Final Goodbye


    “Sod it!” she said, firing the rifle once again. People had already stopped yelling because they were


    afraid that if they did, it would be to them to where she''d fire the gun. “You''re the son of a b*tch. Are


    you the cause of my sister''s tears? Do you realize what you got yourself into?” She took the pointed


    rifle from Cassandra and aimed it at me. She strolled as though she was having fun. I''d swear she


    was walking under the moon by the way she walked.


    I had just heard the sound of the rifle, and its point was already centered on my forehead since my


    brain was over trembling from something else. Even though there was no salivaing from my


    tongue, I swallowed as if it would rescue me.


    “From then until now, you''ve impeded everything. Did you realize that if I fire this firearm at your


    head, no one wille after me? That no one will know I did it?" She took the gun out of my head,


    but I was still restless. She aimed the rifle at the crowd. “Even these people will be dumb?”


    I couldn''t respond to what she said. Andrius and I live in an out-of-the-ordinary world. It was a world


    apart from the one I had known. His realm is in heaven, but the stain is evil, and I am on Earth. If


    only he would give my kid and me this type of life. I just will not ept it. I''d rather have the typical


    dilemma than the ones I didn''tmit.


    I was trembling. I wanted to tell her that I had no idea what she was saying. I''d want to im that


    Andrius and I have been estranged for a long time and that he is the only one who pesters me, but I


    can''t open my lips. I believe that if I talk to defend myself, she would not listen to me since their


    minds are preupied with their opinions. I''m not sure what I did wrong to Beatrice and Andrius''


    mothers, or why they were so displeased with me.


    I didn''t do anything else but let the time pass, hoping that someone woulde to rescue us, but


    horror welled up in my heart as Stanley gently lowered Cassandra. Because the man with the pistol


    pointing at him was also gazing at us, he didn''t notice Stanley moving. When I returned my sight to


    the woman in front of me, I noticed her grin. I didn''t make any move toward her to alert her to the


    fact that something was going on behind her; I was merely staring at Stanley at the moment.


    I sighed a sigh of relief as he ced Cassandra on the floor since she didn''t cry. My anxiousness


    was a mix of panic and worry, I had damp hands, couldn''t tell how fast my heart was racing, and


    something was in my stomach. It seemed like if I needed to go to the restroom or as if feathers were


    fluttering about within my tummy.


    When Stanley shoved the man, I was almost out of breath. All the armed guys were focused on us,


    with the woman in front of me as the focal point, so they had no idea what was going on with the


    one with them. I tried not to look at Stanley, since it may be the reason he died. He twisted his neck


    as he touched the man. I closed my eyes because I wanted to avoid watching what he was doing.


    But whatever optimism that had arisen in my heart at the prospect of our escaping uninjured was


    dashed. It crumbled, much like andslide that suddenly fell because it couldn''t cope any longer. I


    attempted to open my eyes to tell myself that what I was witnessing was a dream, but the frantic


    individuals proved that it was not. That nothing lies at all. Sadness, bitterness, fear, and fury flooded


    my heart. Even if I push myself to pay attention to what is going on, I feel as if I have cked out.


    “STANLEY! “ Aunt Lennie shouted as she realized what had urred.


    I''m not sure how it happened, how Stanley''s body ended up on the floor with Cassandra, whom he


    was going to hoist again. I couldn''t tell if the blood on the floor was real, since I couldn''t hear any


    gunshots.


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    I''vepletely lost myself. I didn''t care if this woman will kill me. I just want to crawl over to my


    daughter and Stanley. When I got up, I fell again due to the gown, leaving me with little choice


    except to crawl. I crawl like a worm and seem like pursued by people and soon will kill me after


    stepping.


    “FUCK! CALL CARL! WHAT''S THE DEAL WITH THE SHOOTING?! WE''RE JUST GOING TO


    SCARE THEM!” What the woman said just entered my ear and then passed through to the other


    side.


    “MISS TESSA! WE HAVE THE ANSWER! HE WAS JUST SURPRISED BECAUSE HIS BROTHER


    WAS KILLED BY SIR STANLEY.” Armed men gather, and some visitors assembled because of fear.


    Nobody is attempting to open the door.


    “SHIT! GET STARTED! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!” The door sprang open. But before I


    heard the opening, I heard objects that sounded like they had been thrown on the floor.


    I was there when the light peered out to ensure that the door was open. I''m not sure what''s going


    on anymore, since the hatred that has engulfed my heart has taken over. The outcry of my heart is


    louder than the ones shouting right now…scarier than the people here today.


    “Stanley… Child. P-please wake up.” Aunt Lennie''s screams were no longer quantifiable. Seeing


    your child in that situation is like witnessing your death.


    I came near to their ce, and my daughter was lifeless. Her head is still bleeding from the bullet


    that hit it. I lifted her, who was still gripping Stanley''s chest at the moment.


    Cassandra''s father is Stanley. He was the only one I could swear was my daughter''s genuine father


    because of the way he held her with his dying breaths. Even though they didn''t share the same


    blood, he was the one who was involved with my daughter and protected Cassandra.


