The Cat's Tail-Chapter 40: A Trip Down Memory Lane

It had been a couple or so hours since Adela left her parents' residence. By the time she reached her destination, it was already 10:30AM.

Adela got out of the white car and stood before the entrance to a cemetery. She took a deep breath and made her first step inside the cemetery, following the next ones.

As she traversed along the countless graves, the sun's bright glow cascade over her brown hair.

The sun was brighter and warmer than earlier. But somehow, it wasn't giving off the kind of heat that would burn and hurt one's skin.

It was almost as if it was just giving her a gentle caress, as if to let her know of its warm and eternal presence.

She eventually stopped in front of a gravestone. The name Leona Mandjet was etched on it along with the date of her birth and passing.

"..."

The gravestone was decorated with flowers that seemed like they were put there just recently. It was most likely Raymond's work.

Adela looked calm despite the warring emotions in her heart at the moment.

She took a deep breath before going down on her knees in front of her eldest daughter's grave.

"Hey there, Leona," Adela spoke, her voice low yet heavy with emotions. "It's me, Adela."

She looked around her surroundings, seemingly trying to find the right words to spell out.

"It's been five years since your Mutated DNA Fusion operation," she started again, following suit with a chuckle. "You're probably surprised to see me here after all those years. And I can't blame you for that. No, if anything, I don't have such right. I'm sorry it took so long for me to come here, Leona."

Right as she offered her apology, Adela reminisce about that time she gave Raymond and Phillip the permission to perform the Mutated DNA Fusion on Leona.

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"If that is what Leona wants," Adela said reluctantly. "Then make it happen. Please save her life, Raymond, Phillip."

"We will, Adela."

"I will do everything I can to help make it happen."

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That time when she learned the result of the operation.

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"Miss Adela, I got an urgent call from Mister Raymond. Leona is dead."

"I see. So the operation failed."

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Adela sighed deeply as she looked up in the cloudless sky. The shade of blue and light stretching as far as one could see.

"It's so bright and warm today," Adela uttered, her gaze returning to Leona's gravestone. "It's just like the day you were born."

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Twenty years ago.

Inside the delivery room, laying on the bed was Adela, exhausted after giving birth to her first child.

Raymond was standing next to the bed, allowing his wife's half-lidded gaze to meet their baby.

"Uwaaaah! Uwaaah! Uwaaaah!"

Raymond chuckled softly. "She's a loud girl."

A slow smirk played on Adela's lips.

And then, the baby stopped crying, opening her golden eyes to meet her mother's.

"What beautiful eyes you have," she said under her breath.

Raymond took their child in the nursery room, only to return after a while to tell Adela how loud their baby's cries were even outside the nursery room.

"It's amazing," Raymond exclaimed. "I've never heard such a loud cry before."

Adela giggled softly at her husband's words. "You're exaggerating."

Raymond noticed how Adela seemed to have fallen into thought, a slow smile playing on her lips.

"Adela? Something on your mind?"

"I figured it out. Her name is Leona."

"Leona... yes. I like it. Leona it is."

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"Speaking of which, Callisto was born in the evening when the moon is up and bright, just like you wanted. I can't help if it's just a coincidence or if it's because of your connection to the sun giving you a glimpse of the future. Though I guess it doesn't matter. You gave your sister a name as wonderful and beautiful as yours. That's all that matters." freёweɓnovel.com

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Roughly more than fourteen years ago.

Adela was glancing over the young Leona and baby Callisto across the table while also doing work on her laptop.

"Abal," said excitedly by baby Callisto, pointing her tiny finger at a tiny piece of a skinless apple in Leona's hand.

"All right, Calli. Make sure you chew it. Say ahh."

"Aahbal."

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Roughly thirteen years ago.

Their whole family was in the Silangan Nature Park. Adela was watching her daughters play in the grass field from their picnic area when she caught sight of Callisto tripping after running around and crying.

"Uwaaah! Mama! Papa!"

Leona, who was keeping a close eye on her little sister just like she promised her parents was quick to the rescue.

"Calli," Leona called, her voice tinged with worry. "Are you okay?"

"I-I fell!"

Leona looked down on the surface of the earth with hostile eyes. "This part, right?"

Callisto nodded as she watched her older sister stomp the ground where she tripped and fell nine times.

"Take this! And this! And this! There, I punished the ground for you, Calli."

"Thank you, big-sis."

"Let's go back. We need a bandaid on your knee."

"Okay."

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"You did what you said you're gonna do once Callisto is born. You took care of her as best as you can. I'm proud of you, Leona."

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Roughly nine years ago.

Leona was already on a wheelchair as she lost her ability to use her legs. When they came across a field of white lotuses in a flower garden, an idea came to Callisto's mind.

