Chapter 1

Ella Green

It was my birthday, at last! This meant lots of presents and candies for me. Not to mention lucky pudding made by Grandmamma, which contained old, I mean "ancients" sixpenny pieces, turkey by Grandpa Louie and huge black forest cake made from my Auntie Rose.

Rose really suits her name because her face always glow red like the flower it self. She is very kind. However, this year it all changes. My life really turned upside down and inside out in ways I could never foresee. Grandmamma started to have a very bad cough and fall ill for a couple of weeks.

It becomes much worst everyday. Grandpa Louie, who was on his trips to Hawaii to meet his cousin, suddenly fell ill too. He had a heart attack after hearing the news of Grandmamma. My stupid uncle brought out the bad news at the wrong time and at the wrong place. I hate him!

Why do he have to make everything gone all wrong? He knows that Grandpa have a weak heart.

Since this tragedy happened exactly on my birthday, there was no celebrations at all. Strangely, after midnight sitting at the bench of the hospital, Mom and Dad wished me a very happy birthday, so does my other relatives with us. I looked back at them trying to reply but nothing came out. I just looked away though I know it is rude, I just can't help it. I think they understood for they didn't say anything, not a single word.

I still remember the looks on Mom's face. She was pale and her eyes seem somewhat weary. It used to be so glow with happiness and joy, but this time was rather the opposite way. Dad, Dad looked normal though with his steady eyes but I know deep down inside, there was a huge lump on his heart. I think he was just trying to be strong, for both of us.

The corridor of the hospital seems deserted; only nurses will walk back and forth each 34 minutes and 42 seconds. I was rather bored so I manage to count the exact time. I know it is kind of stupid but hey, it was the only thing that I can do besides sitting on the bench looking at everybody's misery. Mom suddenly broke the silent of the dead night. She said she was sorry for not celebrating my birthday. I said it was all right. I just wish my grandparents would be better again. I don't care anymore of my stupid party. Mom then opened her bag and brought out a small package.

I know it was my present but I show no act of excitement. She smiled, tried to I guess. Now know it was just a fake smile, but I really couldn't help longing to hear her laugh once more. I couldn't felt more miserable than I were, just now. I longed to open it but the silent around me kept me from doing so. I know that it was no skateboard that I ask, for it was flat like a book. Oh, well, beggars can't be choosers. Only 5 minutes before we could enter inside and meet Grandmamma. Suddenly out of nowhere, Grandpa Louie came to Dad and hugged him. He was all right again. At least it was one good news! There were two nurses behind Grandpa. They were trying to get him back to the ward. It was funny how Grandpa ran away from them.

He kept wobbling his arm and feet just to get loose from the nurses. How that made Mom laugh. Yes, it was the first time I hear her laughing for 2 days. She always try to make us laugh, used to, I guess. Grandpa Louie refused to go lie on bed and demand to wait for Grandmamma. I never know Grandpa can shout that loud! I think he almost wake the whole patient in the hospital! He...he..he.. He really lightens up the moodiness around us.

You know what? I hate the smell of the hospitals. They smell like medicine, well, they suppose to, right? However, it smells like death, though. I know I shouldn't be thinking about that. Nevertheless, I can't help it. It reminds me of something. I can't bring back the past. It is too painful. I can't…

Grandmamma looked fine. I am so happy. Grandpa Louie can't stop kissing her. She smiled to everyone and asked us to cheer up. I was kind of scared at the moment I enter the room. It smelt so foul with medicines. I can't help but felt too scared because there was so many tubes on Grandmamma. There was one on her wrist, in her nose for oxygen, I guess, and at her back. It was scary. There was a big machine beside her. It was for doctors' revision about Grand mamma's health. The meter that shows the heartbeat seems so low.

I don't understand why everyone was crying. The doctor beside Dad was shaking his head. Dad was crying too. It was the first time of my life I ever saw him crying. He used to say boys never cry but they do. I never get it. Grandmamma looked fine to me. Her face shone with health. She was smiling not crying. I was confused. Grandmamma suddenly called me.

She gave me her hand. I took it and hold it very gently. She said everything would be better. She then took out something near her neck. She then gave it to me and asked me to keep it until the day I die and pass it down to someone else. I cried and say thank you, not knowing what to do. I hugged and kissed her. She then said something that I don't understand. It sounds like this: ZtafgHefgihLkjiUHdafsdasd... Well, something like this, but I am not sure. It sounded like a tree waving their leaves, weird description, tell me about it..

It was the last thing she ever said to me, though…...

During her funeral, I cried so much until my eyes turn red like a beetroot and it swollen pretty badly. Mom was crying too but not as much as Auntie Rose was. She was hysterical. Even Dad and Uncle Jer, her husband couldn't stop her from hurting herself. It took Mom, Grandpa Louie and some of her cousins to stop her. However, when the coffin, made of real expensive wood, went slowly down to the ground, she didn't cry. In fact, so was I. My Grandmamma would hate too see us cry. From that moment, I promise my self I would never cry. Not a tear.

