Peregrination

The setting sun gave out a sense of longing and sadness, as the teared face of Aysel DeLuca, shielded by her honey brown tresses shone under the last rays of a tragic day’s sun. She could clearly remember the events of the past night and the early hours of dawn. It seemed like centuries had passed, when in reality it had only been 3 days. Only 3 days ago she had last seen her. Last heard her voice. Gave her the last hug. Now she was gone and there was nothing Aysel or anyone could do. Just a few hours ago she had been laid down in her last resting place and now the DeLuca’s and the rest of the family were seeing off the mourners. Aysel could still vividly remember yesterday’s call.

Her grandmother had called her mom, asking her to visit but her mom had politely declined. Mrs. DeLuca had been cleaning the whole house with the help of her two daughters and the maid Kiara. It was a tiring day for DeLuca women and they had planned to visit the old lady early next day to spend the whole day with her. Little did they know they’d have to go there earlier than planned and stay there for the longest day of their lives. Aysel had gone to bed that night tired from all the hard work. She was a heavy sleeper but this night was different. She felt herself come to consciousness on her own. A few moments of lying around in her bed she heard the unmistakable ring of her mother’s cellphone. The next thing she heard was her mother’s sleepy greeting and then her frantic sounds of what had happened. that was enough for Aysel to get out of bed. She rushed to her mother’s room to find her younger sister Armina already at the threshold followed closely by their brother Ezra. None of the siblings had enough time to acknowledge each other as their mother left in a hurry, stating something about their grandmother being in the hospital, while Mr. DeLuca tried to keep up with his wife , trying to calm her down. The three siblings took refuge in the lounge, waiting for any updates. Not a single sound could be heard. Aysel can still remember the eerie calm that had been set out in the dead of night. A fleeting thought of death had crossed her mind but nothing could have prepared her for the news that stopped her world.

It was around the time of sunrise; Ezra had just succumbed to sleep with Armina dozing off in his lap. The older boy had his hand resting on the younger girl’s head. Aysel stood near the large window watching the sky change colors gradually. She couldn’t feel anything. As if she had been detached from the world. Right now, she was just an observer lost in silence. Even her never-ending thoughts had been locked up in fear of one of her thoughts becoming true. But who can stop that which has already been decided by the Almighty? For the second time, the ringing of a phone disturbed the silence of the DeLuca household. The sleeping siblings awoke to its shrill noise. Aysel picked up the call, hearing her mother sobbing on the other side. She could not forget those words. “She passed away.” That was all it took for her mind to fade. She couldn’t remember Ezra asking what happened; she couldn’t remember delivering the news to the two youngest DeLucas ; she didn’t remember getting dressed or reaching her Grandmother’s home. But her grandmother was gone. It was no longer her home. They were about to rest her in her final resting place. All Aysel could remember from that onwards was the tears, the cries, the feeling of devastation.

A tear slipped down the face of the 14-year-old girl, bringing her back to the present. With one last look at the now darkened sky, Aysel turned her back to the setting sun and left.

This might have paused her world for the time being but world around her was still revolving. People were going about their usual, daily routine and it won’t allow her to rest either she must go along with it as well….

As much as she wished to pause everything, she couldn’t. it was just not something that could happen. The spinning earth did not give a damn that the young girl had just lost the closest person to her heart. She had just been deprived of her grandmother’s motherly aura. She felt cold and empty. Her teacher, friend, her guardian had been taken away from her. Never again would she be able to hear her voice; see her smile; feel her warmth. She indeed had just lost her peace. But what young Aysel did not realize was that even though it felt as if the world had ended, it had not and soon she would be able to get back on to her feet. She would have to face the challenges of growing up; go through many heartaches and heart felt moments; that she must weep and laugh; she must fill in her own version of the exam also known as LIFE; one that has already been attempted by her grandmother. She must recognize her purpose; learn her lessons; bear her sins; amend her mistakes; survive her own battles. Now that she had lost her care giver, the guardian angel that protected her from straying towards the devil, how would she differentiate right from wrong?

All her heart could recognize at the moment was her loss and pain. All her mind came up with was,

Even though I was birthed by your child,

I know you carried a piece of me, alright;

You taught me all you believed in

Gave me a sense of Faith; virtue and sin.

Embraced my shivering body, terrified youth

Guided me to ask for the Almighty’s refuge

Now it seems, I’ve been left bare

You left for the hereafter, unaware