The Only One Left

The Only One Left

By: Amjad Alaji

1

After my parents' death, I kept going to school where everyone was staring at me provokingly. I didn’t argue about that since people in my country weren’t able to accept people and their differences. I might be someone odd, but not to the extent that they got scared every time I passed by them. I could always hear their mutters

" Look ! that's the girl with big cloak and big feet! She always wears gloves even in summertime ! how weird !"

My classmates and others always hissed to one another the same words when I was in class. Anyway, it wouldn’t have made a difference for me as I was myself hiding the truth. I wasn’t ashamed of my look at all. That time, I couldn’t stop writing short stories as I always used to. People harsh words never affected my progress in school. Those words were actually the urge to prove that I was as well-learned and educated as other students. Due to having a strange look, I was most of the time alone till I met him. Carlisle, my classmate, was the only one who stood by my side despite his friends' silly comments. His attitude meant a lot to me. One day, I went school with some of my short stories for Carlisle to read. He took them and started reading them during the break, and once he finished them, he said:

" Your short stories are amazing ! Sue … you're really talented ! "

" Ohh.. really.. so you enjoyed them.. many thanks dear " I replied with a wide satisfied smile.

" I have a surprise for you… first I didn’t mention that to you because I didn’t have the least idea that you write short stories ! but now you have to prepare yourself for a great surprise ! " Carlisle said making me extremely interested.

" Sooooo ! please !! go on " I said urging.

" My dad is a publisher and he can help you publishing your works under his name since he is very famous ! " Carlisle said.

" WHAT !! OH GOODNESS ! SURE !... I AM SO GLAD .. WHEN COULD WE … I MEAN … I CAN SEE HIM ?! " I gasped for I couldn’t believe that.

"Now… you have to bring the other stories with you tomorrow in order to hand them to him after school.. he can decide what to publish and what to keep ! " Carlisle suggested as I was still trying to balance myself.

"OKAY !! I will … absolutely ! " I said breathing deeply. I really needed a famous publisher, for it would be more easier than publishing by myself as people's attention would be drawn to my stories if the publisher was well-known. Carlisle never asked me about my big cloak and long gloves or feet as he was very close to me back then. He wanted to be close to me actually. He was one of very few people who believed in me after my parents whom I found their dead bodies behind our home three years ago. They were laying motionless on the ground; that happened in one of winter's freezing nights. They left me a fortune, and that was the source which provided me with everything I needed in school and home. I lived without them for three years trying hard to balance my life. These were the hardest years in my life because I was only 15. Next day, I was waiting for Carlisle's father judgment on my stories at the living room when he came out of his office clapping and smiling

" How amazing! how wonderful !.. I never expected that you have such creativity ! .. you're very talented " he said to me while I was repeating his words unconsciously, for I couldn’t imagine his comment would be very encouraging.

" MANY THANKS ! SO HAPPY YOU LIKED THEM ! " I replied enthusiastically. " Your stories will be very soon published … such works must be read and evaluated by people !" he started as I kept listening and wanting to hear him more. I never had such a great moment.

" Would you like to publish them under your actual name or another name ! " he suggested .

" Yes.. please… under this name : Suzanne Peter Knightly " I replied and all my parents' memories came to my mind. I wanted them to proud of me at that moment. Those were the last names of my parents'. Their names deserved to be engraved at their daughter's works.

" you'll be a legend ! " Carlisle's father complimented.

" I am already one ! " I said suddenly regretting what I had just said.

" So important to be confident in this stage Sue !! stay strong ! " he continued.

Three weeks later, my stories were published and sold. I was one of the youngest writers back then. My classmates didn’t expect that the weird girl was talented and full of creativity. They were really shocked, even teachers started treating me differently. The relationship between me and Carlisle developed. He actually loved me as I always rejected him for some private reasons. I thought that it was the best time to meet him secretly and tell him the truth. I wanted this relationship to be over because we couldn’t fit together. I wanted him to accept peacefully that I was and still different from him. Carlisle was very trustworthy, and this was why he deserved to know everything about me. So, once we entered the forest, the best place for the revelation, I told him that he needed not to be afraid of what he was going to see.

" Stop being ridiculous !.. have I asked you or even talked about your look !? why are you always trying to keep me away from you.. you know I love you Sue ! " he said.

