Chapter 1
This is Courtney's story, she is 26 and from London, this is her story full of love, heartbreak, betrayal ,pain, bliss. Her story all started from her parents of course they were who brought her into this world after all, Courtney's dad now 50 his name is George and works as a security guard at many places he moved around a lot, that is one of many jobs he had over the years, Courtney and George's bond was unbreakable she really was a daddy's girl.
They say that people appreciate others and love more and get closer, once they lose something so priceless or someone they treasure, and sadly in her case she lost her mum when she was 18, her mother was only 40, she was killed in a hit and run, she was an amazing mum to her at times, they had their ups and downs like anyone else and then there was her younger brother Daniel now 25, who was 17 when her mother past. Courtney's mother loved her dad through and through, they was pretty much "the picture perfect family" she was beautiful and so selfless her name was Elizabeth but everyone called her Lizzy for short.
Elizabeth's death was only the beginning of so much more hurt to come but that story will get told further on.
Today was the day Courtney was moving out of the family home, she stood in what had been her room for 26 years, reliving old memories, the good the bad and the ugly and where Courtney's story truly started.
The good when she was 6, Bedtimes were always fun, Elizabeth would lay on her bed with her curled up in one of her arms and Daniel curled up in the other, she would always have them laughing so much, doing all the different voices for all the different characters and always after reading, she would sing the their favourite song "you are my sunshine" That was what her mum had nicknamed her sunshine, and once they would start to drift off, she'd carry Daniel off to his bed.
The bad times would be silly times like when she'd get into a fight with her brother over stupid things, or boy trouble when she hit secondary school, every teenage girls utter nightmares. But she always knew she could turn to her parents when she needed too. Courtney felt blessed in that way she had a loving mother and father who's love for each other was brighter then anything, she hoped for that kind of love one day.
And of course there's ugly and very bad the day her mother died...and maybe a little good came from it, because that was also the day she met Logan Thompson, Courtney remembered that day so clearly, she remembered being called home early from work with Daniel, seeing her father crying at the dining table, and 2 police officers standing at his side , the feeling she got was unexplainable, her stomach sunk she knew something was very wrong, and she remembered the first words coming out of her mouth being "where's mum?"
George had a very pained look on his face with the following words "come and sit down you two, we need to talk about something"
Courtney didn't want to hear it she refused and started to shouting "NO WHERE'S MUM"
At this point Daniel was sat at the table with a terrified look, Then the words that came next she never expected to hear in her life "Your mum has died darling, I'm so sorry"
Courtney was already screaming, before she realised it was her even screaming, she ran out the door as fast as her legs would carry her
The next thing she knew, she found herself by a river that had ran through their local park, head to her knees and her arms wrapped around herself the tears just streaming she couldn't control it no matter how hard i tried.
Courtney sat there for so long she wasn't even aware of the time. Before she could compose herself even a little, she had realised it had started to get dark.
Courtney was interrupted from her thoughts by someone from behind, a deep lingering voice appears "are you ok?"
to which she snapped back "DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT" Courtney didn't mean it, she was just hurting so bad, the world felt small right now, and it was so hard to breathe
The mysterious voice reply's "I'm sorry, just you've been sitting there a long time and you've been crying, I just wanted to make sure you was ok..."
