The Search for Mr Right (E1 – E12)

E12 - The Search for Mr. Right: Sister Sister

Hi there, it’s me again. The unrepentant spinster. And also, the overbearing sister. This is one of my latest titles as given by the Queen of Jabs herself, Stephanie. There’s also the Wicked Witch, the Basket Mouth, and then the Oversabi. The names are really endless. They change each time I try to convince Stephanie to go to the counseling center with me. She always claims she does not need it and that she is fine. But that’s just a normal Stephanie way. Always claiming to be strong and able to take on any challenge but still the first one to run to a hidden study and cry her heart out.

“You are coming with me whether you like it or not. You don’t have to worry about me listening in on all your struggles. It will be just you and the counselor. You don’t even have to tell me what happens inside,”

“Neither do I need to tell a therapist.”

“Stephanie…”

“Yes? I just wish you would leave me alone. You’re making this thing too much of a big deal. It has happened and it has passed. I have moved on!”

“No, you haven’t. No, you haven’t.”

And the debate went on and on until she finally decided to come with me. As we drove to the center, we didn’t speak to each other. I felt like she was deliberately closing off to me because she didn’t want me to know any more about how she was really feeling. God knows what horror I would put her through with that kind of information.

“You know everything I do is because of you, right?”

“But, what if I don’t want it? You claim it is for my good but it does me absolutely no good. What kind of sick logic approves that?”

“Stephanie, I told you how peaceful and relaxed I became after I talked to one of the sisters. I just think it would do you a world of good if you allow it to.”

“Yeah right,” She said, as she rolled her eyes.

“Maybe after this session, you’ll see why you need to press charges.”

“I will never press charges.” She said tight-lipped.

“Did he ever apologize?”

“I didn’t see him when I woke up. Just a note with an apology.”

“That bastard.” I was seething with anger and all I wanted to do was ram my car into him and back him up against a light pole.

“Maybe if I had heard him say it…it would have made the situation a bit better.”

I sighed. “He came to my office the other day. He was crying…and…he apologized to me…said he was grateful he at least found you so he could give you a proper apology…”

Silence.

“He also said he didn’t care what the consequences are, he…”

“I am not reporting to the police. And you are not going to.”

Just then, we pulled into the parking lot of the facility. The building was a quaint bungalow, surrounded by more flowers and trees than people. There were park benches placed under every tree in the big field and girls of different ages sat on them, reading books or just chattering. The girls had full bright smiles that made me smile too. I noticed a toddler in the crowd. She was not over two years old and she had the most beautiful mass of hair on her head. She was hollering with laughter as one of the younger girls tickled her playfully. A dark thought crossed my mind when I realized why these beautiful girls we’re here and I felt bile rise to my throat. What monsters would hurt such innocent creatures?

We walked up to the reception and the smell of flowers hit us aggressively. It was like the walls were soaked in lilac or something. The receptionist was dressed in the cutest floral overalls and she had the warmest smile I had ever seen. She looked like my mother and I instantly felt safe with her.

“Good day, sister. How may I help you today?”

“Uhh.. we have an appointment for 1:00 pm. Lauretta and Stephanie.”

“What’s your code, sister?”

“It’s double red.”

“Okay. Your counselor is Sister Kate. She’ll be in her office in two minutes. I just have to tell her you’re here already.”

“Okay, thank you. Where do we wait?” I asked.

“Right here.” She said pointing to a couple of love seats in a corner. “Would you like a cup of juice and cake while you wait?”

Juice and cake? Who are these beautiful, thoughtful people?

“Yes, please. Stephanie?”

“No, thank you. I’ll pass.”

The receptionist walked away to get my juice and cake and I squeezed Nini’s hand to assure her that everything would be just fine. She responded by sighing heavily and laying her head on my shoulders. She will be fine, I said more to reassure myself than her.

While we waited, we noticed a girl walk in. Or what remains of her. I didn’t have to know what she looked like before to understand that something was terribly wrong with her. She was emaciated and had her bones sticking out of her body in a frightful manner. One thing I didn’t expect was for her to smile so broadly at us the moment she noticed we were watching her. I smiled back but Stephanie quickly turned her face away. I guess my smile made her feel welcome and so, she walked up to sit beside me. Walking is a bit far-fetched though. I would say she wobbled, dragging her literal bag of bones with her. But her smile. It stayed on, stayed light, and free, and beautiful. It attested to what would have once been considered a very beautiful face.

“Here you go.” The receptionist said as she handed me my snack. Sister Kate is ready for you now. She asks that only Stephanie comes in.”

“You’ll do great. Just tell her everything.” I whispered to NiNi as she stood up and made to leave to the counselor’s office.

“Is she your sister?” I heard a small voice croak beside me. “You two look so alike…and so beautiful.”

