Is It Love?

My whole life came in front of me.

I am Sarah Rose William, now Sarah Rose Hudson, eighteen years old. Now living in New York, I have finished high school and am now studying to get my degree in software engineering in a corresponding course.

My grandmother told me my mother passed away right after I was born because of some complications, and my dad blamed me for that, as he used to love my mother the most. He never got married to anyone after her demise. My grandparents always loved me, and my grandfather was the one who gave me the name Sarah Rose. Rose is my grandmother’s name, and as usual, he loves her. So I got my middle name, Rose, which I love. But sadly, my father never let me get close to them, and they could not go against my father’s wishes.

I grew up with servants that he used to change every six months, saying I might kill them too, but now I understand he wanted no one to get close to me.

Finally, one day, he sent me to the hostel at the age of five.

Sometimes my grandparents used to visit me, but I was not allowed to go out anywhere with them. I used to spend most of my vacations in the hostel only, as no one ever came to pick me up. The hostel never minded that, as they were getting hefty amounts from my father to keep me there comfortably.

From the age of five to the age of seventeen, I used to sit in a dark room, holding a picture of my mother, and cry my heart out every night. If she had been here, my life would be different.

Darkness and loneliness have become my best friends. Every night I used to sit at the window and search for my mother in those million stars.

The hostel has become my home. My grandparents were in constant touch with me, and they were the only people I could call mine. I hardly see my father. He never comes for any parent’s meeting or any other occasion at my school.

Kids used to make fun of me, saying I was an orphan; well, I was not less than them either.

No one wanted to befriend me because of this reason, and slowly I have also stopped trying to befriend anyone and started enjoying my loneliness.

I have started loving reading and have become a bookworm. I was a topper, and the computer has become my favorite subject, and I have a kind of specialization in it.

Hostel life taught me a lot and made me way stronger than any other person can be.

Because one of my father’s friends kids was studying in the same hostel, they got to know I was the reason for my mother’s demise. And they started calling me the murderer of my mother.

How can a newborn be a murderer? I know they are sick and their thoughts are sick, so I never took their words into my heart, as I am not that stupid.

This is my final year of school. I had already applied to so many universities for my higher studies, as I know no one will come to pick me up this time as well.

It was the last day of my exams, and I got the news that my grandfather had passed away. My world shattered hearing this, but this time someone has come to pick me up.

I reached our mansion and saw my grandmother. Running towards her, I cried my heart out. They are both the only ones I have in this world. The next day, it was his cremation, as they were waiting for me.

I did not sleep the whole night and cried my heart out, hugging my grandmother. She kept on consoling me. When I saw the last glimpse of my grandfather, my heart broke seeing him bid us his last goodbye.

I was in my room when my father summoned me to his study at 10 a.m. I look at the time. It was 9 a.m., so I still have an hour to go.

I was outside his study at exactly 9.59. He has never asked about my presence until now. Then why did he want to meet me? Suddenly, lots of questions were coming into my mind. Slowly, I composed myself and knocked on the door. "Come," I heard, and I went inside.

I saw my father sitting on his chair, and my grandmother was sitting on the sofa. There were four more people sitting in the room. I look at everyone. One person was almost my grandfather’s age. I guess I have seen him somewhere, and the other two are in their late 40s. One man may be in his early 20s. They all smiled at me except my father and that gentleman, as my father was busy glaring at me and the gentleman was busy on his phone.

I looked at my grandmother, and she told me to sit beside her, to which I obliged.

I was waiting for someone to break the silence, but I guess no one wanted to. After some time, we again heard the knock on the door, and my father asked the person to come in.

I saw a tall man in his 50s come and shake hands with my father. My father asked him to take a seat, and he did.

"So can we start if everyone is here?’’ he asked, looking at my father, and he nodded yes.

He opens his bag, takes one file out, and looks toward us.

So, everyone, I am Jerry Frank. I am a lawyer for Mr. Samuel Williams, and as we all know today, I am going to read his last will for all of you.

I have been hearing him and trying to understand what is going on, but when he finishes, my breath gets hitched.

So, my dear grandfather has snatched my last happiness as well. Wow!