Mirage

"We need to talk." 

Lisa spoke, staring straight up at the brown staircase to the bedrooms, waiting for my sister and me to come out and listen.

My sister set her literacy textbooks down on her lime-green bedsheets beside her headphones, still playing some country tune I didn’t recognize.

"Really?" I said frustratedly. She was interrupting my video call with friends. 

I was almost mad enough to protest, storm out, and visit Clove. 

Clove is my best friend and has been ever since grade 8.

I'm sure I'd be in trouble and get an early curfew for leaving without permission from Lisa.

Lisa is not my parent. 

By blood, she’s not; now that I think about it, I sound mean. 

What I meant is she's my foster parent. 

The history of me and my older sister Blaire is that we were raised by a young couple at the Carp's "Hopeful Heart Child Orphanage for Girls." a title that got dull and old after a while of no tv before studying, old dusty classics on shelves, ( I never ended up reading) and rules like shutting the windows or bedtime being before sundown. In hindsight they were strict and sweet.

Blaire and I were the last to leave the orphan home and it felt awfully embarrassing we weren’t wanted.

So, I guess you can say I appreciate my foster mom, and I adored meeting someone like Clove. Being noticed by someone so sparkly and driven wasn't an easy task.

The first day my sister and I met our foster mom, Blaire cried since she's the emotional one, at least in my mind. I held my suitcase and torn denim backpack, a bit closed off when Lisa pulled the bear hug card. I was the type of child that was un-trusting at first but relaxed afterwards. It felt as if my heart had a new rhythm; a new song. 

It smelled like vanilla and pumpkin muffins when my mind drifted back to reality.

Turns out the big announcement is we are moving and Lisa bought a new place on sale with a retro-designed home like in her dream board in her office.

When she announced this, my mind went back to when I was a kid.

Scared, Rebellious and a dash of insecurity. It hit like a truck, and that was only the beginning.

Blaire took the news like an olympic champ, packing essentials, organizing her cluttered room and asking a string of questions like " How far is it?" and "There's a big mall right?"

Our next destination will be Colleen Creek. 

Five months later, it turns out that moving to a new place is unique and not as dismal as I expected. No bullies at school, I'm acing my math and science classes and Blaire has met up with old friends and influenced a whole group of girls to admire and look up to her. 

The movies got it very wrong. It's nowhere near a musical performance.

My older sister loves any card, email, worried text or chocolate she receives from her old class mates and long time besties. Even though it's not entirely up to her where we move to and when, I'm happy that she's happy now.

As I'm finishing the end of a reality tv show episode in the spacious rustic living room, I hear a high pitched squeaky voice that could only be my song bird of a sister. 

"Parker I'm coming!" Exclaimed Blaire, with her glossy lips and white lace mini dress. It had the back showing, new knee high socks, and a pearl necklace to accessorize the look.

No shoes on yet. I assumed she'd slip on some ballet flats by the front entrance.

"Who is he?" I ask, giving the south asian guy outside the window an awkward glance as he blew my sister a kiss. 

"Just Parker." she shrugs and giggles to herself.

"Why are you wearing that? Are you leaving?" I exclaimed horrified at her appearance. Mouth gaping.

"Yes. Tell Lisa I'll be back after dinner." Stated Blaire before she put on flats and went through the door almost in slow motion.

"So it's a- a date? You can't! Lisa said you're way too young. Plus… that blush and concealer isn't fooling me. You look ridiculous, why don't you change and let's play cards?” I insisted a tad too loud. 

This time I was glaring at this so-called date "Parker" who looked oblivious. 

 I mean who just thinks Yes. I'm naming my baby Parker. Like a park with "er" attached for my male baby.

"He's waiting for me." She huffed, somehow keeping her sweet demeanor. " I am old enough. Grade 8 means I'm practically a teen, sensible enough to not do anything foolish. Plus he has a motor bike.” she actually swoons at this point. 

“Plus, he's so kind and kissed my hand this morning in French class." She looked as if she'd perspire before she made it to his bike at the edge of the driveway. 

