The red thread of fate, it is an invisible thread that has two ends tied into each pinky finger of a destined couple. This thread enables fate to make things happen; that no matter where the people are destined to be, these threads would pull them together even if they are at the different ends of the world.
This is an old mythology in Asian. I have found and seen stories about it in China, Japan and even in different countries. I was never certain where it originated, however this is the story which made me both hope, and cringe at the same time.
Hanging on the wall of our gigantic house that many people described as a mansion, is a painting of a man and a woman at the different edge of the canvas with red threads tied on their pinky fingers. This painting always fascinates me, as this is how my parent’s love started.
At a young age, they told me that they were two destined people pulled by this red string. A story which made me a hopeless romantic, or at least that is what I used to believe.
“Miss Rosaline Carter, you should start to prepare. The funeral is about to start.” I removed my attention from the painting and turned around to look at Diana, a 57 year old maiden who has taken care of me since I was a child. She has short white hair, wrinkled face, pale skin tone, and a warm heart.
With a sad smile and a small nod, I slowly walked away from the painting that once captivated my heart. The black 4 inches stilettos I am wearing make a clunking sound with every step I take on the marble floor of our house. Every sound and echo makes a deafening noise in my ears, it is proof that this building I once called my home is nothing but an empty house.
My throat is burning with pain as I try my best to conceal all my trouble, and stop all the tears that are threatening to fall from my eyes.
Before walking down the huge staircase in front of me, I took my time and looked around. Letting myself take every part of this home.
The white and gray marble floor, silver slate wall, high ceiling, crystal chandelier, and gold handrail of our staircase. I was once like a princess living with all my whimps and luxury. A princess with a perfect kingdom, with a perfect royal family. However, all of that changed and was torn into a million pieces by one dreadful tragedy that I became aware of, back when my heart was still pure and my mind was still innocent.
Seven years ago, at the young age of 16 years old, my eyes became open to the reality of the world.
----------//-----------/FLASHBACK/-------------//-----------
“Dad, did you cut off my phone plan?” I shouted from my bed as my call couldn't get through to my friend.
Stomping my foot with annoyance on my bedroom floor, I firmly grab my phone and like a spoiled brat that I was, I stride out and walk towards the room of my parents.
My mother, being a business woman, is overseas right now to get some investors for our new company’s project which I am not very familiar with and have no plan to have the knowledge. On the other hand, my father is a well-known lawyer who worked with my mother before, back when she was still a trainee on our family business.
Due to the reason that my mother is overseas, my father decided to work at home and take care of me together with my nanny Diana.
In front of me is a double sal wooden door with a handleset door knob. I knocked on the door, but to my dismay no one answered. Irritatedly, I opened the door to find it unlocked and entered. Looking around, the bed is tidily done and my father is not in the bathroom as well.
“Workaholic old man,” I whispered with pouty lips and rolled my eyes before I walked out from my parent’s bedroom and walked downstairs where my father’s home office is located.
I was about to knock on the door when I saw that the door is not closed, and there is a gap on it.
For an unknown reason, I secretly took a glimpse inside of my father’s office as I heard the incoherent muffled sounds of my father’s and an unfamiliar female voice.
Pushing the wooden door of my father’s office quietly, I slipped inside and was astonished to witness something a young girl like me should not be seeing.
There, on my father’s office chair, is a beautiful sexy woman who is half naked sitting on my father’s lap as my father holds the back of the woman’s head while their lips are interlocked with each other. Something that he should only be doing with my mother alone.
Unconsciously, my phone drops on the floor as it slips out of my hand; making a loud noise that causes them to become startled.
“Princess…” he calls but my mind is blank and my ears are closed.
————//———END OF FLASHBACK/——-//————
It is indeed true after all; a daughter’s first love and knight in shining armor are their father, until they became the daughter’s first heartbreak.
“You were not the perfect father, but you were the best one I could ever wish for Dad. I’ll take care of her now…” That was my last statement towards him as I threw the white rose on the coffin placed six feet below the ground and let the first and last tears flow out of my eyes and towards my cheek.
“Ms. Carter, Dr. Buendia just called and…” Diana said with immense worry and panic in her voice that I was alerted as well.
“What happened to Mom?” I asked in worry as I don’t think I could take another heartache this time. My heart is still bruised and shattered, and I am not sure when I will heal from all of it.
“She… Dr. Buendia said that...your mother is having an episode…” Diana reluctantly informed me.
At that moment, I let my tears freely fall as I ran towards my car, not bothered by the fact that my heels are causing blisters on the heel of my feet.