Chapter 1
I can’t understand why, but somehow I’ve decided to visit home for the first time in seven years. Even though we don’t live at Peace Lane anymore, I still walk down the unforgotten road, noticing all the dips and cracks in the tarmac. Intentionally slowing at number 13, relentlessly focusing on the old, neglected scarlet door. All the harrowing memories came flooding back the gentle laughter, the countless tears. The shouting and screaming, the slamming of marked doors and cupboards. The fights and arguments over every minor thing. To tell the truth, It’s best not to remember the cruel memories that linger behind that door.
A dull shadow flickers behind the dusty window, best not to stay here. I continue walking. Past the historic gate, past the bus stop, past the local post-office. Not stopping until I saw the fractured grey metal gate that opened up a new world. That dull world was my safe haven, my latibule, my desperate escape from all the destructive things that happened. The park’s abandoned excluding the pedestrians passing through. No one was sticking around too long today, the weather was abysmal. It was as if the sky was crying, no, not so much crying, more like sobbing.
Everyone was hurrying to get to shelter before the tiny, forceful raindrops produced a mark. No one was paying me any attention, which was unusual but satisfying. As I sat miserably on a soaked, wooden, amber bench, I recollected again what I strived desperately to abandon. The terrible memories that I tried so desperately to suppress. Deep down in the unknown abysses of my mind, they’re determined to force their way back to the surface.
The blood-curdling screams fill my head. Echoing inside every ominous crack and forgotten corner, bouncing off the cracked walls of my skull. There was no escaping it: the overwhelming pain, the torment, the uncontrollable tears. I’m back, back inside that awful place, back behind the ruby door. They were arguing again, he’s drunk again, she’s cross again, I’m crying again. There was no end to it.
The ending was different this time. She wasn’t crying, she wasn’t screaming, she wasn’t moving. It took him a moment to realise what he had done. Then there was a look in his grave eyes, not overwhelming sadness or terrible remorse, sheer panic. Not about what had happened but what they would do to him. He couldn’t conceal it, not this time, it was too big a mess to clean. You could almost see his mind spinning, seeking a solution, some lie he. No, we could tell to cover up his mistake. Then it hit him, the answer to his mistake. Me.
An icy bitter drop slithered down my exposed neck, creeping under my frayed collar brought me back to reality. The stinging rain was pelting down. I didn’t want to leave not yet. For some unusual unknown reason, I desperately wanted to stay, a bit longer. As I scarcely glanced at my bleak surroundings, I remembered where I was, the dreary, cold play park. People were still hurrying past, almost running. Trying to escape the threatening skies. Amongst the impenetrable, colorless fog that hung low in the air. There was a flash of red, standing out like a poppy in a field. But when I looked once more. It had disappeared. All that was left was ominous shadows and abysmal darkness.
I gave up looking and reluctantly called Stephen “Hi Stephen, can you pick me up? The rains got worse.“I waited impatiently for his reply, hoping he would agree, even though it was his day off.“Thanks, I’m in Kingsley Park” I looked around again searching for any red. Nothing, no red. After what felt like an eternity, a black limousine pulled up and out stepped Stephan.
“Hi Miss”
“Hey Stephen, Thank you again.”
“No problem, Miss. Your Mother will torment me if she found out you got sick because of me.”
“Oh.” My heart dropped, he was purely doing this for her. “Thanks anyway and for the thousandth time, call me April-Rose!”
Looking around once more, soaking in the melancholy and lonely sight. Knowing it will be awhile before I would ever be allowed to witness it again. The red came again, but it didn’t disappear this time. Instead, it came running towards me; it was a boy, the cutest boy. He looked around 18. His cocoa hair sticking to his unremarkable face, rain traced every specific detail of his features. He wasn’t slowing down, he’s too absorbed in his own world, going at his own pace. He was going to knock into me. I can’t move, my feet feel like they’re glued to the floor, I’m mesmerized by him. He hasn’t stopped either, he keeps going until... CRASH!
His lean body collided into mine, causing me to smash into the cement. There was naturally a terrible clunk; my head felt like it’s being used as a maraca. My vision got dizzy and it felt like the world was spinning too fast. My vision stood still and all I could instantly see was him, the dimples, the turquoise eyes, the jawline, and the radiant smile. I felt like my heart had melted on to the floor, there was no one in the world other than him and me.
Unfortunately. Stephan came running around the car, instantly becoming an overprotective parent and paramedic. I felt my face turn crimson with embarrassment. A grin eagerly consumed the mystery boy’s face until he burst out into laughter. His laugh was delightful, it was like gentle rain on a windowpane. It was infectious too, in no time at all we were both laughing, still on the soaked floor not giving a care in the world
Stephan doesn’t find it as funny as we did and starts scolding me.
“You think this is hilarious, don’t you? What would your mother say when she discovers this? She is now definitely going to kill you and me!“Our laughter got heavier like the rain.
The mystery boy starts talking. I wasn’t paying any attention to what he was saying, only what his voice sounded like. It was as smooth as butter and as sweet as sugar. His eyes started searching for an answer.
“Crap!” My mind snaps back to reality. “What?”
“I asked if you were okay?” He asked chuckling and standing,
“Oh, yeah I’m... average. How are you? Okay?“Trying to recover.
“I’m average too, thanks.” Extending his hand out to me, carefully pulling me up from the soggy floor.
“I doubt you heard me the first time, so I’m saying it again. I’m sorry I ran into you, I can’t grasp how I didn’t see you” He did that smile. Again. Causing my heart to melt. Again. I don’t know how to react. I’m searching for words, but my brain is doing celebratory backflips.
“I’m Tyler by the way” his eyes examining mine.
“Sorry, mine’s April-Rose.”
“Ah gorgeous name, gorgeous face.” With a sly wink.
