Page 28 of All for her Forgiveness

However, when the men came to interrogate me, I told them the truth: that since she hurt her back, Aunt Riny had been abusing medication and I even believed she was buying without a prescription, from drug dealers.

I'm not foolish, and I wasn't born yesterday. I know how serious an accusation of drug trafficking or using controlled substances without a prescription is, and I wasn't going to just stand there and share her lies, thereby harming myself.

I feel bad that upon receiving the news, I'm not sad for my aunt. All I think about is a life lost; besides that, we had no bond.

"I need to go in anyway."

"I'll go with you."

The door is already open, and I see three men in the living room.

She's motionless.

The paramedics are around her, desperately trying to resuscitate her, but their efforts seem in vain, confirming what Mr. Ernest said.

My heart feels as cold as if someone took it out of my chest and placed it in a blizzard.

Despite everything she did to me, a solitary tear rolls down my face as I watch the scene, incredulous.

I never saw my parents dead. Besides my being very young, the coffin was closed. Thinking that Aunt Riny—who just an hour ago seemed well enough to shout and curse at me—has suddenly passed away, doesn't make sense.

For a moment, I hope she'll get up and continue talking to me as she always did.

"Juliet, drop those damn crayons, or I'll break them again!"

"Juliet, you're a piece of trash! Damn the hour I agreed to keep you."

"Juliet, I hate you! I should throw you in the gutter!"

Of course, that last sentence was only said until I started working and bringing money home. From that moment on, she never threatened to "throw me in the gutter" again.

"There's nothing more to be done. We'll take her to the hospital just to have the time of death confirmed by a doctor."

The three men stand up in unison, and while two of them place her on a nearby stretcher, the third turns to me. "Are you a relative?"

"Not by blood, actually."

"But I assume you'll be responsible for everything?"

I look at Mr. Ernest, who seems to understand that I'm still in shock.

"She has a mother, who lives in Manhattan,” he says. “I'll notify her."

I didn't even know he had Mrs. Vina's phone number, but at this moment, I'm grateful he's taking the lead.

I'm not a hypocrite, and I won't say I loved her, but it's sad to see a life end like this. I firmly believe that the greatest enemy of a wicked person is the person themself. Aunt Riny, I have no doubt, had been battling her inner demons for years, but I never imagined it would lead to such a tragic end.

Everything that happened from then on was like watching a movie.

We went to the hospital in Mr. Ernest's car, and there, an attending doctor confirmed the death.

About half an hour ago, we returned home, but despite both of us having to work tomorrow and it already being early morning, he shows no signs of leaving, and I'm grateful for that.

We continue talking in the kitchen.

"Why was there soup on the floor of the living room, Kennedy?"

"I made it, and she didn't like it. I think the intention was to throw it at me, but she missed and ended up throwing it on the stereo, which made her even more irritated."

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