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Staring up at the vanity mirror, Natalie realized that she was a mess. Her hair was disheveled while her eyes were red and puffy. Eric couldn’t see her in this state, Natalie realized. The both of them were getting married and she didn’t want him to begin to doubt her interest and commitment to it.

She ‘loved’ Edward, and it was all in the past, but right now, she felt like a horrible person. Edward sacrificed a lot for her and she didn’t even get to thank him one last time before he left this world. The guilt was suffocating her. All she ever does was bring pain and misery to the people around her.

Perhaps, it would have been a good thing if Edward never met her. Yes, Natalie wished she could turn back the hands of the clock and take on the punishments for him. Edward had a bright future ahead of him until she came in and ruined it all, and for that, she would never forgive herself for it.

Knowing that Eric would come for her once he was done with his business, Natalie began to make herself presentable. She quickly washed her face, but it didn’t eliminate the redness and puffiness around her eyes, damn! In the end, Natalie had no choice but to apply make-up. It eliminated the traces of her crying, however, she wasn’t the type to apply makeup while at home and Eric was surely going to question that.

As if she had foreseen the future, a knock came on her door barely after she was done. Checking herself once more in the mirror, Natalie took a deep breath and left to open the door only for her jaw to drop.

“Elijah?!”

Before Natalie could say anything else, the young man pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight while she stood there stunned. It wasn’t until after a few minutes that she hugged him back, missing his familiar warmth.

Out of the five siblings she had watched over while they grew, Elijah was the one she had been closest with. At first, he had treated her like a mother until Ephraim destroyed that notation, wanting him to honor the memories of his biological mother instead. And then he took her as a sister, an older one who took care of his growing ass and through his rebellious phase. In one word, Elijah was more than a son to her, he was a friend, and most of all, family.

.....

“You finally came,” She exhaled, her chin resting on his shoulder while she patted his back.

“Yeah, about that, I’m so sorry for arriving late,” Elijah apologized to her.

“This is why they say it’s better to have a female child than a male one,” Natalie said and Elijah pulled back slightly to look at her.

“Why?” He was curious.

“Because you boys forget all about your old folks once you get a girlfriend,” She teased him

“Nope, not you, aunt Natalie. You’re always in my heart,” He gestured, “Cross my heart.”

She chuckled, finally letting go of him. However, she took a good look at Elijah and he had grown into a fine young man.

“Just a few years gone and you were this small....” She gestured to his height, “And now, you’re huge. It’s kind of unbelievable. Life indeed takes us fast”

“Yeah,” Elijah scratched the back of his head, shifting his weight from feet to feet, something he does whenever he’s nervous.

“So please, have a seat and tell me, what can I get you?” She was prepared to even go into the kitchen and prepare his favorite – at least that would keep her distracted.

“No, nothing, Natalie, I’m good. Actually, I am not here to stay.” He told her the truth.

“Oh,” Natalie got the point and she changed her plans. She sat down instead, urging Elijah to sit with her.

“Even if you’re not staying, I bet you have enough time to entertain this old lady,” She baited him and Elijah wasn’t able to resist her.

He sat down knowing that he owed her this at least. Although Elijah knew that he wouldn’t be leaving here without dropping one or two secrets. How he wished he could drop the main gist.

“What are you up to recently? Honestly, I never imagined you would be the last person to visit even after hearing of my return. Although Ephraim was more than happy you weren’t around so I wouldn’t cuddle you like a baby. While Elvis and Ezra were all in for the baby treatment as far as Ephraim wasn’t looking. ” Natalie narrated what had happened in the last gathering when their brothers returned to see her.

Elijah burst into laughter as he pictured the scene. God, he missed his brothers. And one might ask, why did all of his brothers begin with the letter ‘E’?

According to the story their father told them before he too died, well, his mother had always wanted female children, so when the first twins came, Eric and Ephraim, he named that thought because they were twins and all, they had to have matching names, you know.

However, when her second child came and it was a boy, she thought, a name beginning with E again since they’re all males, it’s going to match. However, she threatened her husband the E-name series would continue if she doesn’t get a female child in the next pregnancy. So when the fourth and the fifth came along, she made good of her threat.

“Are you okay?” Elijah suddenly asked Natalie when he saw the tiredness and a bit of puffiness in her eyes. But it was hard to tell with all that layer of makeup which was strange, the Natalie he knew hardly put on makeup at home.

“What?”

“Your eyes?”

“Oh, that?” Natalie thought she hid it well, “Something got into my eyes and there was lots of scratching involved. The point is I don’t want your brother worrying over nothing, he can be quite dramatic.” She came up with a convenient excuse

“Yeah, I heard, the both of you are planning to get married. Congratulations.” He sincerely thanked her.

“Thank you.” Natalie smiled at him in appreciation, until she remembered something, “And what about the girl? Eric told me you’ve found the one you love?”

Elijah was startled by that question, having not expected it from Natalie, the mother of the woman he loves.

“Yeah, fine. We are good.” He said when there was nothing good at all about all of this!