Cassey’s P.O.V.

“Mommy please! Don’t leave us!” I held onto the guide railings of the stretcher as numerous nurses wheeled the stretcher to the emergency room with dad on another stretcher behind. Alyn trying to shout the same thing, but they weren’t responding!

“Ma’am, Sir, please stay in the waiting room, you are not allowed to go in!” The nurse prevented us from going in. But I still tried--no, I can’t lose mom and dad! I love them too much! I’m still so young, I just can’t lose them right now! This is unfair! What did I do wrong to deserve this?!

“Those are our fucking parents! Let us in!” Alyn tried pushing through the barrier of nurses, only to be escorted by the security away along with me and I could do nothing but to cry. I’m only 16 for crying out loud! I can’t afford to lose my parents now. Especially my brother…

“They’ll be fine sis… they’re strong… remember? strong girls don't cry, you're a tough one remember?” I could feel hot tears makes itself drip down my cheeks as my brother engulfed me in a long needed embrace, but still. Without our parents… I can’t even imagine what it would be like to wake up. With no humming around the house, without the scent of coffee in the morning... And no ‘I love you ‘from my parents... Yet I could do nothing. All I can do… is to cry… and hope for the best… this is too sudden, why them of all people? They are kind people, how did it end up like this?

Is it because of me? Then take me instead!

I love my Mom and Dad too much... I can't lose them…

I didn’t notice that I cried myself to sleep until my brother stirred me awake. I got too distressed I guess... The doctor went out of the emergency room. We both immediately, like literally jumped in front of him, hoping for good news. But all he did was take off his surgical face mask, with sorrowful eyes, I feared the worst of the news… Please... They can't... I can't lose them!

“Doc.. how’s our parents? Are they alright? Tell me they're alright!” Brother decided to ask. I could feel a knot on my throat, that burning sensation I always hated of having. That painful sensation that weakens me… That sensations that makes you choke out tears, that burning knot on my throat. It’s painful to keep in, it’s like keeping yourself quiet from crying quietly in a cold, dark place. It hurts, tell me I'm dreaming. Tell me that I will wake up from this nightmare and act as if it's just another day! Please!

“I’m sorry, Sir, Ma’am, we tried everything we can… but they are too far gone… their wounds are too fatal, and they lost too much blood, we did all we can do. I’m sorry and…. Sincere Condolence….” Those were the dreadful few words that I heard, before I felt my head spin. The knot in my throat worsened, my vision started to blur. Everything is spinning, I can’t see anything but blur... What's happening to me?

“Cass? Cassey?!” Brother’s calling to me were the last thing I heard... I think, before my vision blurred to darkness….

I can’t feel anything…

Normal P.O.V.

“Condolence dear, they are at peace now.” Alyn nodded and led the visitors in the chapel. It was three days later after the death of their parents. And today was the burial day. And it has been two days after their family corporation went bankrupt due to their unloyal business partners taking away what they had left. And burdening them with debts. of the company. And it has been a day, since they decided to sell whatever they can of their heirloom, to pay those debts...

It has been a painful three days. Three days was all it took to break the siblings, and seeing their parents on separate coffins. It’s too much to take, knowing in just. Three days. Everything they worked hard for. Everything they sacrificed their blood and sweat for.

Is all gone…

Those three days took a very hard toll on them. One will say, those three days will go by fast, but to Cassey. Three days, felt like three centuries of painful experiences. Three centuries long of her streaming salty tears. Three dreadful sunrises, yet they are still drowned in the dark.

Everything, in just. Three. Days.

Cassey was sitting on the front, teary eyed as she would. None of her friends bothered to attend the funeral service. None of her so-called friends paid respects. She dropped out halfway her college, she didn’t have any will to do so. She probably doesn’t have the money to support her education anyways. She lost everything she has, aside from her brother. How would they live like this?

How can she finish her education? How will she be able to pay for her brother’s diagnosis and treatments? How was she going to afford the living that they used to have? How can a girl, without a diploma, will be able to afford a decent job at least? How will she continue the legacy of her supposedly company? How will she make her dreams of fame come true? And how will she continue her legacy as a profound bully?

A bully…. Maybe that’s why the god has punished her like this. Because of her wrong doings and misdeeds…

Is this her Retribution?

She gave out a sigh, burying her face in her palms. Little by little she is forced to reminisce all of those she had done in the past. How she would forget to greet her parents. She wished she could’ve showed them the love they deserved when they were still alive. But she can’t anymore. There’s nothing she could do, but regret all those moments wasted when sh could've done so much more for them. To show them how much she loves them. To show them how they mean to her. She can no longer kiss their cheeks and hug them like she was supposed to, it’s hopeless. It’s too late, so much precious time wasted…

“Hey… Are you alright?” She glanced beside her. Alyn sitting down on a vacant spot. Chatters of visitors, mainly their relatives were heard throughout the chapel. Nothing mattered to Cassey right now, but to silently mourn over her parent’s deaths. Alyn was in no better state than his sister, but as the elder brother. He has to be strong, the deaths of their parents were sudden. But he couldn't do a thing. He's useless as an elder brother.

“I’m ok, don’t worry about me… But… What about us now? You can’t go working in your condition… And we only have a few left from what mom and dad left us… It's probably gonna last us for a month's worth.. ” Cassey took a glance over her parents, the sight she always feared to see one day. A bit too soon.

Alyn wiped the tears off of his little sister’s eyes. He feels bad just the same as she. But he knows how hard it must be, he couldn’t put up to his work as an older brother. All the weight will surely fall on his little sister. And he couldn’t do a thing to reduce it. Instead he became a burden.

What kind of a big brother is he? Why does he have to be so weak? It's already a shame that he couldn't protect her.

“Excuse me, Mr. and Ms. Villanueva?”a voice came from behind, both siblings turned behind to see a blonde woman around her early 30’s. wearing an office worker outfit, with files on her arms. Cassey knew she was here for the heirloom that was supposed to be passed down to Alyn, though even if they had a lot of heirloom, it’s still not enough to sustain their needs until Cassey gains a job. Plus due to paying depts. There wasn’t enough left of what they own.

A job….

That’s what she needs to focus on getting. If she wants to give her brother a sustained life. Then she has no other option. A little princess like her, will fall onto the shoes of a Cinderella. How humorous...