I didn’t say a word . I just stepped back and started taking off my clothes. Once my cloak, gloves and shoes were taken off, he gasped and fell back on his back due to the shock. Reader ! it was very shocking, I was and still the only Harpy left !

2

Reader ! don’t think that my story ended there. Carlisle was speechless for a while. He got up and spoke normally as if he saw nothing. That was not expected from him at all. " Does Carlisle love me to the extent that he is ready to deal with my reality at his own expense? !" I thought not being able to say a word to him.

" you're still the same… nothing actually changed for me!", Carlisle started, " how could you stay alone all this time !?" he wondered.

" I could control that with the help of some books that my parents had left for me" I responded when the shock of his unexpected reaction started to wear off.

" Which books!" he asked.

" Books had been written by my folk ages ago… they tell how to hide our identity in the presence of humans", I explained, " if you noticed, this is why I don’t get annoyed when people make fun of my appearance, especially my big flat shoes" I continued. I really was not ashamed of my look, but I was deeply hurt because I was always alone. We continued discussing things all the day. I explained to him everything. I told him about my parents' dead bodies behind our home that night three years ago. Also I mentioned to him how I was passing time alone. He really was pleased to hear me. Carlisle was someone very special to me. He was the only human being who knew that Harpies really exist, and it was not a myth.

" Do you fly at night !" Carlisle suddenly remembered that I could fly.

" Yeah…sometimes… I take a look at the ground from above especially when it is dark" I assured. Carlisle went to his home keeping a very dangerous secret. It was now the time to discover the truth of my parents' death. I was forced to drag their dead bodies and bury them without anyone's knowledge. It was very hard for me to accept that.

" Sue ! whatever will happen ! stay strong… don’t let anyone discover us!.. promise me !" my mother said to me the day before she and my dad were found dead.

" I promise ! they will kill all of us if they will know!..." I replied and fear occupied my heart.

" Right ! sweetie ! now go to bed ! you have school tomorrow !" Mom said. I stared at the sky remembering my parents and Carlisle's loyalty to me. I went to my wooden bed. Then I spread out my wings and stretched my legs lying flat on my stomach. Few minutes later, and I was asleep exhausted and relieved at the same time. I got up next morning and went to school as usual. Along the way to my school , I was thinking of Mrs. Katharine. She was one of my parent's dear friends. It was a long time since I visited her. She often invited me to stay with her, but I preferred to stay safe at home. I didn’t want her to notice anything weird. " Does Mrs. Katharine know something about us? ! " I thought pushing such illusions away from my head. Once I left my school, I found my way towards her home. She was really very glad to see me. So was I. Mrs. Katharine thought that my parents left me suddenly and disappeared. She never had the least idea that they were dead. I didn’t ask or call anyone when I found them. If I called her or some friends, they would have known our real identity. We spent our day talking about school and other stuff. She was a very kind woman with honey-colored eyes and peaceful smile. She was tall enough, and her rounded face was charming and free of wrinkles.

" I've read your stories Sue!.. I am really proud of you.. but you keep refusing coming here and staying with me… and that's why I am always sad and worried about you" she said sipping her tea.

" I am just used to being alone most of the time… I spend my time writing and reading.. so don’t worry.. I am fine" I said with my convenient voice. A strange question came to my mind suddenly . " what killed my parents !? they were not bruised or even stabbed.. it was something really mysterious" I asked myself, but I found no answers.

" Katy ! where were my parents the day before they disappeared!?" I asked her suddenly !."

Katharine's eyes were wide and her face was as if she bit her tongue.

" What!.. what reminded you of that now !" she asked.

" I just remembered them !".

" Actually they told me that they were going to visit Mr. Fennick …I guess!... I don’t know if they did" she said.

" Can you write to me his address or where he is living right now!" I asked as I started to collect leads . I really was overwhelmed with some suspicion.

" Yeah.. alright" she responded. Then she brought a piece of paper and wrote the address. Then she handed me the paper written on it : Iron Gavel-The house in front of The Silkworm's shop for tailored coats. My adventure started there. I left Katharine waving goodbye to me. I tuned the corner making my way towards Mr. Fennick's. I wished I could fly because I would have arrived earlier. Anyway, I went there on foot. I arrived fifteen minutes later and rang the doorbell immediately which sounded as if a cow moaning in her labor. Mr. Fennick was a grey-bearded old man with blue eyes and big sharp nose. He was in his sixties. He reminded me of our history teacher, Kal.

