[Complete] Invisible Chains- Chapter 19
Chapter 19
I drove quietly on the smooth moving highway. I gripped my hands tighter around the steering wheel as I tried to focus on driving while looking back at my memories.
“What, another girl? Didn’t you promise me that you were expecting a boy this time?” I remembered my father yelling at my mother in her hospital room. She had finally relaxed after being in labor for two hours. Anyone could tell that she was tired. Her hospital clothes was drenched with her sweat, and her hair was in knots due to moving her head around a lot on the pillow as she gave birth to my sister. My father didn’t even consider how much pain she had to go through. His only concern was that if my sibling turned out to be a boy or a girl.
I stood beside my mother as I stared blankly at my parents. I was 5 years old and yet, I already had known that I shouldn’t interfere if my parents argued. I didn’t want to be in the middle of the crossfire. However I hated how my father treated my mother. I wanted him to stop arguing so she could have some rest. “What’s wrong with me having a little sister?” I thought, not knowing what he really meant.
“Well I’m not paying for the hospital bills. Do whatever with your child. I have to go to the company.” My father said and stormed off from the room. I turned my head towards my mother to see a sad expression on her face. She had bitten on her lower lip and her eyes had turned weary. It almost looked like she was going to cry. Then she turned her head to notice that I was still there. “Asuka-chan, give mommy a hug.” She said. Quietly, I climbed onto her bed and wrapped my small arms around her neck. “Good girl. Good girl.” She whispered in my ear before she tightened her grip around my body.
After I got off from the highway, I drove down the road until I turned into a dirt road. “This place hasn’t changed at all.” I muttered under my breath as I looked around. Even though the sky was grey, the bright and luscious green trees brought life to the scenery. A few minutes later I drove up to a small house with a few children playing outside. A small smile was immediately brought upon my face when I noticed the children had seen me.
I got out of the car and was suddenly surrounded by children of different ages. “Asuka-neesan you’re here! Did you come to play with us today?” A child asked me as some of the children wrapped their arms around my legs. I looked down and nodded my head to them. “We can play whatever you want. But let me greet Ibaraki-san first.” I said and they nodded their heads with bright smiles.
It has been several years since I first came to the Hikari orphanage. Through a private detective, I discovered that this orphanage was where my mother had sent my sister. It’s located right on the boarder between Tokyo and Chiba. However once I arrived to the orphanage, I was already too late. She was adopted when she was 6 years old. I was 13 years too late. However there was still some small hope in me that one day she’ll come back to the orphanage and we’ll meet again.
I already have my perfect scenario laid out in my head when I meet her again. I would introduce myself and then tell her that we’re siblings. Also I would tell the truth-that our father is a horrible person-then I would ask if she needs anything and that I would provide it for her. Whenever I would visit the orphanage, I would always become excited for that day to come. However there was a part of me that was scared. I would always visualize Mariko to be a sweet and kind girl. But what if I was wrong? What if she grew up in a bad environment? Did her adopted parents abuse her? Did she grow up in a good family?
I shook my thoughts away and headed to the trunk to grab some toys and food I bought for the children and Ibaraki-san. “Are those for us?” The children asked, some were already getting excited to see new toys. I looked at them and nodded my head. Then the children quickly formed a line in front of me and I handed a toy for each child. They had bright smiles on their faces. Whatever worries or sadness they had on their minds were pushed to the back of their minds.
Once all the children got their toys, I carried the food towards the house where Ibaraki-san was waiting for me at the front door. “Ibaraki-san, konnichiwa.” I said and then slightly bowed my head to her. She smiled and greeted me with a warm hug.
Ibaraki-san is 65 years old and she has been at the orphanage ever since she lost her child in a house fire about 25 years ago, and her husband due to a reaction during a medical procedure 3 years before. She has a kind personality and she loves every child that comes into the orphanage like they were her own. “Asuka-chan it’s great to see you again. You have been eating properly haven’t you?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. I made a small smile back at her. I don’t like when people pry into my business but Ibaraki-san is different. I got used to her persistence a long time ago.