    Perhaps my heart, mind, and eyes will never be fatigued. Because as one problem goes away,


    another develops.


    “AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” I howled out my anguish. Because of the scream that I let out, my throat


    was nearly tired as if a sword had passed through it. Tears streamed down my cheeks as if life had


    buried me to see them in this position. It was as if my heart had vanished; I couldn''t feel it. the


    poison consumed the searing grief. I almost took a knife to stab my body in the tremendous misery


    I''m experiencing right now. Because I don''t want this suffering, I want to bury a sword in my heart.


    Cry. Shout. Sob. I aplished all of that, but Stanley never stood up to say it was all a joke. My


    daughter did not wake up hungry and asked for milk. I turned to face Aunt Lennie, who was now


    reclining against one of the church seats. Uncle Dominador is not seen to me.


    I just caressed Stanley and Cassandra''s cheek. I want them to get up and answer my questions.


    How about me? How will I move when I wake up, and they are gone? How can I step if, at every


    step I take, they are the ones I see? I want them to open their eyes to tell me that everything will be


    just fine. I want Stanley to hug me again like he often does whenever a nightmare visits me.


    I just stood there staring at their features. Look back and forth, memorizing every shape of their


    face, since I know this is the final time I''ll be able to do so. Stanley''s hazel eyes have disappeared


    completely, reced with serene eyes as if he''s escorting you up the mountain, so you may smile. It


    seemed as if Stanley was following me around with his gaze. That is something I will never see


    again.


    Cassandra''s eyes are blue. Her nightly screams for milk will never be heard in my ears again. It will


    be reced by silence and my sobbing. We will no longer be able tough loudly in the room. I had


    no clue how I was going to reconstruct myself without their help.


    Aunt Lennie crept towards me; I could see she didn''t know how she felt, but she was trying to be


    brave. Her hair was tangled, and she had stopped weeping. Sheforted me by cing her head


    on my shoulder and hugging my arms.


    We had just lost sight of Stanley and Cassandra when Uncle Dominador charged at us. Because of


    his pace and the perspiration umting on his brow, he appeared to be being pursued by a


    thief. He was dressed in a ck tuxedo with a ribbon over his breast.


    “We have to get out of here!” he said, taking a deep breath and ncing at the floor when the folks


    were still pushed to open the door.


    We looked at him with our puffy eyes. I also stared at the floor because I had heard something


    earlier that sounded like the tter of a heavy object on the floor. I don’t quite see them.


    “Those people left a lot of bombs!” He was afraid to tell us, but I did not move from my seat.


    What’s the use of me saving my life if the two people who are the reason I continue to fight in this


    hurtful, insulting, and scary world are gone?


    Aunt Lennie stood up, uncle Dominador helped her, but I had no intention of standing up. I let them


    do what they would, but I didn’t move and raised Stanley’s hand. I sped it with mine. I often want


    to apologize to him, but how can I do that when he is gone? I am very ashamed of him, even in the


    next life, he seems to be an angel and guardian of my child.


    “Let''s go, Caroline!” They are both standing now and uncle invites me to stand, but I don''t move.


    As I squeezed Cassandra''s nose, I just grinned and yed with Stanley and my hand. Aunt and


    uncle just stare at me as if they were watching a live performance at the movies. Their expressions


    are swept away by my every action. I''m drowning in pain and need a rescuer. Why it always should


    be me? What is the point of punishing me?


    “Apart from that? Aside from the reality that we have no way out, time is running short.” I, too, gazed


    up at them. This is my fate, and I ept it. I''d want toe to an end here; I don''t want to go any


    farther.


    But as I awakened, I got the sensation that a heavy hand had dropped on my cheek. I assumed


    Aunt Lennie was OK and ready to leave her son here, but when I saw her eyes, I realized it was


    hard for her as well.


    “Are you just going to throw away Stanley''s sacrifice?”


    I pondered what she had said. Am I so self-centered? I can''t even pay Stanley from where I am, so


    why should I bother? However, the smack woke me up.


    “I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER WAY!” I was staring at the man so intently.


    I sobbed once again. That was the final tear I wept in their presence since I would never see them


    again. My warm tears trickled into Stanley''s eyes, and he grieved with me.


    I brought my face close to his, kissed him on the lips. I had never done this to him before. I kissed


    him in gratitude and apology. I am grateful to him because, until the very end, he did not disappoint


    me. Next, I kissed was Cassandra. I kissed her on the eye. Because I appreciated hering into


    my life.


    I removed the head that rested on my legs. When I got up, I followed the people where they were


    running.


    “WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS!” Uncle Dominador shouted. Everyone ran even harder, so the exit


    took longer.


    Some have already got out, but there are still many left. We won''t reach. Not enough time, thest


    in line was Aunt Lennie and Uncle Dominador.


    “15 SECONDS!”


    My heart cleared as I came out. I almost fell off while I was in the hole. When I got out, I looked


    back at the hole…


    But the world really despises me.


    I fled when the bombs started to explode. While I was in the air because of the explosion, I saw the


    smiles of aunt Lennie and Uncle Dominador.


    They wave at me with tears—for a final goodbye.