Chapter 23 You Won’t See Me Again
The blinding flash of lightning flashed across the mass of dark clouds, followed by a deafening thunderclap.
It was so loud that I crouched down, covering my cars, terrified.
I almost thought the thunderclap shattered my soul.
Then I looked up, only to see Grandma’s pale face.
She was obviously shaken, too. Her body went limp, and Irene stepped forward in time to catch her.
“Madam Brook, are you OK?”
Kaleb’s body trembled. Though he had always been a staunch atheist, the sudden thunderclap terrified him to the utmost.
Grandma’s expression changed drastically. Pointing at him with a trembling finger, she demanded, “What did you do?”
He said, “Madam Brook, I didn’t do anything. It’s just a coincidence.”
Irene knew Grandma believed in signs.
She quickly comforted Grandma, “Madam Brook, I’m sure it’s just at coincidence. Don’t take it to heart. Why don’t you lie down in bed?”
Grandma said, “Irene, I’ve been feeling so uneasy these days. I dream about Vannah every night. It’s been half a month, but she’s never called me. It’s not like her.”
Kaleb’s expression changed. He knew how much I loved Grandma, I visited her every few days.
No matter how busy I was, I always called her. Though he hadn’t been able to reach me by phone, I’d never ignore Grandma.
Panicking, he asked, “Madam Brook. Savannah hasn’t called you these days? Not even once?”
She glared at him. “Why would I lie?”
Instantly. Kaleb’s face turned ghastly pale. It seemed he thought of something, and he could barely stand.
“Finally.” I thought, sneering. He finally realized something was off about that blood–stained wedding dress he saw at the police station.
Just then, a servant outside the door said, “Madam Brook, you’ve received a package. It’s from Ms. Savannah.”
Hearing my name, Kaleb strode toward the door and took the package; it was indeed my number and name on it.
He instantly relaxed and opened it.
There was an amulet and a card I left for Grandma inside.
I went to Marser Mountain to obtain the amulet for Grandma before the wedding, hoping it’d keep her healthy.
Back then, I was ready to leave after the wedding, so I reached out to a familiar delivery guy and asked him to send it over today.
At least Grandma received my gift on her birthday.
She looked at the card while clutching the amulet, starting to cry again.
Seeing this. Irene quickly said. “The amulet is from Marser Cathedral. I heard amulets there can’t be bought no matter how rich one is. They’re only given to those who are sincere enough. Madam Brook. Ms Savannah obviously cares about you so much.”
Grandma felt better after hearing this: “Since Savannah’s gift is here, she’s probably on her way now. Send someone to wait for her at the gate.”
“OK.” Irene said.
Kaleb aside stared at the amulet and stopped Irene. “Irene, you said only those who are sincere enough can have those amulets?”
Irene nodded. “Marser Cathedral is up there on the mountaintop. To get there, one has to climb the mountain for a whole day. A lot of people who are weak faint before they get there.”
I knew what was Kaleb thinking–he was thinking about the amulet I gave him. The year he encountered that earthquake, I saw him off at the airport, smiling while giving it to him.
He was an atheist and only accepted it because it was from me. Then he saw my scraped hand. He took it and asked me what had happened.
I smiled, saying I fell, and he didn’t dwell on it.
Many people died in that earthquake, but he only had superficial scratches. The only loss was he couldn’t find the amulet no matter what.
It wasn’t until now that he knew how precious it was.
Noticing his gaze, Grandma put the amulet away. “Stop looking at it. It’s Vannah’s gift for me.”
He smiled helplessly, “Madam Brook, I’m not thinking of taking it away. It’s just… I used to have the same amulet before. Oh, by the way, here are
my gifts for you–a scripture and an emerald pendant. I hope you get
better soon.”
With this, he handed her the scripture. She took it over and studied it with a strange look in her eyes.
“Something about it seenis different,” she said.
“Yes, it’s made with special materials. I’m sure it’ll help you recover soon,”
he said.
Seeing Grandma stroke the scripture, I tried desperately to stop her. I screamed, “No! Grandma, don’t accept it!”
I was dead already, and I didn’t give a damn about the scripture. What concerned me was how devastated she’d be once she knew it was made from my skin.
She was so old; there was no way she could take such a blow.
Alena knew Grandma was the one who loved me the most, so she deliberately tried to hurt Grandma in such a way.
I regretted it so much. I should have killed her when I was alive!
How I wished I could be reborn. Then I’d say a proper goodbye to Grandma and make those villains pay.
But I could do nothing but watch as Grandma stroked the scripture. carefully.
Maybe it was the bond we shared; she loved the scripture. She stroked it slowly and tenderly, just like the way she stroked my head when I was a little girl.
Imuttered again and again, “Grandma, Grandma…
Then she put the scripture away and gave Kaleb the emerald pendant. back. “I’ll take the scripture but not the emerald pendant. Don’t forget your oath, you’ll protect Vannah, dote on her, and love her for the rest of your
life.”
He nodded solemnly. “I will.”
The earnest expression on his face disgusted me.
Thanks to Alena, now that Grandma had the scripture, I could be with her temporarily.
As the sky darkened, she put the scripture aside and signaled for Irene to
come over.
“Vannah might be back at any second. Get me the clothes she sent me and comb my hair. I don’t want her to see me like this.”
“Rest assured, Madam Brook. I’ll make you radiant.”
Grandma put on the clothes I had given her with difficulty and then draped a fur stole over her shoulders. She looked so elegant.
I used to say she must have been a gorgeous beauty back in the day, and she said I took after her the most.
She was weak and couldn’t stand for long. As she sat in her wheelchair, Irene put a blanket over her legs and then stood behind her to comb her hair into a bun.
Grandma said, “Oh, and I’ll wear the pearl earrings Vannah gave me.”
“OK.”
She beamed, continuing, “I guess Kaleb loves her after all.”
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“He sure does. After all, they’re childhood sweethearts, and they’ve been together for years.” Irene echoed.
“I gotta urge Vannah to have a kid when I see her. I wanna live long enough to see her with a child… If she isn’t happy, I won’t die in peace.”
It started to snow heavily again, and snowflakes fell from the sky like my
tears.
Looking at her, I said, “I’m sorry, Grandma. But you won’t see me again.”