" Hello !", I said when the door was half-opened, " I am Suzanne Knightly!... daughter of Heathcliff and Hester Knightly".

" Oooh… hello.. long time no see!.. you really look older from the first time I saw you… come in … welcome.. welcome" he said with his funny shaking voice, " I was about to recognize you actually ! " Mr. Fennick said.

" I have only some questions to ask ! " I began.

"Yeah.. sure.. ask me whatever you want dear " he said.

" Mrs. Katharine told me that my parents were here the day before they disappeared" I continued.

" Not really ! we were about to spend that night together when someone whom I don’t know called them and insisted on them to leave… they said that they were invited to have dinner with an old friend" he told me.

" Do you remember anything that can help !... I am looking for them and I need some details" I said with my voice shaking.

" Yeah… I heard Hester reminding Heath of that person's address… wait a sec till I bring a paper!" he said. I was really glad that someone in his age could remember such a thing. It was really extraordinary. After that, he came back handing me the address. I was very shocked reader !. The paper had Carlisle's address.

3

A flood of questions marched into my mind after that shock. "What has Carlisle's family to do with us ? or why didn’t they mention to me that both families were friends ? " I started asking myself along the way home. I arrived one hour later. I needed to breath and fill my mind with peaceful thoughts. I sat on my bed thinking over and over again when I remembered something I didn’t notice before. Carlisle's father ,Jonathan, immediately accepted to help me publishing my stories, so he knew who I was from the very beginning. I kept going wide with my thoughts till I fell asleep after an exhausted shocking day. I woke up many times as many nightmares occupied my mind. I got up and dressed for school still thinking of a way to know every single detail about that unexpected relationship. I just went school and talked normally to Carlisle as if I was alright and so happy and pleased. I suggested to him going to his home after school, for I had something to discuss with his father. I convinced him that it was something related to publishing my new coming stories and when I should hand them to his father. We left earlier than usual as the last session was canceled. We took the chance and went directly to Carlisle's home. His father was at his office as usual. Carlisle told me that no one is allowed to go in even Carlisle's mother because publishing and editing books need some kind of high level of security and safety. I waited for hour and half in the living room having good time with Carlisle. I told him many tales about our folk as the more I explained the more he got interested. The office door was unlocked and Mr. Jonathan came out:

" Oh ..hello...how are you doing Sue ! " he said greeting me.

" Hi Mr. Jonathan ! .. I am fine.. hope you're good as well ! " ,I replied, " I have finished editing my stories...so you can start reading and publishing them ! " I continued. I didn’t want to talk about that actually. Something stopped me from questioning him about my parents. I immediately changed the topic cursing myself for not daring to ask him. Then, a great idea came to my mind. I started talking about my parents in front of him. He never paid attention or even asked me about some details. He just stood suddenly and went to his office again. I became angry with his reaction. I asked Carlisle for a glass of water when I hurried to the office and knocked the door. Few seconds and Mr. Jonathan opened and his eyes were red and wet.

" I have to talk to you about something" I said finally.

"Yes.. sure.. " he said trying to come out of his office and closing the door after him when I stopped him saying " It's something private ! I don’t want Carlisle to hear what I am going to say" .

" Okay ! come in quickly" he said . I was surprised that he allowed me in. I studied the place when I was in.

" Yes ! I am listening " he said giving me a calm smile.

" You know who I am… and you know my parents as well… why didn’t you tell me that the day you met me !? " I asked surprisingly staring at his wet eyes.

" How did you know this!? … I mean.. yes I know them… we were friends few years ago when they suddenly disappeared... I don’t see a good reason to always remind you of them… you might be down at heart… you know !" he said and his voice was shaking. There was something like a paper on his plain empty clean desk. He noticed that I was trying to focus to see it clearly when he took it and locked it in a small cabinet at the right corner. I didn’t say a word to him. I just meditated for a while when he asked me to respond to Carlisle who was calling over me loudly. I obeyed leaving not sure about what he had just said. I spent that day at Carlisle's. I came back at late time that day. I waited till it passed midnight. I went upstairs and stood at the