Anyway, let me described the funeral. It was very grand, not in a good way, I mean. There were many people, no ordinary people, mind you. There were many limousines around. Probably, royals. What was I thinking? It can't be royals. I have no royal blood in me. I looked at the gift that Grandmamma gave to me before she died. It was a necklace. It shaped like a half eagle, half lion. A Griffin, legendary creature. Cool! I know the necklace is very special at the moment I lay my eyes on it. I turned it around and surprisingly, I saw my name was carved on it: Ella. Not just Ella but Lady Ella. My name? It can't be. Nah… But it's weird, isn't it? There was also something mysterious about it. There was a small hole at the side. Shaped like a key hole, but where is the key? My mind was drifted apart until somebody sways it away.

"I'm sorry to hear about you're your grandmother. She was my mother's best friend. How she always makes me laugh. I 'm so sorry" said a lady. There was a man and a boy beside her. I guess it was her husband and grandson since the lady was too old to have the boy as a child. Who knows? I read in the World Records that a 42 year old woman give birth to a normal child. That was fascinating. Back to the stories I'm going to tell ya'.

Besides saying all my pains about the death, I just say thank you. Nobody could understand. No one except Grandmamma, but she's gone now, forever. Just the memories will stay behind. Her laughter, her smiles, her warm hugs and her comforts, all gone. It's like missing a part of you. I was silent for a long time not knowing that the guest was looking at me. Suddenly the man spoke up. He had very comforting smile. Don't ask me why.

"Don't be sad. She will stay cherished in your hearts. There are still parts of her which still alive in you" he said. Did he just read my mind? No, he can't. It's just a coincidence I guess. He patted my shoulder and went with her wife to the burial that has taken place near some abandoned old, haunted castle. Spooky isn't it? But I like the place very much. It is so full of nostalgia and memories. The boy who was beside the lady was still there, where he stood with his arm behind and his legs apart. He is so formalistic. Is there such word as that? I'll check it later in the dictionary, just incase. Wait a second.

His cheek was wet. Did he cry? If he did, why? I guess I will never found out. Suddenly he came towards me. I felt weird. My heart was pounding so fast like the Formula One race. I never felt that way before. I think it is just the air of the surrounding. Too many vapors of tears. Wuh..

"I'm really sorry about.."

I cut his words. Enough of hearing sorries. "It's okay. I accept the fact that she's gone already. Enough!" I said to him with my cracked voice. I think I had accidentally shouted to him. It is not his fault, I know. But, I am not going to apologized to him. I hate him. He's perfect! His attitude, knowing he still have his grandparents. He turned silent for a couple of minutes. My feet felt cramped. Although standing in front of the person I barely know, I felt like running away from him, but the fact I can't run, my mind hurts. Suddenly he spoke to me. He moved closer. I looked at him. His looked freeze me, locking my gaze to him. His eyes are so green, reminds me the color of sapphire.

"I know how you feel. My parents had died two years ago. It is very painful. I feel the same way about it. Angry, confused, frustrated, all at the same time" he said. He looked at me like asking me for a reply. I was shocked. I felt guilty for shouting at him. I also felt guilty about the thought that he was perfect. I thought he had everything. I guess nobody in this world are perfect. Parents and grandparents. I bet losing father and mother were much more painful than I feel right now. I can't imagine being in his shoes. I was going to apologize before I heard him laugh. He laughed! How so rude of him! Where are his manners just now, so gentlemen and formal?

"I'm so sorry. I can't help but laughing. Your face looked like a fat guppy when you are crying." He chuckled.

"Well…I can't help it. God made me like that," I felt so pathetic that I can't help but laughed too. It felt so nice to laugh again.

"There, it looks better now. You are smiling" he said. I was stunned. Is he trying to make me fell better or worse? I thanked him but not in grateful way. I hate being compliment at. I bet my face seemed to be so red at that moment. I think he realized. He smiled at me. We stared at each other and we laughed again, amused. It was a very awkward moment. Laughing with a stranger you just met 15 minutes ago.

He suddenly introduced himself. His name is Charmont and he kept on asking me to only call him Char. Well, his right. Charmont is just to weird. Too 100 decades ago. But I didn't say it out loud incase I offended him. He asked my name then. Before I could reply, Mom called me. She and Dad are waiting in the car. I ran towards them and turned back. I shouted at him, "It's for me to know and for you to find out!"

I went inside the car thinking whether he frowned at my answer. Well, he didn't. I saw him smiling from the window of the car. I'm glad I never tell him, unless he asked his grandmother. Sigh. I want to be mysterious. Thinking about him made me feel sad. His parents died. How will I feel if Mom and Dad are gone? I will be crazy. Will I ever see him again? Did that question came out my mind? Ella, what are you thinking? However, to tell you the truth, I still wonder about him sometimes. Who is he?

Reviews are needed badly. Okay, there. I had rewrite most of my grammatical errors but I did it in a split of second..lol..My mom is asking me for the comp. If there is more error, please notify me about it. I really need some English Grammar lessons. I wish I have English as my first language, sigh..Hey, review, kay:)