A girl always needs a little love - Z. Timol (any book recommendations txt) 📗

walked over to the table, the same table, and sat down. I picked up the menu and flipped through the pages. 5 minutes later Marcus walked past us.

 

''Hey Linda, Lizzie and Mrs?''

''Mrs. Grace'' grandma smiled

''And Mrs.Grace. Came for ice cream?'' he asked

''Only the best'' I said

''You guys ordered already?'' 

''Yeah'' Linda said

''Um, Marcus? If you don't mind me asking, what's your father's name?'' I asked, a bit embarrassed

''Mark Mathew'' he laughed

''Oh thanks'' I smiled

''No problem, I'll be back with the ice cream''

 

He walked away, I looked over at grandma, she was talking with another woman. I've seen her before, oh ya, she's my mom's friend. Linda was reading a magazine that was on the table.

 

''Linda Mathew, mmm, suits you'' I joked

''Very funny Lizzie''

''So, what you reading?'' I asked

''Fashion magazine. The latest trends and outfits, none of which I have''

''Welcome to the club darling''

 

Knowing myself, by the time I get what's in style, it will be old stock. That always happens. 10 minutes later Marcus came back with the ice creams, but now the shop was empty so it was just us. We told Mr.Mathew and Marcus to come and sit with us, so they did with their own ice creams. We talked about what happened the other day and it turns out the police were looking for the same men for a long time now but there was one more with them, he hasn't been caught yet. It must be that freaky man. I was sitting there thinking, then I remembered the letter and quickly checked if I brought it with, thank goodness I did. I really needed to ask Marcus about it and as soon as possible. My eyes started roaming all around the table, something was missing. Yes! The gift basket. I tapped grandma's shoulder.

 

''Grandma we forgot the gift basket in the car'' I whispered

''Oh yeah, I thought something was missing. Why don't you and Linda go and get it?''

''Kk. Linda, can you come with me to the car? I need to get something.'' I said

''Ok'' she said getting up

''Can I come with?'' Marcus asked

''Sure'' we said

 

He got up and I grabbed my bag with me. We stepped outside and we were met with a gush of cool wind. It was refreshing. We walked to the car and I unlocked it, Linda took out the basket and I locked the car again. But before we could go back inside, I pulled them both aside.

 

''Um, Marcus, I need to ask you something''

''The letter?'' Linda asked

 

I nodded, then took it out of my bag but before that

 

''Marcus? How old are you?'' I asked

''I'm 17, why?''

''No reason, just asking. Now for the real question. You see I found this letter and I was wondering if it was from you'' I said

 

He looked confused, so I gave him the letter. No harm. He read through it and then there was a frown on his face. Linda was watching him carefully, waiting for him to answer. And so was I, I was secretly hoping that it wasn't from him, otherwise, it would just break Linda.

 

''Well?''

''This is very interesting''

''Marcus!'' we both shouted

 

He laughed and then looked at us with a serious face. I wanted to slap the words out of him.

 

''I'm afraid not, but whoever this guy is, he must really love Linda'' he said

 

And I don't know if I was imagining but he seemed a little sad when he said that.

 

''Oh no, this is for me'' I said

''Oh really? Ok,'' he sighed. Relieved.

 

Linda seemed relieved too, he realized what he said and then tried to cover up.

 

''I mean, what I meant was, uh. I.. uh. No, it's not from me'' he said

''Never mind, thanks''

''So this is for you? Who gave it?'' he asked me

''You think I'll be here asking you if I knew who it was from?'' I hit him on his head with the letter

''Ouch, sorry missy''

 

We started laughing. Well, it isn't him. This is getting frustrating!. Who can this stupid person be? We sobered up and started walking back inside. I heard a thud then a scream, Linda was lying on the floor with tears.

 

''Linda! What happened?'' I asked trying to pick her up

''Are you okay? How did you fall?'' Marcus asked

''I... I tripped, my ankle, I twisted it'' she cried

''Oh goodness, I'm so sorry''

''Come on, let's take you inside'' Marcus said

 

We tried lifting her up but she was in pain. Mind you, I was shocked when Marcus told me to leave her. He bent down and picked her up, carrying her bridal style. I held the doors open and he took her inside.

 

''Linda! Oh darling, what happened?'' grandma came running

''She twisted her ankle'' Marcus said laying her down on the seat

''I think I've got some painkillers and bandage in the back. Just, one minute'' Mr.Mathew said running to go and get it.

''Are you okay Linda?'' I asked, hugging her

''It's okay, pain killers would help'' she whimpered

 

Mr.Mathew came back with the stuff, she took some painkillers and grandma wrapped her ankle up after applying some Zambuck. After a while she was looking well, the pain had stopped. I noticed that Mr.Marcus put up the 'closed' sign up. He's so kind. Linda was well and smiling again, she thanked us and apologized for her clumsiness.