“Thank you. She is my sister.” I didn’t know if I should continue the conversation or just let the compliment be what it was. A compliment.

“What’s your name?” And there goes my resolution.

“My name is Lauretta.” And because courtesy demands it, “…what’s yours?”

“I’m Charis.”

“That’s a beautiful name.”

“Thank you. Yours is too.” I didn’t know what to expect when she came dragging her bag of bones to come sit beside me, but what I knew I wasn’t expecting was for her to be able to communicate so eloquently.

“So…you’re a sister here?”

She laughed out loud. “What does that even mean?”

I blushed at my own ignorance. “I’m sorry. I don’t really know what you guys are called.”

“You guys?”

“I mean…you girls…I didn’t mean you…I’m sorry…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. There is no need to apologise. It’s okay to ask questions. We are not called sisters. We are just called by our names- our new names.”

“New names?” I asked, confused.

“Yeah. As soon as we are admitted into the program, we take on new names of our choosing. I took on Charis. I read it from a book. I loved the character that bore the name. She was strong, fearless, gentle, everything I wanted to be. And when I looked it up, it just felt perfect.”

“That’s beautiful. I wish I got to choose my name.”

“I don’t think you should be making such wishes.” I noticed the frown on her face and I immediately understood that what I said was insensitive.

“I’m so sorry…” Seems like I’ll be constantly walking on eggshells while I wait for Stephanie.

“I don’t want you to feel like you have to say sorry all the time…it really is fine. You don’t really mean it and I get it. With time, some old words tend to take on new meanings.”

I relaxed. “Thanks.”

I resolved to let the conversation die a natural death from there on, but Charis was having none of it.

“So, aren’t you going to ask me why I am here, or why I am so skinny?”

“I…” What do I even say to that?

“It’s what people ask the minute they set their eyes on me. I know you’re curious. I can see it in your eyes.”

One thing I definitely did not prepare for was a Psychoanalysis by a girl I knew nothing about. “Even if I am dying to know, I don’t think it is in my place to ask such questions…”

“Someone with some manners, finally!” She exclaimed with her hands raised up in mock triumph. And we both laughed.

“I have a baby though. I saw you staring at her when you were coming in. That drew me to you. I like people that stare at her like the child that she is and not just a victim…”

“Oh…I’m so sorry…”

She laughed out loud again, interrupting me. For a very thin girl, she had a very deep and full laugh. I would listen to it all day, every day, nonstop. “You really should stop apologizing for things you didn’t do.”

“I just don’t know what else to say.”

“I understand.” She said quietly as she looked down at her chapped nails and began to twist her fingers. “I’m so lucky to be alive…so grateful…and…”
“And? You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”

“I just…I feel comfortable sitting here…talking to you. I love talking to strangers…and…I don’t know…it’s been a while since anybody has looked at me or even talked to me like a normal human being without bringing up my obvious…situation.”

“I…”

“Don’t you dare apologize again!”

This time, it was my turn to laugh out loud and she joined in almost immediately.

“I wasn’t always like this though.” And just like that, just like a switch, she had changed to a more sober, reflective mood. “Believe it or not, I had my whole life ahead of me. Now, I’m here, battling a disease and trying to be a good mother to my sister-child. It’s crazy how everything goes from zero to a hundred in one blink.”

I swallowed. Wait, what? “Sister-child?”

“Yeah, my father’s third daughter and my first child. It really is such a messy situation.”

God. How does a father even think to do that to his own child? “I hope he’s dead.”

She cracked a small smile at that. “Nah. Not yet. He might soon anyways. He never had a strong heart.”

“Why is he even still breathing?”

“Because his death would do nothing for or to me. Just another lazy bump on the road.”

“But don’t you want justice? Vengeance?”

“Too stressful. I have exhausted all the pain left in me and all I want to do at this point is rest.” She looked up at me, resolute. Just the way Stephanie looked when she told me she didn’t want Adam arrested.

“But…”

“Broken pieces are hardly made whole again. The least you could do is not break it into tinier pieces.”

Silence.

Although she was telling me about her own struggle and need for peace, I felt a tug at my heart that demanded to be responded to.

“I hope your sister does great.” She said, standing up to leave. “She looks strong, but girls like them are the easiest to break.” And with that, she walked away dragging her bag of bones lazily through the entrance.

I was still meditating on my conversation with Charis when I noticed NiNi walking towards me. Her eyes were puffy and she kept sniffing into her handkerchief. Someone has been crying. Seeing her like this made the tears well up in my eyes and I couldn’t stop one or two drops from falling freely.

She came to me, sat beside me and rested her head on my shoulder, with her arms wrapped around my torso. I listened to her cry for a few more minutes, until she said, “I’m ready to see him now.”

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