The Obituary

The Obituary

By Leah M. 

 

Azalyn drove down a narrow dirt road as the sun began to set.  “When are we getting to Aunt Marielle’s house?” Everlie asked from the backseat, as she curled up in a pile of blankets.  

“We should arrive by tomorrow morning,” Azalyn replied, comforting her little sister.  “Try to sleep because it’s going to be a long drive,” she added.  Everlie closed her eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep while her twin brothers fought over who got to ride in the front seat.

“You rode shotgun last time so it’s my turn!”  Oliver demanded.  Jaxon reached over from the front seat and playfully shoved him.  “Stop it! Azzi, tell him it’s my turn,” Oliver whined.

“Both of you be quiet, I’m trying to focus on the road,” Azalyn snapped at the twelve-year-old boys.  “If you can’t get along I will shove one of you in the trunk!”  The twins glared at each other but remained silent.  Not long after, they closed their eyes and started to fall asleep.  Azalyn continued to drive until her eyelids grew too heavy to keep open.  She found a secluded area to park her car for the night.  It did not take her long to fall asleep because it was almost midnight and she had already spent ten hours in the car.  

The next day, Azalyn awoke to the sun brightly shining through her windshield.  Her siblings were still sleeping as she started her car and continued toward her destination.  Her siblings woke up and ate some snacks that were in Azalyn’s old backpack.  

After a few hours, she entered a small town that was run-down and dreary.  The children could not believe their eyes as Azalyn pulled into the driveway of their aunt’s neglected house.  Ivy climbed up the walls and completely covered the windows facing the street.  The sidewalk was uneven and crumbling at the corners.  She hesitantly parked the car as they silently took in their surroundings.  “Okay guys, we’re here,” she announced, turning to face her siblings.  Jaxon muttered that he would feel safer living in the car than inside that house.  “It’s only temporary until I can afford to get us an apartment,” Azalyn reassured him.  

“Yeah, whatever,” he grumbled to himself as he opened the car door.  They all stepped outside after collecting their belongings from the trunk.  Everlie grabbed her blankets and hugged her older sister.  

“Thank you for driving us here,” she beamed.  Azalyn watched as Everlie skipped up the sidewalk, feeling tears forming in the corners of her eyes.  She walked through the doorway and took a deep breath.  Inside, her aunt was welcoming the kids to their transient home.

“Hey, Azzi!  It’s been so long since I’ve seen you,” Aunt Marielle noted, giving her a quick hug.  “You kids grow up so fast,” she sighed.

Aunt Marielle led them into the kitchen, showing her nieces and nephews where to find food if they got hungry.  “Feel free to help yourselves to the pantry,” she offered and disappeared down the hall.  The twins located the junk food and began ripping packages apart like wild animals.  

Azalyn left the kitchen to find her aunt.  She went down a hallway and peered into a strange room full of old antiques.  Newspaper clippings were tacked to the walls in a disorganized fashion.  She tried to twist the doorknob but the room was locked.  Loud footsteps came from the direction of the kitchen, so Azalyn found a cleaning closet to hide in.  She watched as her aunt pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the mysterious room.  She walked inside, grabbed a few papers, and locked the door before rushing back down the hall.  In her frantic exit, Aunt Marielle did not realize she dropped a newspaper article on the floor.  Azalyn picked it up and gasped.  On the paper, she saw her mother’s obituary and a photo taken after the car accident that killed her.  When she looked closer, she noticed someone was in the passenger seat as well.  For years she had been told her mother was the only person in the car at the time of the accident.  Azalyn scanned the page trying to find the name of the other victim.  Half of the article was torn off, which seemed to be done intentionally.  

Curious, Azalyn left the hallway, searching for her aunt.  If she could sneak into her aunt’s office and find the rest of the article, Azalyn was certain she would find out who the passenger was. Aunt Marielle was sitting in the living room, playing cards with Jaxon, Oliver, and Everlie.  She looked up and motioned for Azalyn to join them.

“Where have you been dear?” Aunt Marielle asked, frowning.

“I was looking for the bathroom but I got lost on the way,” Azalyn lied, hoping she sounded believable.

“Oh, sorry! I forgot to show you guys around! It’s been so long since I’ve had guests,” her aunt admitted, standing up.  “Who wants to go on a tour?” she asked.

“I do!” Everlie exclaimed, jumping up from her seat.  The twins grumbled that they were too tired and could look around tomorrow.

“I can show you to your rooms first so that the boys can get some rest,” Aunt Marielle suggested.

“Sure, thanks,” Azalyn agreed, knowing it was the perfect opportunity for her to find the missing piece of the article. 

Their aunt showed the girls around the house after Oliver and Jaxon went to bed.  She found nothing during the tour, so she got into bed and waited for Everlie to fall asleep.  When she heard no movement in the house, she snuck out of her room and quietly shut the door.  After locating her aunt’s office, she found the keys on the computer desk, along with the piece of paper she was looking for.  It said, ‘Cynthia’s sister, Marielle Laurier, was in the passenger seat when she tragically died in the car accident.’  Her aunt was supposed to be dead.