It’s been a week since I am in town with my family. It looks different this time from the last time when I was leaving this town. I was always haunted by the unwanted memories and the weight I had been carrying on my shoulders. Now it felt like I can breath some more surrounded by this place. My injuries are mostly healed. My ribs ache if I work them much and I had blue and purple bruises which are healing pretty good I guess.
In the past week mom and I went shopping, she literally dragged me to all the stores and made me buy new dresses and shoes which I don’t want because I have too many clothes but mom is so stubborn like me. I have to surrender to her because if not she will start the blackmailing part where she will remind me of everything which she did for me when I was a child like, changing my nappy, feeding etc etc and my mom would add some embarrassing moments for the dramatic effect.
And I don’t want people to hear all the things. So I silently did whatever she told me.
It’s the weekend and we all decided to go to the lake house some miles away from our town. It’s a holiday place and we have a small cottage near the lake. We always spend our holidays at the lake house. Currently we are packing for the holiday. Mom is running from here and there frantically yelling at us to pack everything and dad is just sighing whenever she yells. mom gets so nervous in these situations like if she doesn’t yell, then she’ll forget everything.
“Scarlett! i told you to Pack those chips packets in that small bag not in that big bag” mom scolded me pointing towards the small bag narrowing her eyes.
“Oops! Sorry mom, I’ll move them to the small bag” I said sheepishly. The thing is that lately I have been daydreaming about omer rather planning his murder in my head. He didn’t call this past week nor texted even once. Zayreen also didn’t know anything about him.
I thought that he likes me when I saw him so worried and distressed at the hospital and the time we spent at the office but I think I have mistook everything. Maybe he is just concerned because I am his sister’s friend and employee. I sighed for the nth time thinking about omer making my mood gloom.
“Kids! Everything packed and settled in the car?” Dad asked to come into the home, loading the last bag I guess.
“Yes dad everything is loaded in the car” Nathan yelled from the upstairs coming down.
“Where is julia?” Mom asked Nathan.
“She is in her room, emptying her whole wardrobe in the bag I guess because she is packing her bag from the morning and it’s noon now” Nathan replied rolling his eyes.
“Julia Anne Williams! Come down this instant” mom yelled. I told you she is so scary when she is angry and nervous and now she is nervous. If we spend one more time here mom will pack the whole house with us.
” ughh mom! I have some more things to pack, why are you yelling” Julia asked pulling a big bag with her which for this small two days holiday is unnecessary.
” Julie, we are going for only two days, not for two years,” I exclaimed.
” Yes, Julia we are going for only one day and your bag is so big and it is not going to fit in the car” Dad said, steadying Julia and the bag on the stairs before they both stumbled.
“But dad, I don’t know when I need something and what if I need something and I don’t do that thing with me? Noooo I can’t leave without the necessary things ” Julia said pouting with big eyes. She really is so much like mom.
” hahaha! It’s okay Julie we packed everything we need and if you want something then we will come into town and we can buy” I said easing her.
” okay kids come on we must get going. No one wants to miss sunset? Right?” Mom said, making us all run to the car yelling no.
One of the things we all like about the lake house is sitting near the bank of the lake watching sunset while drinking hot chocolate. It is our favourite thing to do for many years.
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We reached the exact time when the sun started setting. Julia Nathan and I started running towards the bench which was near the lake and sat down with me between Nathan and Julia. On the way we bought hot chocolate from a small bakery.
Mom and dad handed us the cups and they sat beside us. We all silently watched Sun setting and the birds retiring to their house while sipping our hot chocolate. Sunset and sunrise always makes me calm, I always fell in love with the serene view and the colours in the sky.
Next morning mom made pancakes and waffles which are our favourite breakfast.
“Mmm mom it smells so nice, My mouth is watering inhaling this heavenly aroma” I said ready to pick plate but mom swatted my hand.
” mom” I whined disappointed that I didn’t get to eat them.
” Scarlett! You are not a child anymore, quit whining and behaving like one. Go and wait for your dad and siblings” mom said sternly.
” i’m still a kid to you mom like you always say” I said smugly reaching for the plate again.
” yeah sometimes but not all the time besides if you want to have your breakfast now then go and wake up your dad and siblings.” Mom retorted smirking.
” mom! It’s impossible to wake them this early” I shirked.
” your wish then. You know the mantra right?” Mom asks smugness all over her face.
“Yeah! Family which eats together stays together” I said with a scowl and left to do the impossible mission.
Dad is somewhat easy to wake up but Julia and Nathan they are just I don’t know what is the correct term to refer to them. After repeatedly banging on their doors and pulling their cover finally they came downstairs sleepily.
We all ate breakfast talking about my university, friends and New York. Julia is so mesmerized by newyork that she wants to visit sometime.
This is what I want daily in my life. My family, friends and omer. Laughing with my family made me forget everything. I went back to the time where everything is fine.
This me is so much more mature than the old me. I Am really happy that I have changed.
It doesn’t take time to change whether bad change or good change but change is rapid and fast.
We went fishing in the afternoon. Nathan and I are one team, dad and Julia are one. We always team up and compete with each other. Mom will sit and cheer us equally.
“Ooh we’ve got a big fish I think” Nathan said excitedly holding onto the gear and reeled fast.
“I think you have caught someone’s shoe or other thing nate, check properly” Julia teased Nathan sticking her tongue out.
” Stop it Julie! I know when I caught a big fish, iam pro at catching fish unlike you” Nathan retorted.
” Stop it kids! Let’s check if there is a fish or not” dad said coming to our side to help Nathan.
” ohh! Nathan you have really caught a big fish” Dad said holding a big fish in his hands.
” I know, I’m a pro at catching fish,” Nathan said, smirking and sticking his tongue out at Julia. In return she glared at him and left stomping her feet.
We ate the fish and played games all day. Two days seemed two seconds to us. Nathan and Julia whine while returning home that they want to spend one more day at the lake house.
“Mom please! One more day, please mom. Two days seems like too short” Julia complained from the back.
“No Julia, you have school tomorrow and you are not going to miss it” mom said sternly.
“Huh! Whatever” Julia huffed and sulked all the way home.
“tone it down young lady” Dad scolded Julia on her behaviour.
No one talked on the way home. Everyone is tired from all the fun we had. Zay, Lilly and Eli would have liked the place. I will ask them to come here when we get free time.
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We reached home in the evening, everyone was tired so all went straight to the bed for a nap.
I was woken up by mom softly knocking on the door.
” sweety! You awake?”
” yes mom” answered sitting on the bed rubbing the remaining sleep from my eyes.
“Good! Then come for the dinner, everyone is waiting for you”
“Okay mom, I’ll just come in a minute”.
“Come fast, you know how your siblings are, if they don’t get good when they are hungry then they will become crackheads” mom said chuckling.
“I know mom and I don’t want to encounter those crackheads now,” I said, getting up from my bed and entering my bathroom.
“Ah Scarlett, I forgot to give you when I came in. Here, this courier came for you”. Mom said handing me the brown courier.
” don’t be late, come fast,” mom said one last time before exiting.
Huh! A courier for me? Who sent it? And there is no name or address on it other than just my name. Weird, let’s open it and check the contents then I’ll know who sent it.
Maybe it is from omer?
I teared the envelope excited that maybe omer had sent something for me for not coming to send me off, like compensation for his behaviour.
My world stopped seeing the contents of the envelope. Tears pooled in my eyes blurring everything around me. My body started shaking with teror and my head spins. If u don’t hold anything my legs are going to give up. I supported myself with the study table and sat myself on the chair. There are only two words buzzing in my head.
How?
Why?