Quincy gives her all she needs. Actually, scratch that, he gives her way more than she needs.

It made me smile and I walked to the bed.

It was a reassurance that leaving Nena with Quincy was the best choice. She was already attached to him and I knew he would take great care of her, just like he always has.

I climbed on the bed and quietly slipped in the covers, making sure she wouldn’t wake up.

Then silently and sealthyly I slipped my arms around my little world, my purest love and brought her in my embrace.

It felt nice, holding her like this, it felt really really nice.

I kissed her forehead.

“Nena,” I whispered, “My little world, my purest love,” I smiled, “My little sister,” I kissed her forehead again, “I love you sooo much.”

She giggled in her sleep, “Me too.” She sleep-talked as if she was answering me. Her answer was so on point, I had to make sure she was sleeping, which she was while drooling.

It made me smile.

I guess we had a special connection.

The thought. brought peace to my heart and I steadily fell asleep.

***

Nena was beyond happy to see me there next to her in the morning. So much that she practically woke me up by jumping around on the bed.

“Nena, no jumping on the bed.” I sat up while rubbing my right eye.

“Ma!” She hugged me, “When did you come!?”

I snickered and hugged her back, “Late at night.” I kissed the top of her head again, “I’ll spend the whole day with you.”

“Really?” She broke the hug and looked at me with glittering eyes, “Really really?”

“Really really.” I smiled, “Today, we’ll do everything together.”

“Everything?!”

“Yup!” I smiled, “How about we start from taking a bath together?”

“Okay!”

She grabbed my hand and pulled me along into the bathroom where we both took a bubble bath.

Then we both went and had a waffle breakfast, just the two of us while Quincy decided not to come in between us. Honestly I wouldn’t have minded if he did but still I appreciate how thoughtful he was.

After breakfast, I took Nena out to the park, played with her till she got tired and then took her to mcdonalds where I got her her favorite burger and then her favorite ice cream.

After filling our tummies we went to the movies. I knew one of her most beloved movies’ new part was on and I had already bought the tickets for it.

When I showed it to Nena, she almost exploded from happiness and snatched the tickets from me to show to the guard seeing the tickets for entrance.

After we finished that small adventure we went home and ordered some Pizza. We weren’t able to have it last time, so it was a must this time.

Since I knew it was most likely the last.

Last… Just thinking about the word made me feel miserable.

After we were done eating, I took the dishes, washed them and walked into the lounge where Nena was waiting for me with the monopoly board all set.

I sat down across from her but didn’t play.

I felt like it was time.

“Ma? You’re not playing?”

I pursed my lips and prepared myself.

“Nena, I have to tell you something.”

“Tell me what?” She rolled the dice and looked at me.

“Mmmm.” It was a bit hard to bring it up, “Let’s just say I won’t be able to meet you again.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She tilted her head.

“It means…” I paused and collected my words, “I’ll be going somewhere far far away.” I gulped, “Somewhere where I won’t be able to meet you again.”

She stared at me wide-eyed and clearly confused, “Ever?”

“Yes.”

She looked at the board in distress, “Ma…” A worried expression took over her face, “Why are you going away?” Just the next moment tears started rolling down her eyes like crazy, “Are you going to die??”

Her words shocked me, but then again she was old enough to know what death was.

“I’m sorry Nena.” I put the board aside and then got closer to her and pulled her in my embrace, “But yes, I am going to die soon.” Maybe the words were too heavy for a child but then again, death was heavy for everyone. There was no exception there.

“Why?!” She yelled at me and broke away from my hold, “Why!!? I don’t want you to go!!” She was always a good girl, the type to never give trouble, the type to keep to herself but even to her this was something she couldn’t keep to herself, something that really was cruel, too cruel, but it was already happening and couldn’t be stopped. “Ma!” Nena looked at me with tears constantly rolling down her cheeks, her snot was coming out and she was constantly sniffling, “W-why are you leaving? Do you h-hate me??”

“No.” Her words were innocently harsh, “No, no, absolutely not. I love you so much, words can’t describe it.”