 

''It's okay, things like this happen all the time, not your fault'' grandma said

''Just as long as you're okay'' Mr.Mathew said

 

I noticed that Marcus was still holding her hand, after a while, they both realized and let go. I smiled. So sweet. We sat and talked, not noticing the time going. My mind drifted places. I thought about my parents. I looked up and saw them sitting at the table opposite us. Of course, I was just seeing things but it seemed so real. Like I could just get up and go sit with them, like normal. It seemed like such a long time ago. I really missed them like hell. This time, they didn't disappear as quick as usual, they were still sitting there staring at me. I smiled and they smiled back. Then they were gone. I could feel tears threatening to fall, I couldn't let anybody see me like this.

 

''Lizzie darling, are you okay?'' grandma asked

''I'm fine, will you excuse me? I need to go to the bathroom'' I said getting up

''Straight, left and first door on your right'' Marcus told me

''Thanks'' 

 

Hold in the tears Elizabeth!

 

 

Calm down Lizzie!

 I followed his instructions and went into the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was a mess! And not just on the outside, on the inside too. I have never been in such a mess before in my life. I feel like I can't live anymore. I opened the tap and splashed some cool water on my face. I saw something in the corner of my eye

 

''Don't hurt yourself, Lizzie''

''Why? Why did you have to leave me? Why!? Tell me mom!, what did I ever do to you?'' I cried

''We love you''

''Just stop! If you really loved me, you would be here! Damn!''

''No, don't worry yourself and the others. Remember the stars Lizzie''

''You are not even making sense! Nothing in my life is making sense!''

 

She didn't say anything more. She was gone. I threw my bag on the floor and kicked it, I swept all the vases of the sink, I screamed, I pulled my hair, I banged on the walls. I did everything I could do, just to get this anger, this loneliness, this fear out of me. I was shaking, the whole room was spinning, I was losing control.

 

''Lizzie! Lizzie! Stop! Please stop!'' grandma tried to stop me

''Don't Lizzie!'' Linda screamed

 

They all tried to hold me down but I was out of control, I couldn't stop. I just wanted to die!

 

''Leave me alone! I don't want to live anymore! Leave. Me. Alone'' I pushed them all away

''Elizabeth. Calm down, breath'' Marcus said softly

 

I kicked and screamed but Marcus just kept on trying to calm me down, I could hear grandma's sobs, I could hear Linda telling me I'm not alone, I could hear Mr.Marcus telling me it's going to be alright. I could hear but I couldn't listen. I wasn't in control of my body anymore. I started breathing heavily.

 

''You can do it, Lizzie, calm down'' Marcus whispered

 

 After a few minutes, I stopped. My breathing was getting even, I was starting to concentrate again, I stopped screaming, my crying became whimpering. I was limp, my head was on someone's lap. I was feeling dizzy.

 

''There we go, good girl'' Mr.Mathew smiled

''Are you okay Lizzie?'' Linda asked

 

I couldn't speak, it's like all of a sudden I lost my voice. I just laid there staring up at the ceiling.

 

''Lizzie, speak to me. Please''

 

My heart starting beating very fast then it stopped.

 

Black.

 

********

 

''It's so pretty mommy''

''I know right?''

''Can you count how many stars there are?'' dad asked

''Yes I can. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!''

''Oh wow, you're such a clever girl'' mom smiled

''Why did we come here?''

''Well, we decided to have a little picnic. Is that ok with you?'' daddy asked

''Ok'' 

 

The sky was dark, with all these twinkly little dots. I love how they sparkled. I want one of those, I'll keep it in my room and play with it. It will twinkle so my room doesn't have to be so dark at night.

 

''Daddy? Can I have one star?''

''No sweety you can't''

''But why?''

''Because the stars stay up in the sky with all their friends, they can't come down'' he said

''And besides you don't need a star'' mommy said

''Why? Do they break very fast?''

''No honey, because you are one. You are a little star that twinkles every day and night. And when you're sad, all the other stars are also going to be sad'' she smiled

''Yes, so that's why you must do everything possible to be happy. Even if something makes you cry and want to lose control, you have to remember that you are a star and without you, the sky will be dark'' daddy said

 

I wrapped my arms around them both. I'm a star!! A sparkly one and I will make everybody happy and twinkle like me.

 

''I promise that I will always be happy and sparkly'' I said

''That's our baby girl!'' they said

 

I love the stars. They are the life of the sky.

 

*********

 

GRANDMA'S POV

 

This is all too much for her. She's suffering. The doctor warned me about these panic attacks she can have at any time. I looked at her sleeping on the bed, she was unconscious. I got so scared when I heard a crashing noise, I ran to the bathroom to see her pulling her own hair. She was screaming and kicking. I never wanted to see anything like this again in my life, it happened before and left me broken. I had one son and one daughter. She was the love of my life. Her smile would make me think that I was the luckiest woman on the planet. But slowly and gradually that smile began to disappear. She would lock herself in the room for hours, skip meals, miss classes. Then one day I heard crashing and screams, that was her first panic attack. She had much more after that. Almost every week. The doctors tried to see what was the cause of the panic attack