"Are you really sure that it's fine for me to stay here?" I fiddled with the straps of my duffel bag as soon as we step out of the car which was piled up with all my things from the apartment. She waved her hands over a maid and asked her to bring my things in before turning to look at me with the widest grin you'd ever see someone do, "Positive, it's my home you know even though I'm stuck here with my fiancé, unwillingly," she winks and drags me inside.
I nearly fell over when I saw the magnificence of the insides. I mean, I had already assumed since the outside was so elegant that merely looking at it would give you an urge to just stay there forever but now that I was looking at what magnificence there was on the inside, I nearly lost all my senses. Not only was it bright and clean, but a large amount of unused space was also well enough to fit more than thirty people, if not, then more.
Jodie must have seen my reaction because she started laughing and shoved me playfully by the shoulder, "Stop making that face, you look like you saw something unbelievable," she giggled, "Come on, I should probably lead you to the guestroom to get cleaned up," she said cheerfully and bounded towards her spiraled stairs leading up to the second floor.
I followed her blindly while still looking around like a little kid, this was just so incredible. True to what she said, Jodie leads me to a door that had left me into another moment of disbelief when she pushes it open revealing a queen sized bed and other room accessories.
"Oh my God, I can't believe you actually live here, the upkeep must be really burdensome," I gasp and she nodded with a smile, "Burdensome but worth it, here," she handed me a towel which was laid down on the bed. "The shower is right over there, take your time and if you need anything, my room is just right across to yours so don't be scared to knock," she said and walked towards the door, "Your things will be here in a moment," Jodie then shut the door on her way out, leaving me in the room.
I can't believe that this was her home. I've been at her house back then when we were still in high school, it was big no doubt but this place was twice as big as it was. It made you feel like a princess just by walking down the hallways and looking over the scenery of the flower-filled garden.
I smiled to myself, I was grateful that at least I had a friend like her, I press the fluffy towel to my face and sigh in content, "It smells so good," I mumbled and went towards the door on the right side of the room which I presumed was the bathroom since Jodie pointed at it while I was so busy looking around in astonishment.
The bathroom was great too. I have never seen anything as beautiful as this bathroom that I was looking at. It was spacious and very clean compared to my old bathroom in the apartment which was grimy and the drain was filled with hair.
I took a tentative step forward and swallowed. I was scared to be breaking anything around here, things here must be pretty priceless. I slowly let my duffel bag down on the lidded toilet and peel my clothes off me. I filled the tub to the brim after I understood how it works and entered. The tub was big and comfortable compared to my previous one which was cramped and slippery no matter how many times you scrub it 'til the coating was peeling off.
This was the life I once wanted. Something I once wished to live in together with Elsie, the woman who had adopted me longer than most. Thinking of Elsie made me think back to the days I was with her. She was odd that woman. Always loved to collect herbs of many kinds and hang them all over the house, using them only when she feels like to. The first time I had entered her house, I was surprised at how earthy and spicy her house smelled. It was clean but it was peculiar. She treasured her garden the most other than telling me stories that never failed to seize my attention.
No one really likes Elsie but I did, I admired her. She hated shoes, she once told me. She said it felt itchy and it tickles her toes but she always made me wear one. She makes the most delicious milk to make me go to sleep and she even sings me songs to calm me down.
I sigh and close my eyes, "Where are you, Elsie?" I whispered to the air. I missed her, I really did. She was one of a kind even though not many people liked her. She sent me to school and got me ready in no time without delay every single day. She always made sure that I'll have a full meal all the time. That was what Elsie was.
The day she disappeared was the day when I started having these weird snippets of a dream that I no longer remember. It was as if she was just up until that moment in my life. I remembered how I felt odd that she hadn't started to shake me awake when I opened my eyes. The air was a bit odd too. It was dull and dusty, the smell that day. I remembered myself walking down the stairs waiting to see her grinding the herbs to a pulp in her pestle and mortar with a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her but there was nothing.
All the herbs she was hanging around the house were gone, even her most prized possession, a large wooden cabinet that she forbade me to ever touch or open. All was gone, as if, as if she was not there at all, only a figment of my imagination.
I still remembered how idiotic I felt when I started shouting her name, looking all over the house for her. I checked her room which was unusually clean, I checked the attic, the basement, the kitchen, the bathroom, spare rooms, and even underneath the couches but she was nowhere to be seen, not even a strand of her bright red hair, none.
I cried so hard for the whole day. I didn't even bother to eat.
I let out another sigh and wipe a stray tear from the corner of my eyes, "I really miss you, Elsie, I really do," I whispered to myself before I was pulled into a slumber.