"Dear dad, thanks for being my father. Thank you for staying by my side, and loving me for as long as my life span," I said, almost shedding a tear, but the numb feeling in my soul kept me from doing so, "Thank you for being alive. If you weren't here, then I would be really sad. Thanks dad, I love you more than Pocky." My face remains stioc, I have gotten used to this sadness.
Everyone around me bursts into tears, expecting me to do so as well. I did not. I placed the note inside his cold fingers, intertwining them with the envelope. I take a few steps backwards, giving him one last glance before walking out of the room.
I didn't really care about any of this, I just wanted to go home so I didn't have to watch anyone cry. This is basically how the funeral went, as well. The only difference was that I wasn't speaking and my father's body was cremated.
After the funeral I haven't really felt any empathy for anyone. I didn't care about anyone or anything, and my mom and stepdad started to forget about me.
One fateful day, my mom decided to get rid of me. The worst part is she didn't do the same to my older sister or brother. She just told me to pack up and gave me over a thousand American dollars. I didn't know that I was moving to Japan, or that I was taking a test to get into a really fancy school. All I knew was that something was off about her sudden attention.
My mother handed me a ticket and multiple addresses that made no sense to me. I had learned Japanese these past few years, so I could read what the ticket said.
I arrived at an airport, suddenly realizing what was going on. My own mother was getting rid of me, leaving me all alone in some place far away. I lived in America, so Japan was overseas. I still remember that familiar smell of gasoline and rubber as I walked over to the plane. I felt like I wasn't even in the real world, like this was all a dream, and I was starting to forget that I could still feel pain.
I slept for most of the plane ride to Japan, though everything was just a dark blur. I woke up when the plane had landed, and the person next to me handed over my luggage. I thanked him and sauntered down the aisle.
I remained emotionless, waiting for my luggage to come through the treadmill type thing (forgot it's name) while I ate some American snacks for the last time. When my luggage came through, I grabbed my only suitcase and strode off. I didn't even realize the taxi sitting right in front of me until the driver yelled out my name. Then I realized that it wasn't even a taxi, it was a limo. Funny, I didn't even know we had rich relatives.
I crawled into the limo and the driver closed my door. The vehicle started moving, passing many Japanese folk. I sighed, and started to play Peaches by In The Valley Below. I lay my head back, marveling at the comfy leather seats. I didn't even realize that I had fallen asleep until I heard someone grunt. I sat up, blinded by the sunlight that was peeking through the slightly opened car door. I stepped out, bowing before the driver.
As I walked towards the entrance of the Japanese styled mansion, I admired all of the plants. Cherry trees, shrubbery, and flowers covered the yard and masked the grass that had reached it's most beautiful state. I smiled slightly, content with the sight before me.
I knocked on the door, careful to avoid the paper sections of it. The door opened, revealing a boy with spikey hair and a positive attitude. I sighed inwardly, awaiting for him to invite me inside his large abode. He did, gesturing me to come sit at the table in the center of the room. I hadn't really learned many of the items that the Japanese used, so I didn't know what it was called.
I waited for awhile before a couple of other people walked inside the room. One looked similar to the other guy, but the other one looked like an elementary kid. I raised my brow, anticipating for them to introduce themselves. The youngest looking one gave me cake and mint tea, a ghost of a frown showing on his face. He looked at me like he was pitying me, or even belittling me. I scowled.
"I heard what happened to you, Hope-chan," the kid told me, adtually starting to show me how upset he was. I just nodded, already annoyed with the words that many people have already spoken towards me.
"It's alright, it's not like I spent much time with him, or anyone in any manner," I seethed. I didn't want to sound rude, I was just a little annoyed because I had a small headache creeping onto me. "I am actually glad it happened; he got away from all of the bullshit that life was throwing at him."
I shifted, uncomfortable with the sudden tention in the room. I cleared my throat, finally trying some of the cake. Ew, chocolate. Way too sweet for me.
I push the plate aside, sipping at the tea to get rid of the taste. The tall guy that the child rode on grabbed the plate and left, most likely to throw the cake away. I inhaled slowly, half hoping that he didn't realize that I didn't like chocolate. The kid smiled at me, attempting to be cute, but I just thought that it was stupid.
"You don't have to pretend to be someone you are not; that's uncool. Anyway, the name's Hope Haninozuka," I say, rolling my eyes a little, to show how tired and grumpy I am. He nods, "I'm Mitsukuni, and my friend is Takashi. We're eighteen," he said, smirking for half a second. I nodded, pretending not to be surprised. Takashi came back in, and we talked for a little while. I learned that both of them had a little brother, and they learned that I was the youngest.
After the clock struck eight, they showed me to my room. I still didn't exactly know why I was here, but I have already grown quite fond of this household. Takashi motioned for me to enter, and I did. I thanked him, and sat on my bed. Before anyone could close the door, I muttered one last "thanks" and sprawled out on my bed.
After awhile, I saw that the coast was clear. I started bawling, not making any noise. I thought about all of the shit that has happened to me, and why my mom did this. I probably seem so pathetic to you, but hey, I AM a girl.
After my waterfall of tears had stopped flowing, I finally fell asleep. It wasn't a dreamless sleep this time, for I actually dreamt about me having wings and flying away from this earth. For once in these past six months, I felt slightly content.