roof. I spread out my wings and went on. I flew for two whole hours thinking and analyzing. I came up with a great idea" Tomorrow ! I will visit Carlisle's home… alone… I'll uncover everything ! ". I wasn’t shamed of what I was going to do. It was the only way to overcome the doubts in my mind. I got up early in the morning. I watched Carlisle's family departing one by one from a high nearside tree. Once the house was evacuated, I went and sneaked through Mr. Jonathan's office window. I got in and started exploring. " I am sorry Carlisle.. I have no option left !... I want the truth !" I muttered to myself as I started studying the shelves and drawers. I found nothing. The small cabinet was my only hope. It was locked, but I used one of my sharp claws. After few attempts, the lock flung open. There was a lot of papers and cards. I looked into it very well when I found that paper which he hid the day before. Then I discovered that it was not a paper. It was a photo of a group of flying harpies.

4

There was nothing to say. Mr. Jonathan knew what I am from the very beginning. I wanted to hear what he had to say when facing him, so I decided to leave and take the photo with me. I went home and started searching my parents' room. I had seen this photo before, but I took some time to remember. As I expected, my parents had the same one which was left in a small drawer in their closet. I compared them with each other. They were exactly the same. I calmed down and sat on my bed thinking and not being able even to write anything. The door bell suddenly rang, and I knew who it was. It was Mr. Jonathan. He came over to reveal everything as he knew who could be able to go and take such a thing when nobody was at home. That photo was the thing which brought Mr. Jonathan. I opened the door when he was standing pale and disappointed. I let him in where the revelation started.

" What happened to my parents !? they were having dinner with you the day I found them…" I asked.

" DEAD !" he continued staring at me.

"So you know what happened to them !... course !... you know…you even know… what we are and everything!!", I shouted as tears started falling," I want an explanation for everything" I sobbed.

" This is why I came here… I am no longer able to handle that" he confessed.

" I am listening ! " I replied with a deep painful sigh and tears burning my cheeks.

"I knew you since you were a child and urged Carlisle to be close to you and this is why I welcomed the idea of helping you publishing your stories… ".

" Why did you do this !? .. WHY!!" I said loudly as he was in a complete silence.

" To help you.. to get you out of isolation and loneliness.. to make you happy" he answered.

" What happened to my parents.. how do you know them!!?", I asked with fear ignoring his previous answer, " They were killed… after they left my home that day…they—", he said as I interrupted," who killed them !! and why !".

" Sue!.. listen ! It is a complicated issue ! okay! I want you to be strong" he said frightening me even more.

" what is it !? " I questioned.

" Your parents were…poisoned" he said finally.

" WHAT!!..WHO DID THAT TO THEM!! DO YOU KNOW WHO !!" I cried.

" IT IS YOUR UNCLE ! SUE !" he confessed. I was about to fall down when he helped me to stand again.

" My UNCLE ! I thought that I am the only one left and have no relatives… how come!! " I said stunned with the idea.

" He has been threatening them for years…you weren’t even three years old… me and your father were friends…. I found out about him and he didn’t deny what he was.. he trusted me and I kept this secret… I explained to Carlisle about you and your family and convinced him that you need someone to be with you after your parents' death… I trust my son …he liked you and still loves you.." he said.

" My whole life is a lie !!" I muttered as I wasn’t able to comprehend all that," why did my uncle kill my parents!!? " I asked.

" Because they left your folk and lived with humans and this is something shameful and against your rules !" he said raising another question.

" Why did they leave then…!!".

" YOU AND YOUR PARENTS WERE THE ONLY SURVIVORS….AND NOW YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE LEFT" he said.

5

Mr. Jonathan went further with the story:

" Yes.. we spent good times together.. your father always came when the dark fell and I didn’t know why at first.. I asked him once, and he said that he was working in the morning, and this was why he always visited me at night.. he attempted to change the topic every time I asked him about his family or where he lived.. I appreciated that though I had some doubts about him..".

I interrupted:

"Yeah !! and what.. what happened then !! " I said feeling hungry for more details when he continued :

" one day.. at 5:00 am he left my house leaving the book I was going to lend him… I went after him to give him the book following him without him knowing as he was going far towards the forbidden mountain..".

"What mountain !! …. What do you mean?" I asked as I was in a very bad temper . He stared at me for a minute and said:

"nobody ever dared to go there at all.. they said that many explorers went there and never came back.. anyway---".

" And what happened to my father there!" I questioned trying not to lose track.

