Georgina
"Georgina."
"Integritas."
"Strengthe."
"Empatheia."
"Resiliens."
"Georgina."
"Integritas."
"Strengthe."
"Empatheia."
"Resiliens."
The werewolves chime some sort of ritual while I am tied in the lumber. My head faces the ground. My body is getting more tired.
"This is the final part, George," I remember Clarkson saying.
The final part.
More like the first part of my werewolf life.
All of the villagers form a circle around me, reciting my name and those four foreign words.
Integritas. Strengthe. Empatheia. Resiliens.
I lift my gaze and watch them chanting the ritual. I am slowly feeling the urge of my werewolf form to break free from my human body.
"You have to control your body, Georgina."
"Keep in mind that the werewolf inside you is part of your body."
I remember Clarkson whispering while tying my body.
It's part of me.
I am a werewolf.
A sharp pain shot through my head. The muscles in my arms and legs tighten. I clench my jaw as I feel a pain in my mouth. Claws grow from my hands. Beads of sweat start forming on my forehead. My heart starts beating fast as I start to gasp for air.
"Georgina."
"Integritas."
"Strengthe."
"Empatheia."
"Resiliens."
I look up to the sky as the pain gets worse. My weary body starts to shake once again. My gaze watches a group of fireflies fly up in the moonless sky.
Mom.
"I won't see you again, Georgina."
"I do not want to get involved. I'm sorry."
"You can not leave me like this!" I yell.
"You see the girl convulsing over there!?" I point at myself lying on the bed. "She's slowly losing herself. She's tired."
Tears roll down my cheeks
"I'm sorry, George," she says. "Put I don't want you in my life anymore."
"Strengthe."
"Empatheia."
"Resiliens."
"Georgina."
"Integritas."
The chanting of villagers continues as the fireflies gather in front of me. Slowly, they form the figure of a lady. Her form illuminates our surroundings.
It's her.
It's her!
"M-Mom?" I ask, not believing her form is in front of me. "Are you a hallucination?"
"It's me," she answers.
"But you said that you won't see me again," I whisper.
"I did not," she chuckles and touches my cheeks. "Why would I do that? I won't let this chance escape from my grasp, George."
"In my dream, you visited me..."
Does that mean it's only a nightmare?
"I haven't visited you in a while," she calmly says.
She touches my forehead. "George," she murmurs. When she looks up, her eyes become brighter with the color of green.
"Rememorari," she whispers. "MimnÄskesthai."
"M-Mom," I exhale. I feel as if I'm being choked, even though no one and nothing is stopping me from breathing. A sharp pain shoots through my temples.
"Aahh!" I arch my back and open my mouth.
I'm transforming once again. But this time, it's less painful.
Maybe I'm getting used to it.
The familiar pain in my jaw occurs. My teeth become more incisive. I ball my tied hands. Everything feels familiar except for one thing.
The pain in my head.
I feel dizzy yet awake. Maybe it's because the villager's chantings clash with my mother's words.
"George, Rememorari, MimnÄskesthai."
"Georgina."
"Integritas."
"Strengthe."
"Empatheia."
"Resiliens."
"George, Rememorari, MimnÄskesthai."
I think I conquered the pain. I thought to myself.
However.
Unfamiliar images flash in my head.
"What is happening!?" I exclaim.
"I'm returning the memories I kept from you," she replies.
I tightly close my eyes as the scenes play in my mind.
"Mom! Look!"
"Happy Birthday!"
"A is for?"
"Apple!"
Is that me?
I quickly open my eyes. My sight is greeted by a bright light coming to the window. My gaze lands on the cream-colored walls of the house. In front of me is a feast, a feast of all of my favorite food. There's also a chocolate fountain with different fruits around it.
"Happy birthday!" a stranger greets. She hands me a present.
Happy... birthday?
I look around. Aunt Liz enters the kitchen and sings a birthday song with a cake in her hands.
Where am I?
I sit still while I'm still trying to understand what's going on. Aunt Liz put the cake on the dining table.
"Make a wish," says the stranger. She smiles. Her blue eyes shine as she stares at me. Her blonde hair is formed into a bun.
I stare at the candle. I frown noticing something is off.
Four.
The candle on the cake is number four.
"The candle is fourâ"
"Yaayy!" both of them cheer.
My gaze drops to the candle and the fire is gone.
What's happening?
Am I just a spectator here?
Am I just viewing these memories like movie scenes?
"Open the box, sweetie!" the stranger says.
Though I'm still confused, I open the box. Inside is a dress, a little pink dress with ruffles.
"This dress seems familiar," I whisper.
I gasp.
