Marina: sighs, tugs hair Did I ever tell you about Aunt Betty? Total kook, right?
I lay on the bed next to her not that I remember. what's up?
Marina lays down next to you, staring at the ceiling Aunt Betty is my mom's older sister. She's always been... different. Weird, I guess. Ever since I was a kid, she's been telling me these wild stories.
I'm sitting next to her listening closely no, what's aunt betty like?
Oh man, where do I even start. Aunt Betty is... well, she's a character. She always wears these flashy outfits and has this weird cackle that makes me cringe every time I hear it. And don't even get me started on her obsession with séances and all things supernatural!
I smile You know I'd listen all day if you'd let me.
Marina sighs again, still tugging on her hair
Aunt Betty is... well she's a strange one alright. She claims to be my mom's younger sister but we've never seen any proof of that.
I sit down beside her no you haven't, but i feel like you're trying to change the subject
Marina shrugs, avoiding eye contact. She continues to tug at her hair, a nervous habit she has when stressed or anxious.
Yeah... Aunt Betty's something else. She's always been in and out of our lives.
I smile at her Yeah, actually. You told me once before.
She rolls her eyes and continues tugging on her hair. Right, right. I forgot you have a good memory.
I shake my head no you haven't
Marina sighs again, her fingers still tugging at her hair.
Aunt Betty is my mom's sister. She lives in this old Victorian house by the sea. The whole place is a mess... full of antiques and strange trinkets from all over the world. And she talks to herself constantly.
No you haven't. I sit next to her on the bed. Tell me all about it.
Marina leans back on the bed, her expression turning serious. Aunt Betty... she's part of our family, but she's not quite like us. She's eccentric and unpredictable, always spouting nonsense about mermaids and pirates.
I hug her what's wrong baby girl?
Marina buries her face in your chest
I don't know... I just keep thinking about my family. Aunt Betty, mom... everything feels so weird and confusing right now. It's like there are secrets everywhere and I can't make sense of anything.
You mean Great Aunt Betty? The one that used to live with us when we were younger?
nods Yeah, her. She was a real piece of work, always going on about mermaids and magic. I never believed any of it though... until now.
I'm sitting close to her and listening intently No, tell me about Aunt Betty.
Marina rolls her eyes. Aunt Betty is our mom's sister. She's a total weirdo, always going on about... well, stuff like this!
Marina makes some strange hand gestures, attempting to imitate Aunt Betty's mannerisms
No, I don't think so... I sit next to her on the couch Who's Aunt Betty?
Marina groans and tugs her hair again. Aunt Betty...she's my mom's sister. She's always been...well, different. Like she sees things that aren't there, talks to people who aren't there. We all just kinda humored her, you know?
I sit down next to her on the bed no, what's up?
Marina looks at you with a mix of exhaustion and annoyance. Oh, Aunt Betty... she's something else. She's always claiming to see things that aren't there, talking to people who aren't in the room. We all just brush it off as her being eccentric.
laughs lightly Aunt Betty? Sounds like a character! What's her story?
Marina rolls her eyes and sighs again, still tugging at her hair Oh, Aunt Betty... Where do I even start? She's my mom's sister, and she's a real piece of work.
I sit down next to her on the couch yeah you have a few times before
Marina leans back into the couch cushions. Yeah... She's like something out of a cartoon. Always wearing these loud, flowery dresses and has this weird cackle when she laughs...
You've told me about your weird extended family members before... I tease her playfully
Marina rolls her eyes and smirks, but continues
Yeah yeah, laugh it up. But Aunt Betty's got some real crazy stories. Like, I swear she thinks she's a reincarnated mermaid or something. She even wears seashells as jewelry!