"Mama," she called. "Can we buy one of these?"

"Sure thing, Calli."

After they visited the flower shop inside the garden, Callisto was holding the vase-grown lotus they bought as she and Raymond led the way out of the flower garden.

Adela was following shortly behind them, pushing the wheelchair for Leona when she heard her call.

"Mama, can we stop over there for a second?"

The mother followed her daughter's gaze towards a souvenir shop right next to the one where they bought a lotus flower for Callisto.

"Of course, Leo."

Adela called out to Raymond and let them know where they were going before turning towards the souvenir.

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Inside the shop, they were greeted by the shopkeeper. "Welcome! Please take a look around!"

Adela gave the shopkeeper a courteous smile as she went further into the store with Leona.

Her eyes darted from a display shelf full of mugs made with a variety of floral designs, to a hanger of clothes with the same style, to another display shelf full of accessories inspired by the flower garden itself.

Adela would find some interesting things, but would only keep that interest to herself. The purpose of this visit was to get Leona what she wanted, after all.

"What are you looking for, Leona," she asked. "Some cute clothes? A mug? Or maybe an accessory?"

Adela watched her daughter in silence as Leona scanned the display shelf with accessories. It didn't take long for Leona to find the one.

Leona urged her mother to push her closer to the display shelf. Her hands finding a lotus necklace.

Adela's gaze traced the necklace at the palm of her daughter's hand.

"It's beautiful," Leona remarked, her hand clenching on the necklace.

Leona paid for the necklace herself and they left the store.

They stopped just outside the establishment as Leona admired the necklace one more time.

"That's a really beautiful necklace," Adela commented. "Want me to put it on you?"

Leona slowly shook her head. She then turned the wheelchair around herself to face Adela.

"It's my gift for you, Mama."

Adela's breath hitched in her throat at her daughter's words. "For me?"

A slow, soft smile playing on Leona's lips. "Birthday letters are fine, but I want to give you something you can carry around wherever and whenever. That way, I can always be by your side even when I'm already gone. You'll never forget about me, Mama."

Adela felt a tight knot in her stomach. It was so tight she could feel herself on the verge of collapsing on the ground.

However, Adela refused to give in. There was no way she could show Leona such a sight. Not when Leona was making such a beautiful smile despite her words.

Adela forced a smile, masking her real emotions, the intense pain overwhelming her heart at the moment.

"Can you put it on for me?"

Adela kneeled on the ground, positioning herself for Leona to put the necklace from the back of her neck.

"It's on, Mama," said Leona, urging her mother to stand up and face her. "It's beautiful. It really fits you."

"Thank you, Leona."

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Facing Leona's gravestone, Adela's vision was blurred by the tears welling from the corner of her eyes.

She tried to move on.

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"Isn't today Leona's burial, Miss Adela?"

"I'm busy. Do you want to go in my stead, Karen?"

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But she realized that she couldn't.

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"Who is she? Why are you calling her Calli? Who is she?!"

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Adela realized that she didn't want to forget, to let go.

She let herself get drowned by her own false hope, blinding her from seeing the truth. Afraid that if she accepted reality, she would start to forget. She would no longer be able to see her anymore.

Because of her fear, Adela ended up hurting not only Leona, but also Callisto in the process.

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"Mama, I—"

"Don't you dare call me that. You may have taken her voice and her face, but you will never replace my daughter, you monster."

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"I'm such a fool."

Adela's voice was heavy with emotion as tears flow down her cheeks, soiling the ground where Leona was laid.

"How can I possibly be afraid of something that will never happen in the first place? There is no way I will ever forget. Not when you're always reminding me not to."

Adela's hand found their way to her lotus necklace, holding it right in front of herself.

"This entire time, you were always by my side. You never left me alone even when you're gone."

Adela could feel it. The connection she presumed was gone was still there. It was always there from the beginning.

Though she couldn't see the end of it, one thing was certain. That connection leads towards only one person it was always connected to.

At this very moment, Adela stopped thinking about Leona's lifeless, unrecognizable body. Adela could only think of Leona's warmth, the way her eyes were similar to the sun, her loud cries, and her beautiful smile—the real Leona.

At this very moment, Adela had truly moved on. She finally accepted the truth.

Though at the same time, she made a vow to herself.

Adela will never forget about Leona. Even if Adela can no longer see her face, hold her hands, or even hear her voice, Leona will always remain in her heart.

This was the choice she made.

Adela's hands clenched around her white lotus necklace, holding it close to her chest as if she was giving Leona one final embrace.

Through the pain and sadness of letting go and moving forward, a tearful smile shone through Adela's face. "I love you, Leona. Goodbye."