Chapter 8: Athena Is Dead

Athena’s P.O.V.

“And how about me, Dad? A-Am I, not your daughter? Dad, I am also your daughter! D-Don’t talk to me as if I was a different person outside our family, who just k-killed your beloved daughter. Helena is my twin sister, Dad. We used to live together and never in my entire life that I would want her d-dead. Don’t blame me for what happened because it was all an accident!” I could not stop myself from stuttering while sobbing. It felt like I was having a hard time breathing as my chest continued to constrict.

If I only knew that all this would happen, I would have never agreed to Helena's request to switch our seats. If only I knew that Daddy would blame me for her death, I would have asked God to get me instead.

I would rather die than live like this. It was ironic that I was not able to properly mourn over my twin sister’s death because of my father’s accusations, and it was slowly shattering me into pieces!

“Fix your things. We will leave now!” Those were the last words that I heard from him before he turned around, went outside the room, and slammed the door shut.

Though I was feeling dizzy, I slowly fixed myself as well as the things on the couch that were truly prepared for Helena. Because at first, Daddy did not even know that I was the one who survived instead of his beloved child.

I wondered if Daddy already knew right from the start that I was the one who would wake up, would he still prepare my things like this? Would I be able to see him at the side of my bed like how I saw him when I opened my eyes a while ago?

My lips twitched. I was so stupid to ask and hope for more. Why would I even ask when the answer was clearly no? Because he never cared about me. I just woke up from being comatose, and he would not even spare me to rest some more.

When I got out of the room, I saw him currently sitting on one of the benches in the hallway. He was looking extremely disappointed and closed to being devastated. He did not even bother to get a wheelchair for me.

He took the bag that I was carrying and even though I was stepping unevenly, I just quietly followed him. I guessed that some fractures were not yet fully healed no matter how brave I was to endure them. There was a male nurse who offered me a wheelchair, but I refused. I already became a masochist while living with my father.

We went to the parking lot from where our other car was located. Our family driver hurried out of the car to assist me when he saw that I could not walk properly. I kept on thinking that if only Ricardo had driven our car on the day we had the accident, Helena would still be alive.

If I were guessing it right, we would go to the cemetery where Mom was buried based on the direction of the car. I was not wrong all along. We went inside our family mausoleum* where Mom’s remains were peacefully resting, and now, Helena was next to her.

But what horrified me was when I saw what was written on Helena’s grave:

Athena Cari LeBeau Delgado

Born: November 12, 1992

Died: April 18, 2007

My tears immediately watered my eyes before running down my cheeks. The next thing I knew was… I was down on bended knees while tremblingly touching the cold marble tiles where my name was purposely engraved.

Daddy already killed me. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. It hurts! This kind of excruciating pain came to explode inside me like a silent hand grenade. How I wished that I had just become numb after the accident so that I could no longer feel the heartaches I was getting at the moment. For once, did he ever consider me as his child?

“From now on, Athena is dead. If you want to gain my love, continue to live your life as Helena. Strive to be the best. If not, strive to be perfect!” He almost whispered, yet he was emphasizing each word. Telling me that I was dead in front of my face indeed sent shivers down my spine “You will transfer next week to St. James Catholic School and you will continue Helena’s legacy whether you like it or not,” Daddy demandingly continued.

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Mausoleum* is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people.