I was a different person today than I was when I visited the orphanage and met Ibaraki-san for the first time. I was angrier, cold-hearted and only looked at things one-sided. I was eager and forceful to meet my sister again. I thought Ibaraki-san was the person who was standing between my sister and I from meeting again, when she didn’t let me see the documents of my sister’s adopted family and whereabouts.
When I was sitting in her office, Ibaraki-san started to make small talk with me. Of course I knew that she was trying to avoid letting me see the documents. Then she began to talk about her life and then the children. She described their lives and what kind of situations they came from. After that, she was upfront with me. She told me that she wouldn’t let me see the documents because she was worried that if I showed up at her doorsteps after 13 years, it might turn into a hostile situation. Ibaraki-san made me realize that whatever fantasy or dreams I had Mariko to be like, they might be wrong. Even though I still think of Mariko of a nice and kind girl, Ibaraki-san told me that I have to keep an open mind and let time heal her wounds if I do end up meeting her again.
“I have some great news Asuka-chan. I have something for you.” Ibaraki-san said. She got up from her seat and walked towards her desk to pull out a drawer. Then I began to notice that she was holding an envelope. She walked back towards me and smiled. She said as she extended the envelope towards me. “This is for you.” I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at her. She continued to smile at me so I hesitantly reached out my hand to take it.
I examined the envelope to see if there was a return address or any clues as to who sent me the envelope. “It’s from Mariko’s adopted family. They visited a few weeks ago. I told them about you and one of the family members asked if he could write a letter to you.” I bit my lower lip. Slowly I felt angry and sad that I was a few weeks late that I missed my opportunity to see her again.
“I know that this letter may be your only connection to your sister so I can understand if you don’t want to open it here. It’s better if you read it when you’re alone.” She said. I slowly lifted my head to her. She had a small and kind smile on her face. I made a small smile back to her and nodded my head.
I wanted to go home right away but I had promised the children that I would play with them. So that’s what I did, while thoughts of the letter never left my mind.
I drove quietly on the smooth moving highway. I gripped my hands tighter around the steering wheel as I tried to focus on driving while looking back at my memories.
“What, another girl? Didn’t you promise me that you were expecting a boy this time?” I remembered my father yelling at my mother in her hospital room. She had finally relaxed after being in labor for two hours. Anyone could tell that she was tired. Her hospital clothes was drenched with her sweat, and her hair was in knots due to moving her head around a lot on the pillow as she gave birth to my sister. My father didn’t even consider how much pain she had to go through. His only concern was that if my sibling turned out to be a boy or a girl.
I stood beside my mother as I stared blankly at my parents. I was 5 years old and yet, I already had known that I shouldn’t interfere if my parents argued. I didn’t want to be in the middle of the crossfire. However I hated how my father treated my mother. I wanted him to stop arguing so she could have some rest. “What’s wrong with me having a little sister?” I thought, not knowing what he really meant.
“Well I’m not paying for the hospital bills. Do whatever with your child. I have to go to the company.” My father said and stormed off from the room. I turned my head towards my mother to see a sad expression on her face. She had bitten on her lower lip and her eyes had turned weary. It almost looked like she was going to cry. Then she turned her head to notice that I was still there. “Asuka-chan, give mommy a hug.” She said. Quietly, I climbed onto her bed and wrapped my small arms around her neck. “Good girl. Good girl.” She whispered in my ear before she tightened her grip around my body.
After I got off from the highway, I drove down the road until I turned into a dirt road. “This place hasn’t changed at all.” I muttered under my breath as I looked around. Even though the sky was grey, the bright and luscious green trees brought life to the scenery. A few minutes later I drove up to a small house with a few children playing outside. A small smile was immediately brought upon my face when I noticed the children had seen me.
I got out of the car and was suddenly surrounded by children of different ages. “Asuka-neesan you’re here! Did you come to play with us today?” A child asked me as some of the children wrapped their arms around my legs. I looked down and nodded my head to them. “We can play whatever you want. But let me greet Ibaraki-san first.” I said and they nodded their heads with bright smiles.
