Chapter 79 Gone!
|| Author POV ||
A tiny figure lay curled up on the large bed, hugging a fluffy teddy bear tightly against her chest.
She snored softly, lost in innocent dreams. Her pajama top slightly wrinkled and her cheeks were round and pink from warmth. Soft, silky strands of her short hair clung to her face.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly blinked her eyes open, still groggy. Her amethyst eyes shone brightly. A sleepy little hand rubbed her lips and she sat up with a soft yawn. Her gaze was dazed and unfocused.
Rosalie. She was so tiny. Barely five years old.
Her wide, glassy eyes glanced around the dark room. Cold winds entered through the window, touching her toys and furniture gently.
Her puffed cheeks scrunched as she called out in a babyish voice, “Momma?”
Silence.
Little Rosa lowered her gaze to her small legs dangling off the bed. After a moment, she scooted toward the edge. The bed felt too high but she held the edge bravely, then jumped, landing with a soft thud on the floor.
Her little toes curled against the coldness as she steadied herself with the teddy still in her arms.
Her mouth formed a little pout and she called again, “Momma?”
Her pout deepened when a soft shiver ran down her body from the cold. Puffy cheeks flushed pink from the cold and her big, round eyes sparkled as they landed on the balcony door.
Snow was falling.
A bright little gasp escaped her lips.
“Wowie!” Rosa squealed, hands clasping together before she waddled clumsily toward the glass with her fuzzy socks slipping on the floor.
Her small fingers reached out eagerly. The moonlight casted a glow on her baby-soft skin. A single snowflake landed gently on her fingertip.
“Hehe!” She giggled mesmerizedly, eyes twinkling with glee as she stared at it like it was magic.
Bouncing slightly on her feet, Rosa examined the delicate flake. Without hesitation, she popped her tiny finger into her mouth, tasting it like candy and squealed again.
“Tastwy ice!” she declared proudly to no one, bouncing in place with pure joy as more flakes drifted down. Her little pajamas rustled with every hop.
She stared up at the sky with sparkling eyes, hoping for more snowflakes to fall.
A tiny breath puffed from her mouth like mist. Deep down, she knew her mother would scold her if she got caught out here, whispering that she’d catch a cold but the magic of the snow was too tempting.
One delicate flake landed on her tiny nose. “Heehee!” Rosa squealed loudly, rubbing it off with her mitten-like hand, then turned to her teddy.
“You want a taste too, bun-bun?” she whispered, holding the bear out with both arms like a proud little host.
She caught another flake on her palm and gently tapped it against the stuffed toy’s mouth, pretending to feed it. “Mmm... num num!”
But soon, the excitement wore off and the silence made her pout. Rosalie glanced around with a soft frown. Her hands rubbed her cold cheeks.
She wants her mother now.
Turning away, she waddled back into her room, quick little feet pattering against the floor. She ran to the door, stood on her tiptoes to reach the handle and pushed it open with effort. Her voice echoed through the quiet hallway as she toddled toward the stairs.
“Momma? Momma?”
Rosa wandered into the bright hall, her tiny feet making soft taps against the cold floor. The house was quiet and she knew her father wasn’t home.
“You woke up, Rosalie?” came a gentle voice from behind.
Rosa turned her head. Her wide violet eyes landed on the old housemaid standing with a kind smile. Rosa blinked and rubbed her eye with her fist.
“Mm-hmm.” she nodded with a sniffle.
“Your mother made you some soup before she left. Want to eat?” the woman asked, walking toward her.
Rosa clutched her teddy tighter, shaking her head slowly. “Where Momma?”
“Oh, your parents went to the shopping mall.” the maid said softly, brushing a hand over the child’s head. “I think they’ll bring you lots of toys when they come back.”
Rosa’s face brightened instantly. A gummy grin spread across her chubby cheeks. “Rea-we?” she chirped with sleepy excitement, then rubbed her tummy.
“Hungry?” the old woman asked softly, walking up to her. Baby Rosalie gave a tiny nod. “Teddy is, too.”
“Come. I’ll warm it up for you.”
Holding her teddy like a baby, she padded toward the dining hall, her steps a little clumsy and hair still tousled from sleep. The maid chuckled quietly and followed her, pulling out the tall chair.
Rosa clumsily climbed onto the chair, swinging her legs that didn’t quite reach the floor. “Teddy likes carrots. But not spicy... and no yucky green things.” Rosa informed seriously, placing the stuffed bear on the chair beside her.
The old woman smiled at the way she folded a napkin over the bear’s lap. “Noted. No green things.”
Then Rosa rested her chin on the table, waiting patiently, whispering to her teddy, “Momma gonna bwing me a pony toy, bun-bun.”
Rosa grinned seeing the bowl landing before her, her chubby cheeks rising like soft dumplings.
The old woman tucked a napkin under Rosa’s chin. Without another word, Rosa leaned forward and began slurping from her spoon in the most ungraceful but heart-melting way.
“Mmm! So yummyyyy!” she squealed, wiggling in her seat as if her joy couldn’t be contained.
Bits of soup dribbled down her chin but she didn’t care. Her little feet swung under the table while she hummed a tune she made up on the spot.
Rosa paused only to lean toward her teddy, whispering, “Teddy, Momma put love in thish. Can you taste it?” Then she gently scooped a spoonful and held it toward the bear’s stitched mouth, pretending to feed it and returned to her bowl.
Every sip seemed to fill her with more excitement. She had no idea the kind of night that was waiting for her.
Right now, it was just her, teddy, her momma’s soup and all the dreams she could fit in her tiny heart.
Rosa flinched at the sudden ring of the doorbell. Her spoon clattered against the bowl and she eagerly slid off the chair, her feet thudding softly against the floor. The maid sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. “She didn’t even finish her soup.”
Rosa was already sprinting to the door with the teddy clutched tightly to her chest. She looked back at the maid with bright eyes and a bouncing smile. “Momma’s back! Open it, open it!”
The door was opened, Rosa’s smile bloomed wide, then flickered. It wasn’t her mother. Standing there was her Aunt Carolina. Beside her stood young Kevin. Their faces looked strange with tension.
But Rosa was too young to understand.
“Aunt, you came!” Rosa chirped, arms stretching out. She ran into Carolina’s embrace with a happy squeal. “I missed you, Aunt.”
Carolina picked her up tightly, holding her close. Rosa giggled, nuzzling against her shoulder. Then her gaze dropped to Kevin, who hadn’t said a word.
“What happened, Kevin brother?” she asked in a soft voice.
But her words were cut off. A shudder went through her aunt’s body. Rosa heard the sniff.
She blinked. Her little arms stilled. “Why are you crying, aunt?” Carolina pulled her even closer. Her voice cracked as she whispered “I’m sorry, baby.”
Rosa’s brows furrowed as she looked up “What happened? Did you meet Momma? Where’s Papa?”
She asked, her gaze flicking anxiously toward the entrance again, still hoping her parents would walk in any moment with bags full of toys and smiles on their faces.
When no one appeared, Rosa turned back to her aunt and reached up with her tiny hands, cupping Carolina’s cheeks. Her touch was soft, almost pleading. “Auntie... don’t cry, pilis. Where is my Momma?”
Carolina choked before she could hold back anymore. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she finally broke.
“Your Momma–Your momma will never come back, baby. She’s not coming back.”