"How can you believe some superstitious old lady?" John said, "You're a professor; science should be your mantra."
"It's not that I believe her, but she gave sound advice; we should not let fear envelop our daughter," Selina argued. "We should teach her not to be afraid, rather than avoid this."
"So shall we argue in front of Cecilia?" John paced around the bedroom. "We should show a united front, so she would emulate our examples." He sat beside his wife. "What do you say, honey?"
Selina sighed and glanced at her husband. "Okay, a united front it is, let's tell her that she should not talk to anyone that we don't introduce to her."
He smiled at her agreement with his plans. "Thank you, after all, this is for our daughter's good. Let's go get some sleep, and tomorrow is going to be a long day."
Cecilia presses her ear to the door. "In essence, that encapsulates my childhood: no one wishes to be labeled the oddball, yet that role unexpectedly landed in my lap the day I started to see ghosts. I became known as Cecilia Amparo Bermudez, the crazy one, the village's laughingstock. My ability to see spirits was met with skepticism, and what truly pained me was the lack of instruction on how to connect with them."
"My parents approached countless shamans and faith healers, Heck! We even consulted known scammers on the slightest chance they have something that neutralizes my curse. No one ever explained that even the departed can feel emotions. I simply avoided them, which is why I never grew accustomed to their presence. I am easily frightened, and my anxiety spikes whenever I encounter a ghost. The waves of panic and fear… I hate them."
For the next six years, that was how Cecilia lived as someone mocked by society because of her frightening ability to see the dead.
2011
One late afternoon, Cecilia heard her parents' voices. "Cee?" John called her. "Can you come out to the backyard for a while?"
Cecilia, now fifteen, hurriedly came at her parents' behest. "Yes, Dad? Mom?" She came out with a yellow mango in her hand, her favorite fruit.
Her father sat beneath the mango tree while her mom rested her head over his shoulders. Both looked tired. "Do you remember the proper breathing when singing?"
"Diaphragm breathing, exhale by allowing your stomach to contract, maintain a straight posture, and do not move your chest," she quickly replied
Selina clapped her hands. "That's right, darling, can you sing us a song?"
"Okay, what song would you guys like?" Cecilia asked while swaying side to side
"Butterfly Kisses, the version that you sing." The couple stood up as if waiting for their daughter to sing
"Why do you two like that song?" Cecilia took a deep breath and threw the mango to her dad to catch it so she could clasp her hands and sing properly.
Her smile faded in an instant, and her hands shook as she saw the fruit go through her father, landing on the ground. She gazed at their faces, noticing how their lips trembled and the tears cascading down their cheeks. "I'm so sorry, my dear. We regret not believing you." Selina said, her voice trembling.
"Mommy? Daddy?" Cecilia's knees felt weak, and she fought the urge to crumble into tears, fully aware that her father and mother were now ghosts. Just as she felt herself about to fall, her father wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Her mother joined in the heartbreaking and final embrace that their family will ever share. "What's happening? Where are the two of you?" She clung to them tightly.
"It doesn't matter, sweetheart. I need you to be strong. If you feel like crying, let it out, but don't linger on your sorrow for too long; you need to keep moving forward. Whenever you miss us, sing, I promise we'll always be in here listening to you." John assured Cecilia. "Please, darling, I want to hear your lovely voice before we leave." Selina requested again
Despite the overwhelming grief, she inhaled deeply. She tightened her grip around her parents and began to sing, forcing herself to create a beautiful melody, wanting them to hear one last enchanting song.
There are two things I know for sure: They were sent here for Heaven, and I'm their little girl. As they drop to their knees by my bed at night, they talk to Jesus, and I close my eyes and thank God for all of the joy in my life. Oh, but most of all Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer, "Our brakes, it won't work." "Honey, the truck! Look out!"
Stickin' little white flowers all up in my hair. "Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride." "I know the cake looks funny, Mommy, but I sure tried." Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve a hug every morning and butterfly kisses at night. "H-honey? My girl...my b-baby girl...we're so sorry...!"
Sweet sixteen today, I'm looking more like my mama, a little more every day. One part woman, the other part girl. To perfume and makeup from ribbons and curls, trying my wings out in a great big world, but I remember Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer, "Please...let us...hear our daughter sing...one ...last time..."
Stickin' little white flowers all up in my hair. "You know how much I love you, Daddy, but if you don't mind, I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time".Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve your love every morning and butterfly kisses at night. "We have a male and female collision victims, penetrating and blunt force trauma, both nonresponsive!"
I'll change my name today, I'll make a promise, and they'll give me away. Standing in the bride's room just staring at him, I asked him what she was thinking. And she said, "I'm not sure, I just feel like we're losing our baby girl." Then I leaned over and gave them Butterfly kisses. "Prepare for a double CPR setup, attach fluids, and push epinephrine in the IV lines!"
With my mama there, Stickin' little white flowers all up in my hair. "Walk me down the aisle, Daddy, it's just about time." "Does my wedding gown look pretty, Mommy?" "Mommy, don't cry." Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve their love every morning and butterfly kisses at night. "It's no use, we did everything we could for them. Time of death 6:50 and 6:51 PM"
After the final notes faded, Cecilia broke down in tears, clinging tightly to her parents. "Thank you, sweetheart. We'll carry this memory with us forever. But we must leave now." Cecilia buried her face in her father's chest, shaking her head in denial. He gently lifted her face, brushed away her tears, and kissed her forehead softly. "Goodbye, my precious girl... We love you. Remember, my darling, if you fall, always stand up. Never give up and keep fighting on." Her mother reminded her, and despite her grip, they gradually faded from her arms until they were gone.
"Daddy! Mommy?" she screamed, but there were no traces of them to be found. She sank to her knees, her hands covering her face as she cried. "I'm scared, please come back, don't leave me."