“T-then-’ She hiccuped, ‘W-w-why?”

I shook my head, “It’s because fate has already decided it.”

“C-change it then!” She sniffled and then hiccuped, “P-p-please.” She was crying so much she had started stuttering and hiccuping.

Seeing her like this was heart wrenching. It made me so sad and hurt that I could barely hold back my own tears.

“I’m sorry Nena.” I pulled her into a hug again, “I love you so much.” I whispered the words, “I love you. I love you a lot, I love you so much and I’ll always love you.” I held her tightly while she cried.

She cried and cried and cried some more, until the time she tired herself out and fell asleep and all that time I held her in my arms and comforted her.

Then I took her to her bed and stayed by her side, caressing her hair till the time she finally smiled in her sleep.

I wanted to spend the rest of my night with her but I felt like I couldn’t. Because deep down I knew if I stayed things would just get worse and I didn’t want Nena to see how bad my condition could get.

I quietly got off the bed and left the room but just before I closed the door behind me, I turned my head and gave her one final glance.

“I love you.” I whispered the words again and closed the door.

I was making my way to the main door when something trickled down my nose but I immediately put a tissue on it so that it wouldn’t dirty my clothes.

When I wiped it away and brought the tissue under my gaze I realized something.

The blood coming out of my body was almost black at this point.

I sighed.

I really didn’t have any time left.

I took a deep breath and nodded to myself as a form of encouragement.

Just then Quincy came to me, to make sure I was fine. He stayed out of sight the whole day so I could comfortably spend my time with Nena and only came in front of me now that I was alone.

“You okay?” Ironic question but I knew what he meant.

I smiled at him and nodded. I was about to turn and leave when I stopped and looked back at him.

“Quincy?”

“Yes?”

“Promise me something.” I started, “Stay by her side, will you?”

He nodded,”Of course.”

“Stay by her till the time she’s all grown up, independent, find the love of her life and decides to leave on her own.” I looked at him with eyes that were practically begging, “For you it will be a few years that won’t matter but in those few years-” My gaze slowly travelled to her room, “She’ll be all grown up.” I held my shirt over my chest. It hurt so damn much just thinking about it that tears immediately formed in my eyes, “She’ll be a woman then. Probably taller than me..” I had done a good job of not crying for two days, with Ruda and Nena but it was becoming hard now that I was thinking about it away from them, “I know she’ll be a beautiful lady.” I sniffled, “One day.”The loneliness I felt at that time was immense. I gritted my teeth trying to stop myself from crying but despite my efforts the liquid still brimmed in my eyes and I sat down in the form of a ball when it all became unbearable.

“I hate it! I hate it so much!!” I sniffled, “I won’t be able to see it.” Tears slipped down my cheeks, staining the nicely furnished wooden floor, “I won’t be able to listen to her voice.” I sniffled again, “See how well she does in school.” I let myself cry because at this point I really couldn’t keep it in, “ I won’t be able to see her jumping around.” I sniffled and let out a haggard breath, “I won’t be able to see her smile, what kind of friends she’ll make.” Each thought was more painful than the last and it was killing me even more than the curse did. The image of her growing slowly was floating in my mind. A figment of my own imagination, “I won’t be able to see or experience anything!”

It hurt so much, so much, words could never describe it.

I clenched my other hand over my shirt as well and bowed lower, till the time my head was next to the floor and tears could no longer go down my cheeks but rather fall down on the wooden ground right from my eyes.

Quincy crouched down and I felt like he wanted to give me a consoling hand but didn’t. Instead he just sat there without words.

“Promise.” After I gained a bit of composure, I raised my head and looked at him with a messed up appearance, “Promise me, you’ll take care of her.”

He gave me a reassuring smile, “You have my word.” He nodded, “I will.”

I sniffled and then smiled at him. That was all I needed to hear.

I sniffled again and stood up, took a deep breath and looked at Nena’s room one last time.

Goodbye my little world, my purest love, my little sister.