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So, every day I sit on this couch, close my eyes and remember them. Or at least I try to. Every day it gets harder and harder to picture them in my mind. I wasn’t super young when they died, I was 13, but the memories of those earlier years are fading. It’s getting harder to remember the sweet sound of Mom’s laugh or how she always smelled like cherries. I can barely remember how dads scruff felt against my cheek when he kissed me good morning or how his face lit up when I caught him staring at Mom across the kitchen. The memories get further and further away as I get older and are replaced by newer and less happy ones. But that doesn’t stop me from trying.
Cece’s voice my chest as I hear the only living relative I have left singing “I Got Sunshine” like she does every day. It’s become the soundtrack to my daydreams.
A loud thud drags me from my walk down memory lane. I flip off the ornate lamp tucked in the corner and walk down the hallway toward the front of the store, noting that the familiar tune is no longer floating through the air.
“Cece?”
There’s no answer. A sinking feeling fills my gut as I call out her name again.“Cece?!”
As I emerge from the hall and look around the front of the store, I don’t see her head floating above any of the bookshelves. She’s tall, standing taller than me at almost six feet, with a head of bright red curls, much like Dad’s. That gene skipped me, but I have my mom’s chocolate brown hair, which is still incredibly curly.
My eyes dart around the room faster, frantically looking for my missing aunt. I don’t see her anywhere. I walk towards the front door, noticing that it’s still locked.
Okay, so nobody took her. Where the hell did she go, and what was that noise?
Suddenly I hear a faint noise coming from behind the checkout counter. A cold sweat breaks down my back, terrified to see whatever is behind it, but I have to move.
Move, Harper!
Running, I run around the counter to find Cece lying on the ground gasping for breath. I drop to my knees next to her, “Cece! What happened? Oh my god! Cece!” I’m practically screaming in her face.
I can’t lose the only family I have left. I can’t.
“Cece, please! Hold on, okay? I’m calling an ambulance.”
I reach for my phone in my back pocket, only to find it missing. Shit! I must have left it in the back room.
“Cece, I’m going to get my phone. I’ll be right back.” I know she can’t hear me. I’m afraid to leave her, but I have no choice. I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know that she’ll have no chance if I don’t call an ambulance.
Faster than I have ever moved in my life, I run to the back room and grab my phone from the couch, where it must have slid out of my pocket. I dial 9-1-1 on my way back to Cece. Dropping down again beside her, I prop her head onto my lap. Once I connect to an operator, I give her all the necessary information, and she lets me know an ambulance is coming.
Once nothing is left for me to do but hold her, tears stream down my face. “Cece, hold on. They’re coming, okay?” I watch as one of my tears falls from my chin and lands on her cheek. She doesn’t even flinch. Then, I notice her breathing has slowed, her body barely even trying anymore.
Her green eyes stare up into mine, filling with unshed tears. She blinks every few seconds like she’s trying to stop herself from crying. Even now, she’s trying to be strong for me.
Cece lifts one hand and cups my cheek as a sob racks through me, “Please, Cece. Please. They’re on their way. Don’t leave me.” I hold her tighter in my arms as if that will prevent her from leaving this earth, from leaving me all alone.
Her thumb lightly swipes away a tear on my cheek as she takes a slow, ragged breath. “My… sweet… girl.”
Her hand softly falls from my face to my lap. I watch a single tear roll down her cheek as the last bit of light drains from her eyes.
No, no, no, no. No!
“You can’t leave me all alone. Cece, please. Please don’t leave me all alone. I can’t do this without you.” I beg her as I hold her body in my arms. I know she can’t hear me anymore. She’s gone.
Dead.
The last person I loved in this world, the last person that loved me, is gone. I. Am. Alone.
It’s then that I hear the faint sound of sirens approaching. Moments later, I hear frantic pounding on the locked front door, but I can’t move from my spot to let the paramedics in. I can’t.
The sound of glass breaking doesn’t even draw my gaze from Cece. I can’t look away. I can’t.
A paramedic rushes to me and drops his bag beside me. I can faintly feel him trying to move my body away from Cece’s, but I won’t go. I can’t. “Ma’am. You have to move. Let us help her.”
I can’t look at them. I can’t answer them. I can’t move. I can’t.
“Ma’am… Can you move for us.?”
