I saw her walking past the hallway after my dad's funeral with a red rose. I have never seen anyone like her in my family. Not that it mattered as I never got to know much of my family.
"Ethan?" My mom asked, tears falling from her pale skin.
"Yes mom?" I asked, I had quickly wiped the tears off her cheek.
"I missed you more than anything. I'm so sorry to have dragged you out here to take care of me. I'm sorry that I didn't let you come last week before your dad.." she whispered, whimpering and looking away from me.
"Excuse me, I'll be back." She walked away, I noticed her shaking and the tissue in her hand had nothing but tears and mascara.
Everyone looked at her as if she was crazy. Not long before I had arrived she had an episode about seeing my dad walk back into his body. She was a spiritual woman, I never believed her.
"Are you Ethan?" A young woman had asked me. Her voice so calming, her pale skin and long dark wavy red hair in a formal bun. A strange-like burn around her neck.
"Yes, are you a cousin of mine or something?" I asked.
"No, I'm a family friend. Your mom and my mom are close friends." she laughed, clenching the red rose to her chest. Everyone looked at me crazy too, shaking their heads as if they had wished to dismiss me.
"Ignore them. People can be so harsh, but I have a request. Give your mom this red rose tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00am." the girl said smiling.
"Of course..but what's your name? My mom never mentioned any friend of hers that had a daughter?"
"Evelyn." she whispered as if to keep it a secret from anyone else.
"Well Evelyn, it's amazing to meet you.".
"It was amazing to meet you as well. Can you tell my mom hello for me? Her name is Harlene." Evelyn asked.
"Harlene? She is just over there why don't you tell her? I never knew she had a daughter either." I laughed.
"I wish I could but she doesn't seem to grasp that I'm right here."
"Ah, mom issues?" I asked, trying to make a little joke. Seeing her frown told me it was not good. However, she quickly gave me the rose and had ran off into the hallway.
"Ethan who were you talking to?" My mom approached me in a hesitant way.
"Evelyn. Harlene's daughter?" I responded.
"She died 3 years after you were born? She committed suicide. She left a red rose at my desk every so often after she left my sessions. Always did it to show appreciation of what I did for her as her therapist. She did it to show me I had problems too. I sure miss that girl." My mom sighed.
I looked down, clenching the rose in my hand as I heard this news.
"She wanted me to give you this tomorrow...at 8am?"