However, Uncle Logan, Uncle Brooklyn, and my dad are my greatest opponents. I have tied with both Dad and Uncle Brooklyn for wins.
I have yet to beat Uncle Logan. I will someday; I’ve seen it. The problem is, Uncle Logan has figured out that I can see his next move before he makes it. I get the feeling he intentionally makes up his mind for his next move at the last minute, so I can’t counter him.
“I will play chess with you, and yes, you can sleep on the top bunk,” I say before he can ask.
“Cool, I’m going to put on my pajamas. Do you want to meet back here or in your room?”
“You can come to my room. I’m going to find Mom and ask for another coloring book. Then I will take my bath and put on my pajamas.”
“Okay, do you want me to bring some fruit for snacks?”
“I have my snacks in my fridge.”
“Oh, right. I will bring my own, so you don’t have to share your things.”
My siblings like sweets and things I don’t eat. Mom has placed a fridge in my room, so I don’t get upset with them for eating my stuff. I smile at Elijah.
“If there are no more grapes or strawberries, I will have some for you. I’ll see you in a little while. Don’t forget to brush your teeth and clean your butt. No one wants to smell your BO. I’m not going to change my mind. You don’t have to rush,” I warn, already seeing in my mind’s eye that he’s going to rush through getting ready for bed in his excitement and make me mad after.
“Okay, promise.” He goes to leave but turns and flings himself around me in a tight hug. “I love you, Sammy.”
“I love you too.”
***
I goto Mom and Dad’s room and go to knock. However, as I lift my hand, I find myself standing in the hall of our old house. I can hear my first mom sobbing inside.
The view shifts and I’m standing in the room with her. She’s sitting at her desk writing letters. When she looks up, I feel like she’s looking right at me. She smiles and wipes at her tears.
Then she returns to the letter she was writing. I can see the date and the name at the bottom. It’s for me. I glance at the other letters stacked on the desk and see one with my dad’s name on it.
I turn to see what else I find, but when I turn, I’m no longer in the room from the past or the hall from the present. Instead, I’m standing in a home. Something about it feels like it’s my home.
I look around and find my brothers, Elijah, Paulie, and Sunny. Inzo and Nori Donati are with them as well as the O’Brien cousins, Mikhail and Kirill Krupin and two others whose faces I can’t see. I look down at my clothes and I’m in a suit.
One like Uncle Uri’s. When I lift my head, I note the faceless guy has on a similar suit to mine. There are three other figures who are glitching.
“Sammy.”
I turn to find Jordan Black with a smile on her face. She rushes to me to give me a hug, then takes a step back. I can’t help smiling back at my little friend, but she’s not looking at me anymore. She’s smiling at the faceless guy.
My attention is pulled, and I move to the mirror on the wall. When I look into it, I see my father’s face, but it’s not him. I think … It’s me.
I’m dressed in a suit, but now I’m soaked in blood. I lift my hands and look down at them. There’s so much blood covering them I can’t see my own skin. Looking back at the mirror, my face and body are soaked in blood as well.
I know it’s not mine. I can feel it. However, I also know I did what needed to be done.
Five female figures step up on either side of me, but they too are faceless. I’m drawn to my right, something about her presence brings me peace and keeps me from spiraling as the fact that I’m covered in blood sinks in.
I can’t see her smile, but I can feel it. I turn to my left and Jordan Black and Ksenia Krupin now stand with the two other faceless women. As I look at them, I feel protective, as if I always need to make sure they’re okay.
“Sammy.” I turn and find my sisters.
I knit my brows. They are standing there watching me. Megan’s eyes are wide, but Jessica has a knowing smile on her lips. I home in on Megan’s face and begin to feel like a monster as she looks back at me.
“Sammy,” Jess calls again.
I look to her. She’s holding out a piece of paper toward me. I take it and look down at the numbers she has written on it.
