Chapter 34: Gone

I, Dad and Mom got into the car to go visit Grandma and Grandpa. On our way there, I texted Betty that we should cancel today's hang out, I told her it was an emergency and she understood.
While we were going, I was looking outside the window thinking about Jones and how we spent last night together. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and texted Jones,

"It's been just a couple of hours since I left your place and I'm already missing you," I texted, then he replied,

"I miss you more Angie, I'm feeling lonely," he said.

I smiled at the text,
"Don't worry, tonight I'll be back and we would spend tomorrow together,"

"I can't wait," he said.

After about an hour of texting Jones, I dropped my phone and looked outside the window, we were in an isolated place, there were trees everywhere and it looked kind of scary.
"Mom, where are we?" I asked curiously,

"We are almost there darling, I told you it's a three hours drive," Mom said. The ride was a long boring one, at some point I played a game on my phone, at some point I texted my friends, and at some point, I went through my Instagram until eventually, I fell asleep.

Two hours later,

"Alright Angie, we are already here," Mom said. I looked outside the window and became surprised because Granma's house was way bigger than our house. It looked like a mansion because the roof was a little hard to see. We all came down from the car and walked towards the house, Mom stood in front of the door and sighed, with the way she behaved, I could tell she was kinda nervous. I placed my hand on her shoulder and smiled,

Mom's POV

It's been about 16 years since I visited this house, and now I'm here again, it's scary, who knows if Mom would be happy to see me, I left her and ran off, I just hope she understands that I was just a scared little child when this happened,

End of POV

"Let's go, Mom," I said then we all headed to the door, I pressed the doorbell and waited but no one answered. I pressed it again but still, no answer. I tried to open the door and it opened which means it wasn't locked. We all walked inside and met cobwebs all over the place. The house was so dusty, it looked like no one had been there for years.

"Mom," Mom said and slowly headed to Grandma's room, she got there and no one was there. Dad searched the whole house to see if he could figure out what happened in the house but it just looked like a house that was abandoned for years.

Mom came back downstairs to meet us looking worried,
"I think she moved out years ago," I said,

"That's impossible, my great grandpa gave my mom this house, she can't just leave, Mom said,

Before anyone could say anything else, an old woman walked into the house, we all looked at her curiously,

"Aunty Beatrice?" Mom said,

"Mom, did you know her?" I asked,

"Yeah, she was our neighbour... Where is my mom?" Mom asked,

"Oh dear child, why did you choose to come back now?" the woman asked,

"Did you know where my mom is?"

"She died 16 years ago," the woman said.

Mom covered her mouth and began to breathe loudly,
"How come, how did she die?" Mom asked as tears rolled out of her eyes,

"After you left, your father left and never came back, she was lonely and depressed, I was always there for her but I guess I wasn't enough. Later on, she became sick and died," said the woman,

"And did she say anything before she died?" Mom asked with her eyes filled with tears,

"I don't know child, I wasn't there when she died, but I'm sure she would have wanted to see you," she said.

Mom knelt and began to cry bitterly, to be honest, while I watched my mom cry, it melted my heart, I swear I didn't know when I started crying too, I walked to her and hugged her, and then Dad came and hugged us too.

After three hours, Mom was a little bit calm and quiet, Dad too was quiet because he felt everything was his fault.
"Mom, Dad, we should leave this house right now, otherwise you two would keep thinking about it," I suggested,

"She's right darling, let's go," Dad said but Mom remained quiet. Dad stood and walked to Mom, he sat next to her and curdled her,
"It wasn't your fault darling, you were so young," he said, Mom sobbed,

"I can't believe I left her since I was 15, for more than 16 years I didn't see or hear from my mom, what kind of child does that to her own mother,"

"It wasn't your fault, she pushed you so hard, you just have to let go, I'm sure where ever she is right now, she has forgiven you," Dad said and hugged her, Mom leaned her head on Dad's chest and felt so comfortable "Your mom is gone but you have us," dad said,

"Yes Mom, you have us. I and Dad are your family, we are always by your side and we would never let you go, no one would ever take us away from you," I said and smiled,

Mom smiled and stretched her hand towards me,
"Come here darling," she said,

I walked to her and hugged her. Shortly after, we headed back home, After we left the house, Mom stood outside and looked at the house for a short while then Dad walked to her and placed his arms around her neck,

"Let's go, darling," he said, then we all got into the car and headed home. To be honest I was so happy that we left the house early because I felt bad for Mum but deep down I didn't want anything to stop me from seeing Jones tonight.