"Guuuhhgghh", hyperventilating, fingers grasping, sweat pouring down my face. I sit up in my bed, the room black as midnight it would seem that I have suffered another nightmare. Many years have passed and I can hardly remember her face but instead those...grotesque azure blood shot eyes or that strange low gurgling voice she had. No it is not a zombie my conscience battles to reconcile in my dreams no, this is the story of a young girl and her families own greed. As a child early on I remember wanting for nothing. Growing up in lower California my Mexican and Haitian culture had not had much of an affect on me and for the most part I identified myself as an American. My mother and father both catholic, were medical professionals, with my older sister in prep school at the time. Whenever I had gotten in trouble or wanted to get away.I had used to always ride my pink tricycle to grandmothers house not to far from my home when my mother and father weren’t home. My grandma was the coolest grandma in the world she barely looked 30 although being 80 she knew all about the latest technology even showed me my very first “meme” she was awe inspiring. It was August 17th it was my grandmothers birthday, I had overheard my parents arguing over her gift I had never seen either of my parents argue so heatedly. When I asked what had happened my mother explained my father was not able to secure my grandmothers gift and it had gotten away. Later that evening everything seemed normal at the family barbeque, presents were exchanged, birthday cakes cut, vodka mixed cleverly in the adults soda. The birthday was splendid! The next coming weeks I resumed school and was beginning to get the flow of things when I fell deathly ill. And when I say ill, I mean “ILL” many thought I was not going to make it. It was August again a whole year had past in the hospital way to make the story interesting "woot". This year I wasn’t able to make the birthday festivities so my grandma threw her party in the hospital, I was so happy I spent most of it emotionally crying with happiness (Yes I hate myself). Two days after the party the police department came to my room stating that after the party my mother and father had gotten into a car accident possibly due to drunk driving. My life went into a whirlpool of depression. Miraculously I was no longer sick and was living with my sister. It had been about a year since leaving the hospital, it was my grandmothers birthday again and I wasn’t going to let her be all alone this year it had been about a year since we had gotten to speak outside of a hospital setting and I wanted to surprise her. I was getting into boys, and fashion and was so excited for all the things she may have to share. When I had gotten to her house , I felt almost an aura of animosity. The front door was open so I stepped in but all the windows had been locked and shutters closed to reject light, this seemed unlike my grandma always so bright and full of life. Next I walked past her living room into a hallway connecting to the kitchen, immediately my nose was struck by a scent I could only describe as "decay and oranges". As I walked towards the kitchen I noticed the house was pitch black the only light seemingly being from a luminescent candle. What I gazed upon in the kitchen will stay with me for the rest of my life. The figure over the stove was not my grandma, instead what stared back at me with eyes of agony, lifeless, and bloodshot was a women shorter in stature then my grandma and looking much, much older then 83. She stirred the pot shuttering under her breath in what sounded to me every tongue I can think of fluently. I asked her what was going on where was my grandma, the women looked upon me and stated "You look upon he who gives your grandma breath" in a voice much deeper then before, then in my grandmas voice " your a nice girl you always give your grandma gifts unlike those stupid parents of yours". "Stupid?". Why would my grandma say this she loved them I yelled "What do you mean?", the women still unsure if was my grandma said "We all knew the risks join your grandma sweetie" she drank the " decay and orange" mixture and pointed to the corner of the room. What stood in the corner to this day I can only describe as Satan, the pure embodiment of horror he was as if a shadow but in physical form, one could tell he was not of this dominion. She stated "Let him Illuminate you". I quickly ran away never to speak to my grandmother again. I do not wish to understand fully but believe my families wealth and stature to be derived from a crazy ritual started I do not know when, one that involves a gift. I never speak to my grandma except one day August 17th. The day you better remember to give grandma a present