It has been several years since I first came to the Hikari orphanage. Through a private detective, I discovered that this orphanage was where my mother had sent my sister. It’s located right on the boarder between Tokyo and Chiba. However once I arrived to the orphanage, I was already too late. She was adopted when she was 6 years old. I was 13 years too late. However there was still some small hope in me that one day she’ll come back to the orphanage and we’ll meet again.
I already have my perfect scenario laid out in my head when I meet her again. I would introduce myself and then tell her that we’re siblings. Also I would tell the truth-that our father is a horrible person-then I would ask if she needs anything and that I would provide it for her. Whenever I would visit the orphanage, I would always become excited for that day to come. However there was a part of me that was scared. I would always visualize Mariko to be a sweet and kind girl. But what if I was wrong? What if she grew up in a bad environment? Did her adopted parents abuse her? Did she grow up in a good family?
I shook my thoughts away and headed to the trunk to grab some toys and food I bought for the children and Ibaraki-san. “Are those for us?” The children asked, some were already getting excited to see new toys. I looked at them and nodded my head. Then the children quickly formed a line in front of me and I handed a toy for each child. They had bright smiles on their faces. Whatever worries or sadness they had on their minds were pushed to the back of their minds.
Once all the children got their toys, I carried the food towards the house where Ibaraki-san was waiting for me at the front door. “Ibaraki-san, konnichiwa.” I said and then slightly bowed my head to her. She smiled and greeted me with a warm hug.
Ibaraki-san is 65 years old and she has been at the orphanage ever since she lost her child in a house fire about 25 years ago, and her husband due to a reaction during a medical procedure 3 years before. She has a kind personality and she loves every child that comes into the orphanage like they were her own. “Asuka-chan it’s great to see you again. You have been eating properly haven’t you?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. I made a small smile back at her. I don’t like when people pry into my business but Ibaraki-san is different. I got used to her persistence a long time ago.
I was a different person today than I was when I visited the orphanage and met Ibaraki-san for the first time. I was angrier, cold-hearted and only looked at things one-sided. I was eager and forceful to meet my sister again. I thought Ibaraki-san was the person who was standing between my sister and I from meeting again, when she didn’t let me see the documents of my sister’s adopted family and whereabouts.
When I was sitting in her office, Ibaraki-san started to make small talk with me. Of course I knew that she was trying to avoid letting me see the documents. Then she began to talk about her life and then the children. She described their lives and what kind of situations they came from. After that, she was upfront with me. She told me that she wouldn’t let me see the documents because she was worried that if I showed up at her doorsteps after 13 years, it might turn into a hostile situation. Ibaraki-san made me realize that whatever fantasy or dreams I had Mariko to be like, they might be wrong. Even though I still think of Mariko of a nice and kind girl, Ibaraki-san told me that I have to keep an open mind and let time heal her wounds if I do end up meeting her again.
“I have some great news Asuka-chan. I have something for you.” Ibaraki-san said. She got up from her seat and walked towards her desk to pull out a drawer. Then I began to notice that she was holding an envelope. She walked back towards me and smiled. She said as she extended the envelope towards me. “This is for you.” I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at her. She continued to smile at me so I hesitantly reached out my hand to take it.
I examined the envelope to see if there was a return address or any clues as to who sent me the envelope. “It’s from Mariko’s adopted family. They visited a few weeks ago. I told them about you and one of the family members asked if he could write a letter to you.” I bit my lower lip. Slowly I felt angry and sad that I was a few weeks late that I missed my opportunity to see her again.
“I know that this letter may be your only connection to your sister so I can understand if you don’t want to open it here. It’s better if you read it when you’re alone.” She said. I slowly lifted my head to her. She had a small and kind smile on her face. I made a small smile back to her and nodded my head.
I wanted to go home right away but I had promised the children that I would play with them. So that’s what I did, while thoughts of the letter never left my mind.