Pearl's eyes fluttered open, the soft morning light spilling into the room. Slowly, her gaze drifted to the phone lying beside her on the couch, silent and still.The gala. She suddenly remembered it was today. Oh fuck it wasn't a dream. Another event she had to attend, but this time, pretending to be the perfect fiancee. She looked around the house and her heart ached, not for the glamour or the spotlight, but for something she'd lost long ago.
She missed her mother. Deep down, she longed for the comfort and guidance only a mother could give. And so, on a quiet impulse, Pearl decided to visit Aunt Mabel, her mother's elder sister, who lived in the old people's home on the outskirts of Montelucia City, in the peaceful district of Velmora.
Aunt Mabel was more than just an aunt to Pearl; she had been like a second mother to her own sister, "Pearl's mother" since they were young. Mabel was born many years before her sister, with a wide age gap that made her more of a guardian than a sibling. When their mother died suddenly, Aunt Mabel had taken on the enormous responsibility of raising Pearl's mother, stepping in where fate had left a void.
She had done it well. Pearl's mother grew up to marry and have beautiful children of her own, carrying forward the family's legacy. But in all those years, Aunt Mabel never married—her life devoted entirely to raising her sister and nurturing the family.
Now in her late seventies, Aunt Mabel had no children of her own. Her world had slowly narrowed to Pearl and her brother, the only family she had left. But after her sister's death, the burden of caregiving had become too much for her aging body. With heavy hearts, the family had moved her into the elderly home, where she could receive the care she needed.
Though the years had silvered her hair and softened her steps, Aunt Mabel's eyes still held the fierce love and strength that had defined her life. For Pearl, she was a steadfast anchor, a reminder of the family roots and love that still held them together.
The streets of Montelucia City buzzed with their usual elegant energy as Pearl stepped outside her apartment. The warm breeze carried the scent of blooming jacaranda trees and distant sea air. She hailed a sleek Velmoran cab, its soft hum blending with the city's sounds.
The driver nodded politely and steered them through Montelucia's shimmering skyline toward the quieter outskirts. Gradually, the gleaming towers gave way to tree-lined avenues and quaint homes, until they reached the old people's home—a charming stone building wrapped in ivy, surrounded by blooming roses and tall cypress trees.
Inside, the atmosphere was calm and fragrant with lavender and aged wood. Residents sat quietly in sunlit lounges or strolled through the manicured gardens. Pearl's footsteps echoed gently down the polished hallways as she made her way to Aunt Mabel's room.
There, Aunt Mabel sat by the window wrapped in a soft shawl, her silver hair neatly pinned. Though frail, her eyes shone with warmth and wisdom.
"Aunt Mabel!" Pearl exclaimed, a smile breaking through her tiredness.
"Oh, my dear child," Aunt Mabel said warmly, standing up, "What a blessing to see you."
Without hesitation, Pearl hurried over and dropped to her knees beside the chair, wrapping her arms around her aunt in a tight embrace. Mabel held her back just as tightly, her frail arms still surprisingly firm.
"I missed you, Auntie," Pearl whispered into her shoulder.
"And I missed you, my darling girl," Mabel replied, pressing a kiss to her hair. "You coming here... this old heart needed that today."
They pulled back slightly, and Pearl reached for her hand, holding it gently.
"How are you feeling? How's your health? Pearl asked, her eyes scanning her aunt's face with genuine concern.
Mabel gave a small chuckle, leaning back with a tired sigh. "As well as a woman in her seventies can be, I suppose. The nurses here are kind enough, though the food could use some seasoning," she added with a teasing smirk.
Pearl smiled, a bit of relief slipping through her anxiety. "You look good… strong. Still reading romance novels?"
"Oh, of course," Mabel said, patting the book in her lap. "Though the heroes these days aren't quite as charming as the ones I remember. Too broody."
Pearl laughed lightly, resting her head against her aunt's knee for a moment. The silence between them was comfortable, like a warm quilt.
Then Mabel stroked her hair gently and asked, "Now… where's that brother of yours? Elijah. He is still making excuses to avoid visiting his poor old aunt?"
Pearl chuckled, lifting her head. No aunt, not excuses this time, "He's busy being a college star. But I'll drag him here soon." Maybe when he comes back for a break.
"You'd better," Mabel sniffed. "I didn't help raise your mother just to be forgotten by her children."
Pearl smiled again, the ache in her chest a little lighter now. "You're not forgotten, Aunt Mabel. Not by me. Never."
That's good to hear dearest, So how are you doing, have you gotten yourself that dream job or are you seeing anyone. She asked Pearl with a warm smile.