"Fine then! Go and date him! I'm not gonna tell Lisa because I'm loyal but I'm watching that new action movie without you.”

“Oh” I add with a cutting tone, “Have lots of fun paying the bill, smelling his stink, and holding his sweaty hand." I flushed with frustration at her. 

After hopping onto the death ride of a motor bike and exiting our community, I called out to her in a whispered voice barely audible,

"Love you.”

With the TV on "Movies and TV Shows," I flipped to the action movie "Terror" and clicked to pause it.

Blaire just left me, and I dare to have a sinking heart and a fear of loneliness due to that fact. 

"What if she and Parker have a secret and she doesn't tell me?"

"I wonder if she is going to return with newfound love?" I gag. 

"Will he dump her or cheat on her after the first date?"

Hours passed, and my mind was distorted from the movie that came to an end. 

I thought about Lisa finding out and yelling at Blaire. 

The thing about my older sister is she's gorgeous and smart. A curvy figure, mocha hair that was impressively long and naturally shiny. Her eyes are like a blue ocean on a bright sunny day at the beach.

Little did I know Blaire, my happy and carefree sibling, was gone before I knew it.

•••••••••

That night, Lisa found out about Blaire's date from a schoolmate she bumped into after working a full shift. Lisa then called Parker's parents. They both exclaimed they truthfully were unaware and didn't know where their son went with my sister. 

Parker talked to Lisa face to face and explained he hadn't seen her for hours after he left the restaurant early. "I gave her money for a cab to take a short ride back home. That's all that happened, and she never texted that she got home safe." Parker shook like a crumpled leaf. Guilt written all over him.

Lisa mentioned I should stay put in my room while she went with neighbours to search around. 

After 30 minutes of searching, I set out to find Blaire. 

Ropes entangled her, and she was a dead body on an eggshell white wall. I had 

gone to her favorite place, the "Greasy Gus Burger Shop" 

I felt a cold gust of wind, a spirit yellow and greenish illuminated the space. 

Instantly fear and worry crowded me.

"Who are you?" I tried to be brave but failed twitching my pale hands.

"Mirage!" She spoke loudly and valiantly, her black coat and boots the color of oil and her long tall body were wispy and close to invisible.

"It's too late Sara." 

The lady chuckled as if daring me to come closer to her – to Blaire's corpse. 

I was not familiar with her so how could she know me? More importantly, was she involved in this murder that resembled a suicide?

"Are you the killer?" I asked. It seemed obvious, as if I hit a bright bullseye.

Still. I needed her to admit to it; I didn't know why my only sibling was dead.

"She deserved it!" 

The ghost lady spat at me, squinting hatefully at Blaire. 

I used my strength to grasp at her leg, but it was in vain. She faded, and then a shiny, fiery spirit version of Blaire appeared from a nearby booth. 

"Sis?" Blaire whispered with relief and a crooked half- smile. Soon after, a salty tear slipped down her face.

"What happened to you?" I questioned, begging for an answer. 

I cried loudly, and my grief towards her lit me like flames. I became like a caged bird being released, nothing withheld as I kept saying, "What do I do?"

Dizziness wrapped around me, and Blaire's essence was no longer there. 

A police officer with a copper badge and blonde shaved hair with a chubby short stature flicked a white light directly at me. I hid instinctively.

"Miss!" the man announced.

"You can't be here. I must investigate with my partner and secure the premises." He seemed bored yet orderly as he said his words. The lady behind resembled a young singer. In a few seconds, she walked over to me and patted my head as if to reassure me that I would be alright.

I froze in response.

"Who were you speaking to? The walls?" She asked, looking at me as if I were intoxicated. They hadn't seen or heard the same things I had. They didn't feel the ripples of pain. 

Something wasn't right. I would get to the end of this somehow. Even if I was standing alone.

"Nobody." I glanced where my sister was and realized I would never see her again. I'd probably have no proof of that midnight illusion either. In the end the female cop Saya drove me home, precisely where I last saw Blaire, and precisely where we both belonged. Hanging my head I was in for a restless night.