Nothing Changed

“Wowwww, this place is so pretty, Mommy. Is it a palace? Like the ones in those Disney books? Are there princesses inside?” Little Rosie exclaimed with her mouth wide open as she climbed down the car and stared at the white building in front of her. The building was so huge and beautiful that she resisted the urge to run into it immediately.

“It's not a palace, Sie Sie and there are no princesses inside either. It's just a normal family house.” They were standing before a huge mansion with the name ‘Rossaddor’s Residence’ written in gold at the top of the wall.

This place was just as she remembered it to be. It was the same after all these years. Nothing has changed. The cold walls, the piercing atmosphere, and the graveyard silence of the mansion.

Nothing changed at all. Perhaps the people in it never changed and that was the reason why nothing changed in the Rosaddor’s Mansion.

She could still remember her memories here. They used to be fulfilling. Her silent days here until everything fell apart.

Who would have thought that the Rosaddor’s Residents would send her an invitation letter? The grandfather of the mansion wanted to see her and so he sent her the letter that arrived this morning.

If it were some other person, she surely wouldn't have arrived here today but it was her grandfather. The man who cared and looked after her all the years she spent in the mansion.

Although he had hit her several times that day, she couldn't bring herself to hate him at all. The only thing he ever did wrong was not understanding her.

“Rossador?” She heard little Rosie gasp in surprise. “The name written in this mansion is Rossador. Does that mean this is our mansion, Mommy?”

“It's not ours. Stop gaping at it. If you want a mansion like this, you can just ask and I'll get one for us.”

“I don't want it. You told me that we shouldn't waste money unnecessarily.”

Izabelle smiled at her daughter and patted her hair tied in a cute piggy tail before holding her hands and leading her to the main door of the mansion. It's a good thing that Rosie agreed to take her medicines and wear her heart monitor.

It has been war but she had agreed after getting bribed with a Disney movie. Guess she would have to start searching for things to bribe her daughter with each time she has to take her medication.

The bell of the mansion rang and less than a minute later, the large Dutch door opened widely and revealed a middle-aged woman dressed in the uniform of every Rossador’s housekeeper.

“Welcome Miss Izabelle,” the woman greeted.

“Thank you.”

“Is this your daughter?”

Izabelle nodded.

“Rosie say hi to nanny Chen,” she instructed Rosie who hid behind her legs at the sight of the old lady and peeked at her through her mother’s legs.

“Sorry, she's shy with strangers,” Izabelle smiled.

“It's alright. She's still a kid. Please come in. Your grandfather is waiting for you.”

They smiled at each other and Izabelle carried little Rosie in her arms seeing how she hid herself behind her more at every new person she sees. The middle-aged housekeeper brought them to the hall of the mansion where the grandfather sat on the couch, his back to them.

Izabelle’s eyes trailed the hall. Nothing changed apart from the couch and some furniture which has been replaced. The memories of that day flashed in her mind. The memories of the last day that she spent in this mansion.

The whipping from her grandfather, the scowl from the other family members, and worst, the disdain of Marcel. How he looked at her in disgust that day and spoke those hurtful words that broke her heart.

Everything flashed in her mind like it all happened just yesterday.

The old maid bowed her head after they got there and she left. It remained only Izabelle and the grandfather with Rosie who was gaping at the gold and silver pieces of furniture in the hall which seemed to interest her.

“You can stop standing there and come sit in front of me,” she heard the voice of the grandfather ordered.

Taking a deep breath, she walked forward and dropped Rosie slowly on the couch astride the grandfather before sitting next to her daughter who quickly clutched her arm as if scared that she would leave her.

“Grandfather,” she greeted.

“I see you made it to the top all by yourself. You made a name for yourself. Why are you only just returning?” He asked.

“I thought you wouldn't want me back. I was a disgrace.”

“You were, truly. But running away was the best choice? You never cared about the well-being of your grandfather, did you? I know I was harsh on you but I only did that because I was disappointed. Not just in you but in myself,” the grandfather cleaned the few droplets of tears threatening to fall before continuing.

“I had looked after you since you were just five after your parent's demise. I felt that my training was wrong and I had taught you wrongly. I wasn't a good parent.”

“That’s not true, grandfather. You did your best. I was the bad child who got pregnant before marriage, threw away all grandfather’s teachings, and then ran away from home as if that was not enough.” She was trying her best not to shed tears now or move to hug the old man who looked even older now. He looked weaker and talked slowly.

Was he taking his medications properly at all? She doubts that. The job of giving him his medicine was hers five years ago but whose was it now? The person surely wasn't doing great. The old man looked so weak and thin.

“What is her name?”

Realizing that he was speaking about little Rosie, she removed her daughter’s hand from her arm and held it in her palms.