This is the dress I wear on my first Christmas without Mom.
"You like it?" the stranger asks with a bright smile across her lips. "Mom was a bit unsure what to pick, but this baby pink will look good on you."
"M-Mom?" I ask with wide eyes. My hands instantly reach for her face but everything vanishes.
"Happy birthday!" I hear her voice again. I quickly open my eyes and see her face.
"Mom!" I exclaim. My hands touch her chin but it seems like she can't hear me.
"Happy birthday to you..." Aunt Liz enters the kitchen and sings a birthday song with cake in her hands. It's the same chocolate cake. But this time, the candle differs.
Five.
It's my fifth birthday.
Everything happens again like a de javu.
"Make a wish," Mom says. She has the same blue eyes and smile. But now, she's wearing a black coat. Her hair is in a bun. The dark circles in her eyes are evident.
"Yaayy!" both of them cheer.
"Open the box, sweetie!" Mom says.
Again, I do as she says. An emerald dress is inside.
"Aunt Liz says you have a new friend? Her name is Emerald, right?" she cheerfully says but tears rush down her cheek.
"Mom," I whisper. I touch her face and wipe off the tears.
"No! No! Mommy is not sad. This...This is tears of joy," she smiles and wipes her tears.
"Mommy is happy that you finally have a friend," Aunt Liz says.
Mom stands up and Aunt Liz follows.
"Are you sure you'll keep wiping off her memories?" Aunt Liz asks.
What?
I stand up and walk closer to them.
"Shhh... She can hear you," my mother whispers.
"So? You'll gonna remove it as soon as you step outside anyways," Aunt Liz shrugs.
"I have to keep her safe," my mother answers. "But I want to see her grow up." She looks at the dining table and waves.
They cannot see me...
Nor hear me...
The younger me is not here.
Is it because I'm here?
Again. Everything vanished.
"Happy birthday!"
Sixth.
A white lace dress.
"Happy birthday!"
Seventh.
My mother has blue hair now.
"What? You like my hair?" she smiles. Her complexion becomes pale. "Really? Thank you!" she exclaims. "No, baby. Brown hair looks good on you!"
"Open the box!"
A yellow floral dress.
"Happy birthday!"
Eight.
"Happy birthday!"
Ninth.
"It's been half a decade now," I hear Aunt Liz say. Both of them are talking in the living room. "After this day, she'll forget you exist. She'll ask me again why she doesn't have a mother."
"Elizaâ"
"I know. This is all you want, but can't you at least leave her a trace of you? She once cried because her teacher asked them to bring a family picture. She doesn't know what you look like after she aged another year."
Silence.
"Even though, you always celebrate it with her."
I bite the bottom of my lips as I listen to their conversation.
"Happy birthday!"
Tenth.
I frown when I open the present. It's not dress anymore. But a purple hoodie and white sneakers.
"I forgot the size of your jeans," my mother says. "Aunt Liz says you don't like wearing dresses anymore."
I look at her. Her features become more ethereal as if I am looking at a Goddess.
"You liked it?" she asks in disbelief.
This is my favorite hoodie. I smile.
"Yes, I liked it," I answer even though she can't hear me.
"Happy birthday!"
Eleventh.
A black skirt and white cropped top.
"Happy birthday!"
Twelfth.
A ripped jeans and a gray turtle neck.
"Happy birthday!"
Thirteenth.
A pair of black skinny jeans and an oversized white and black striped shirt.
I wear her presents on Christmas. I thought Aunt Liz bought them for me.
"Happy birthday!"
Fourteenth.
A One Direction T-shirt, denim shorts, and black sneakers.
My mouth gaped.
"Oh my goodness!" Mom holds her chest. "I never thought you could scream like that!" she says while laughing.
You know everything. But, I didn't know you this whole time.
"Mom, thank you," I say and hug her tight.
Then, everything vanished.
"Happy birthday!"
Another celebration once again.
"Thank you," I finally find my voice to speak.
"Make a wish," she says.
I want to live a normal life.
This time I blow the candle.
"Here," she hands me my present.
Oh, it's a bit heavy this time.
"I want to tell you something, before this end," I take a deep breath.
"Thank you so much for all of your efforts in protecting me and taking care of me. I'm glad I finally met you. I missed you, so much."
Tears rush down her cheeks.
"I missed you too, sweetie," she answers back. "I hope you like it."
I just flash a bitter smile.
She won't hear me anyway.
I open the box and see a fur coat and metal armor.
I gasp.
Does that mean...
"Mom?"
She cries and hugs me tight.
"I am sorry for my selfish action, Georgina," she whispers.
* * *
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