I waited for the sun to set before I went to the convenience store to buy some toothpaste and makeup remover. I remembered I am out of those.
As soon as I arrived home, I felt that something had changed. I dropped my bike at the garage and then I quickly entered our house. I'm not sure why but my gut is definitely telling me to look for Grandma.
"Your grandma abandoned you as well."
"Maria." called Mom. Oh, no. I know that tone. It is definitely not good news. I went to the kitchen where I heard my Mom's voice and saw the three of them there. No… it can't be… "Where's Grandma?" I asked as I looked at them in their eyes. My younger sister avoided eye contact then Mom looked at Dad.
Dad also looked at Mom then sighed. "While you are gone, your Mom and I have decided to move Grandma to your Uncle's in the city across the sea."
"You're joking. Tell me you're joking."
"Your grandma left you. For good."
"Maria-"
"No."
"Oh, stop it! There's no other choice! We have no source of income as long as they haven't cleaned the oil spill! Deal with it as we deal with it!" yelled Mom as she now looked at me fiercely. Nope. Nuh-uh. I can't take that look from Mom. My eyes are getting teary! I gotta go!
"Even your mom does not love you!"
"Nobody loves you."
I walked backward slowly while looking at Mom and when I was finally out the kitchen, I ran towards our backyard, towards the bulkhead door and went down the basement. There I wept in my hiding spot.
"Look she's crying!"
"She deserves it."
I didn't notice the time. I don't even know how long my weeping lasted but as soon as I opened my eyes, there's a plate with our dinner and it was covered by a mesh food dome. I wonder who brought it here. "That's definitely with poison for rats." When I looked at the small window of the basement, it's already bright outside. And… is there a car engine sound? A different kind, not ours.
Hastily, I ran towards our porch without eating anything from the plate and saw the packed things of our Grandma being loaded onto the car of our Uncle. All this time? All this time Grandma is still with us all throughout the night and instead of spending the night with her, I chose to spend it below in the dark. "Stupid girl." Due to my weighing disappointment with myself, I knelt down while watching Dad and Uncle load Grandma's things. Mom and Alice stood beside Grandma while they're also watching Uncle and Dad.
"Foolish girl, wasted her night in the basement."
Mom suddenly leaned closer to Grandma. With fear, I quickly stood up and wiped my face, just in case there were tears that fell. Mom then looked at the porch and saw me and motioned me to come unto them. And so I did.
"You are so ugly when you cry."
"You are a burden."
"You are the reason why your grandma is going away."
"Hey, Grandma." I said as I walked towards them. Grandma looked back at me then smiled. "Oh, Maria. I thought I won't see you before I go." Grandma then hugged me. I hugged her back as I held myself back from crying as much as I could. "I'm gonna miss you." Grandma chuckled as if she just heard her little granddaughter. "Oh! Don't be silly! As if I won't be back here and you won't be able to visit me while I'm still at your Uncle's." Grandma assured me. "She's lying."
"Don't believe her."
Oh, Grandma… How can I visit when I can't even drive and it's a 2-hour travel time by ferry and a 4-hour drive by car. Uncle's place is too far for me, Grandma. It's too far…
"It's because she doesn't want to be with you anymore, dumb girl."
"Mom, you ready?" asked our Uncle to Grandma after they finished loading up her things. Grandma slowly let me go from her hug, looked at her son and nodded. "Goodbye, Mom." said Mom to Grandma.