"I was worried about him when he didn’t slow down…then he disappeared at the bottom of the mountain.. I arrived after him and entered the woods there.. it was an unforgettable view !" he remarked giving me the chance to exclaim," what did you see there.. I am following !".

" I saw groups of flying harpies of all ages and your father was among them.." he confessed.

" And then you found out about us!!" I said.

" Exactly… I decided to go back home and return the next day with my camera… I was thinking of facing your father with the photo I captured the next day.. so he wouldn’t be able to deny that… I did as I planned and promised him to keep the truth as he advised me to never go there anymore…" he continued hesitating as he saw the miserable condition I was in.

" Please go ahead .. I am fine " I assured him.

" Are you sure !" he asked.

" Yeah of course !" I replied.

" Okay.. one night, he came running breathlessly… his face was full of fear and confusion.. ' Jonathan !! .. help me… I need your help.. I'll leave the whole area with my wife and daughter tomorrow's night.. please try to find me a place to sleep and some supplies..' your father said as I asked him what happened, but he said that he would tell me later and explain to me everything… I helped him and provided him with a house few miles away… he came that night with your mother and you were asleep in your mother's arm…".

" ME !! " I exclaimed loudly.

" Yeah !... you were like a new-born bird with soft fluffy skin and feathers.." he described as I was stunned with the idea.

" Yeah !! " I urged .

" After that I guided you all to your house where your father started explaining to me every detail.. what really happened was that a horrible disease called Movodabia Sorma struck your folk"

" WHAT !! I remember reading about this infection in one of our books!!" I pointed out .

" so you know that it starts from within the body and devours the flesh till the whole body vanishes.." he said.

" Yeah !! I know that but did that really happen !?" I asked.

" Yes .. the infection was spreading rapidly.. your whole folk was supposed to be destroyed because of that" he said.

" And my parents !! " I said wondering .

" Heath left before the infection reached anyone of you.. no one left there but you and your parents… they would rather die there than run and be discovered… your uncle found out about you and tried to reach you and kill your parents since you broke the rules…" he said as I remembered my uncle's wicked crime. I nodded urging him to reveal more when he continued:

" he was a threat to you all… he was determined to kill your parents and tried hard actually… Heath was worried about me and asked me to stay away and stop communicating with them for few years till your uncle surrenders"

" And this is why I never met you back then!" I pointed out.

" Yeah .. Sue this is the main reason" he said.

" and what happened after that !!" I said.

" Unfortunately he didn’t surrender when one day I called your parents where they were meeting with Mr. Fennick at his house..", he said as I interrupted, " Yes I remember that day.. they left me at home".

" So you know that Mr. Fennick was a herbs gatherer, and he gave your parents many useful potions when you were sick" he reminded me, and I was shocked by that. he went on saying:

" that day was only three years ago…I insisted on them to come and hide in my home, for your uncle would never discover that… he was threatening them for years... they came finally and had dinner in my house… we ended up with a plan which required you all to leave the whole country and disappear… your parents were successfully persuaded… they left me that day… when you found them in the morning motionless on the ground… your uncle must have poisoned them and moved them to the backyard". Tears started falling as I remembered that scene.

" Sue ! stay strong ", he said pausing when I singled to him to continue, " the photo you found was the one I took when I found out about your father, and I gave another copy to your parents when they settled in this house… I asked Mrs. Katharine, my cousin, to be close to you as she was also your parents' dear friend… I kept checking on you by making Carlisle take care of you and have a friendship with you.. I explained to him everything about you and the whole story.. and he was determined to stand by your side to protect you.." concluded Mr. Jonathon reveling to me everything.

"So Mrs. Katharine was told by you to look after me " I said as he nodded opening his wide arm and tears started falling from his pale eyes.

Yes reader ! I ran to his arm. I appreciated everything he had done for me and my parents. It felt as if I had another family which protected me and cared about me. After that day, everything went alright. I continued my study; I graduated from high school and studied English literature with Carlisle. I continued writing short stories for kids, and I published my first novel when me and Carlisle got married. I spent happy days with him especially that I am carrying our own baby and will give birth soon. My uncle must surely be dead by now and I am still the only one left, for now. I wrote the story of my life for you reader to know that Harpies existed one day and it's not a myth, but they were removed from earth because of that disease.

Suzanne Knightly