I felt my heart sank every time I saw you brought someone upstairs. It was a different face each day, but you always exuded the same glee. Each time I heard your waves of laughter, I couldn't help but think, "Why wouldn't you share that same laughter with me?"
Perhaps, you have grown accustomed to my existence that my presence didn't excite you anymore. I could feel your hostility towards me whenever I tried to come near you because you didn't even bother to hide it. You glanced at me with that look in your eyes as if telling me to go away.
I just wanted to play with you, Louise. I wanted to have fun with you like how we used to when we were young, where we would fall to our knees, crying and laughing, and mama would burst into the room to ask if we're okay. I wanted to go back to the days filled with playing touch and go or hide and seek. I wanted to go back to the nights filled with mama's stories and lullaby as she hummed us to sleep. I wanted to go back to the past, where it was just you and me. We had the best of our times before, right?
What happened to us? You couldn't even look at me directly in the eyes. The gap between us grew as we grew older. You became distant and cold. You refused to talk to me or even play with me even if I spent hours begging you. Honestly, your unveiled indifference killed me every time.
One day, as you came home from school, I felt my face lit up with great excitement, but it instantly dropped when I saw a man with you. He was not like the others you brought home. I stopped for a moment when I recognized his face: old and intimidating. I felt like I have seen him before. Ah, that man again! You knew how I despised him, Louise. I went behind your back to shield myself from harm, but you just shivered and shrugged your shoulder.
Get him out of this house! He was a bad man, Louise! He would hurt you like what he did to me before. I could still feel the pain from his attacks to this day. Could you not see how ruthless and evil he was? Why were you even protecting him?
Mama and Papa came in. I went near them to say how irresponsible you were for letting that man in. My complaints, however, have fallen into deaf ears again.
The man began whispering some weird utterances. I couldn't comprehend a word he was saying, but I felt a sharp pain in my back, wrist, and arm every time he spoke. You and our parents even joined him. Were you enjoying this torture, Louise?
He got a bottle full of water and sprinkled it all over the place. I didn't exactly know what's that for, but one thing I have learned: just a drop of that water could result to unbearable agony.
With his eyes closed, he shouted, "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I command you, evil spirit, depart from this house!"
I let out a shrill cry as the water touched my fragile skin. It hurt! It hurt everywhere, Louise. Please make it stop, I begged you. I felt the excruciating pain in my chest as I continued to scream. The tables turned, the glasses broke. I could feel the fear in your heart as you witnessed the havoc, but you stood still in your place while uttering the words I never knew.
The man turned to mama. "The force is stronger this time. I don't know if we can cast her out."
I saw tears forming on your lids when you heard him. Have you finally realized how painful this is for me? Had it finally dawned on you how that man wanted to annihilate my existence so I couldn't be with you anymore?
I thought you would save me from this misery, but you told me words that completely shattered my heart into pieces.
"Go away, Lana! It has been ten years of you pestering us! Please leave me alone!"
It was the first time you spoke to me after a decade, but those were the things I would hear from you? Why did you become so evil, Louise?
Were you still mad at me after winning hide and seek? I remembered how long it took you to find me in that chest. It was hot and dark there, Louise. I was so scared as I kept on shouting your name to let me out, but you never did.
I went near to hug you even if my frail hands just passed through your body. You kept on sobbing while murmuring the words, "I didn't mean what happened before. It was an accident."
If only you could hear me right now, I would gladly assure you that I never blamed you, Louise. I wasn't mad. I only wanted to play with you and hear mama's lullaby again. I honestly wanted to spend more time with you, but maybe, it was time for me to let you go.
Although I knew you couldn't see me, I smiled at you for the last time as I let my soul succumbed to darkness.
Galingπ§‘
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