Memories

Hanna sat down, trying to digest what had just happened. She hadn’t seen Temple in years. The last time she saw him, he was just a little kid. She was shocked to see that the boy she used to bully had grown into a fine young man. He still had those bright hazel eyes that shone under the sun, and he now towered over her with his honey-brown hair cascading to his shoulders. She remembered how he used to hate his hair growing long, always screaming, “I’m not a girl!” whenever someone suggested letting it grow.

“What could have changed him?” she whispered to herself, letting out a sigh. Beyond Temple’s surprising transformation, she was astonished that he recognized her immediately. She had thought, no, she had hoped, that no one would recognize her.

Hanna’s mind drifted back to their childhood. She recalled how she used to tease him relentlessly. Temple, with his innocent eyes and shy demeanour, had been an easy target. She used to laugh at his discomfort, never considering the lasting impact it might have on him. Now, seeing him as a confident young man, she felt a pang of guilt.

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Hanna’s bedroom felt like a cavern of darkness. The silence was broken only by the thunderous music from the living room. She was trying hard to fall asleep when suddenly, her eyes flew wide open in terror. The sound of breaking glass echoed through the house, followed by dishes shattering.

Hanna bolted to the door, slamming it shut behind her. With her little hands trembling, she dragged a chair to barricade the door. Collapsing to the floor in the dark, she trembled with fear. This happened almost every night, yet she never got used to it. She couldn’t understand why it had to happen to her. Her home used to be perfect; why did everything have to change?

Her mother’s screams brought her back to reality.

“What do you want from me? From us?” Mrs. Tami cried out, her voice filled with pain. Hanna could hear the sound of her father hitting her mother, the agony filling the house through the thin walls. She was miserable.

“I’m going to leave this house! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!” Mrs. Tami screamed. Hanna had never heard her mother use such strong words. She remembered being scolded for saying she hated Benny in her class because Benny had read her diary. Her mom had said hate was a strong word to use. “Why did my mother go back on her words?” she thought, feeling a sudden wave of disgust. Without realising it, she muttered, “Liar,” followed by tears. Life truly was not fair.

“Snip, snip, snip.” Hanna jerked up, realising she had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room. Years passed, and the memories of those nights never left her. They haunted her dreams, resurfacing whenever she felt vulnerable. Nightmares from her past were familiar, so she quickly wiped her tears and made her way to the window to see where the noise was coming from. There was Temple, trimming her flowers.

“Why is he trimming the flowers? Aren’t they trimmed enough?” she wondered. Yet, she kept watching him from her window. She felt a sense of relief knowing someone still cared about the house. It made her feel like he cared for her. She stood there, staring through the window, not realising she had a smile on her face.

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