A complete stranger shows concern and compassion and she practically rips his head off, she felt awful "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to snap just having a very bad day that brought me very bad news"
His voice became very gentle but still low and raspy "you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but I could at least sit with you make sure you're safe"
She doesn't know what made her say it but the words just tumbled out before she could even stop them "Thank you...I'd really appreciate that"
Before Courtney knew it a tall guy about 18-20 around her age, must of been about 6ft at least, towers over her and plants himself next to her cautiously "I'm Logan by the way" he gives her a small reassuring smile
It was only as she turned around to introduce herself that she realised, this was the most beautiful guy she had ever laid her eyes on....he was tall for sure, slightly muscular , but he had black hair, that swept off his face and green eyes that reminded her of the northern lights, and a smile that could charm the hell out of anything or anyone, he had a whole emo/goth look and vibe about him, and she loved it she had that style down to a T herself
Before she even realised she had been staring, he let out a hearty laugh and she was brought back down to earth with a thud "I'm sorry, my name is Courtney, but it's nice to meet you Logan"
he sweeps the hair from his face with a half turned smile "beautiful name for a beautiful girl, although my question still remains why would a beautiful girl as yourself be in this park so late at night on her own, and so sad" He gives her a quizzical look and she really looks at him and notices the glimmer of sadness in his eyes....maybe a hint of regret
"I was called home early from work, to be met with a sobbing dad and....two police officers" Courtney was stuttering to get her words out because saying it made it real and that is not what she wanted, the tears start up again
he looks over to her "it's ok, I'm here if you need to talk, but you don't have to if you don't want to I'll just sit here, but I am here if you need it, you're not alone ok"
Courtney takes a deep breath and the words just came out "my mum died" The tears start getting harder again and she couldn't breathe it became real that second she said it out loud, which is what she was afraid of
He seemed to flinch at those words and without a thought he moves over next to her and wraps his arms around her "let it out it's ok"
After composing herself once again she sits back "I'm sorry you don't even know me and you're sat here listening to my problems, I'm sure you have better things to be doing"
Without a thought he starts to talk "there's nothing I'd rather be doing then sat listening to someone who needs someone to listen"
"well I appreciate it more than you know, but I should probably head home, my dad's been ringing me non stop I'm not even sure how she died yet I just ran out..."
"that's understandable" That was it but as she looked at him he had so much pain behind his eyes "at least let me walk you home?" he stands holding his hand out to her
Again she wasn't sure at first, she had only just met him...but there was something about him that was calming and safe and comforting, she takes his hand and he helps her up "sure" I mustered up a small smile and they started to walk.
He walked beside her, they talked a lot all the way before she realised they was standing outside her house "this is me, thank you for being there today, and making sure I got home safe we need more people like you in this world"
He returns a small smile "that's ok...and I know this is probably bad timing, maybe even weird but, can we maybe swap numbers...I mean, so if you need to maybe...talk and to be honest I would like to be a friend"
He starts to look down, looking shy and nervous like he regretted asking, Courtney let's out a little bit of a nervous laugh, he was just so sweet to her "Sure I'd like that"
he smiles and lights up as relief washes over him, they exchange numbers he gives her one last lingering hug "if you need anything, day or night no matter what time, you call or drop me a message"
"I will thank you again" She leans up and kisses him on the cheek. He waits for her to enter her house before he turns to leave.
Courtney gingerly walks through the door before she hears a shout come from the living room "Courtney is that you darling!"
"yes dad" she walks into the sitting room and plops down on the sofa where her dad is sat "I'm sorry for running out like that dad, I...I...I"
before she knew it she was sobbing harder and couldn't control it, she felt her dad wrap her up in his arms "it's ok baby I'm here, I know it hurts shhhhhhhh...shhhhhh"
she felt little tears hit her and she only knew her dad was also crying but he was trying to stay strong for her and Daniel, Then it hit her "where's Daniel dad"
"His up in his room sweetheart" before he finished his sentence they hear Daniel slowly coming down the stairs, eyes red and bloody shot and puffy where he had been crying too.
Courtney holds her hand out to him, he takes it she pulls him in and they was all huddled together on the sofa like the days being wrapped up in their mums arms at bedtime it was a bitter sweet moment, they was now having that memory with their dad, for completely different reasons
It wasn't long and Daniel had fallen asleep on the other side of her dad, she turns to her dad and asked what she knew she should of asked the first time "dad, how did she..."
"It was a hit and run darling which is why the police were here, as well as to tell us the news too"
A whole new pain arose in her, along with anger and frustration, "are they looking for who did it"
George strokes her hair to comfort her "yes baby they are doing everything in their power to make sure whoever did this will get what they deserve and to give your mother some justice"
she saw pain and anger flash across his face briefly "we will get through this daddy I promise"
"I know sweetheart, but it's my turn to be strong for you and your brother" and before Courtney realised she had fallen off into a deep sleep to the sound of her dad humming.
