Chapter 1: Gardinia
I stood at the airport gate, my heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Excitement for the new chapter of my life, but sadness at leaving behind the only home I'd ever known. My mom, usually strong and stoic, had tears in her eyes as she hugged me tightly.
"Heather, my baby girl, please be careful. Gardinia State can be... overwhelming" she whispered, her voice trembling.
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I'll be fine, Mom. I'll call you every day, and I'll be back before you know it. It's just for college, and Aunt Lily will take care of me since she lives in the state I'll be staying at."
Mom smiled weakly and handed me my boarding pass. "Yes, your aunt will be there for you. You'll like it there, dear. It's a beautiful place."
I raised an eyebrow, unsure what to make of her description. What would this be like? And what kind of people would I meet there?
As I boarded the plane, I took one last look at Mom, who was watching me with a mix of sadness and hope. I waved, and she blew me a kiss before disappearing into the crowd.
The flight attendants greeted me with warm smiles, and I made my way to my seat. As the plane took off, I felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness.
I leaned back into my seat, trying to calm my racing thoughts as the plane soared through the sky. Seven years. It's been Seven years since Dad passed away. Mom had been working nonstop to provide for me, and I knew how much she sacrificed for my education. I felt a pang of guilt for not being able to help more, but she always insisted that I focus on my studies.
And now, here I was, on my way to a new state, a new college, and a new life. All thanks to Mom's hard work and Aunt Lily's kindness. I had met Aunt Lily few times back when I was a kid, but after I entered teenage days her visits became less and one day it stopped because of her work. Although Mom always spoke highly of her. Apparently, she was an amazing chef who worked at the prestigious Greenwood's Mansion. I couldn't believe my luck - not only was I getting a chance to study at a great college, but I also got to live with family and experience life in a mansion!
But as the plane hit turbulence, my thoughts turned dark. What if I didn't fit in? What if the people at college were snobbish and looked down on me? What if I failed my classes?
No, don't think like that Winners never quit and quitters never win Heather.
I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the negative thoughts. I had worked hard to get here, and I was determined to make the most of this opportunity. For Mom and for myself. I was ready to face whatever challenges came my way and make a new life for myself in Gardinia State, Which is three hours away if you travel through plane but it takes long time if you travel through train and my aunt Lily pay for this flight otherwise I was gonna travel through train.
As the plane touched down, I felt a mix of relief and excitement wash over me. The flight attendants' cheerful voices filled the cabin, instructing us to remain seated until the seatbelt signs were turned off. I fidgeted in my seat, eager to stretch my legs and finally set foot in Gardinia State.
Once the plane came to a complete stop, passengers began to disembark. I grabbed my carry-on bag and joined the line, my heart beating slightly faster with each step. As I walked out of the plane, a rush of cool air enveloped me, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass. I am finally in Gardinia State.
After collecting my luggage from the baggage claim, I made my way to the airport exit. As I pushed through the doors, I scanned the crowd for a familiar face. And then, I saw her - Aunt Lily, standing by a bright blue Toyota Yaris Car, with a warm smile on her face her platinum golden blonde hair which were same as mine and green eyes of hers making me feel instantly at ease.
I quickened my pace, my lips curving into a bright smile. As I drew closer, Aunt Lily opened her arms, and I stepped into her warm hug. We held each other tightly for a moment, the sound of cars and chatter fading into the background.
"It's so great to finally meet you, sweetie!" Aunt Lily exclaimed, her voice as warm as her hug.
I grinned, feeling a sense of comfort and belonging. "It's great to meet you too, Aunt Lily!"
We pulled back, and Aunt Lily took my luggage,three bags total loading them into the trunk of her car.I got into the passenger seat and Aunt Lily settled into the driver's seat beside me. As the car started moving
As the car glided through the streets of Gardinia State, I gazed out the window at the unfamiliar sights. Shops and restaurants lined the roads, their colorful signs and bustling activity creating a lively atmosphere. My aunt's warm smile and gentle humming accompanied the soft purr of the engine, making me feel at ease.
"Did you have everything you needed for college, sweetie?" Aunt Lily asked, her voice breaking the comfortable silence.
I turned to her, nodding. "Yeah, I think so. I enrolled online last week, so I'm all set for classes to start next week."
She took a right turn.
"That's great, Heather!"
She then took another right turn, then Aunt Lily continued, "I've already arranged for your room at the mansion. My place is a two-bedroom area with its own kitchen and bathroom, so you'll have plenty of space. That's where you will stay till your college ends."
I nodded.A mansion sounded intimidating, but Aunt Lily's reassurance put me at ease. I turned my attention back to the window, watching as the scenery shifted from urban to rural. The road move through rolling hills, lush green trees, and sparkling lakes, taking my breath away.
As we drove, the sky began to darken, and clouds gathered above us. The air grew cooler, and I could smell the scent of rain on the wind. Aunt Lily's voice broke the silence, "You know I work as a chef at the Greenwood mansion, right? Well, the people who live there... they're not exactly the kind you'd want to hang out with and I'd prefer you stay out of their sight."
I turned my head sharply towards her, my eyes wide with surprise. What did she mean? Before I could ask any questions, Aunt Lily quickly added,
"Don't worry, sweetie, they're legitimate businesspeople. They have licenses for everything they do. You'll be perfectly safe as long as you stick to your routine and avoid them."
I turned back to the window, my mind racing. What kind of business could they possibly be in that required licenses? And why did Aunt Lily seem so nervous about it? The rain started to pour down, drumming against the car roof and blurring the beautiful scenery outside. I look outside at the landscape. "Aunt what kind of things they do?"
"Business Dear, they do business but you know it's still better to stay out of rich people's way, don't want to get involved in something that you don't plan to do."
Excuse Me! What? Is this another way of saying mind your own business?
After saying this she turn on the music and start soft humming, like she is avoiding me to answer more questions, and I didn't press further.
As we drove, I start to see a manor from the window. We were driving around the entrance to a beautiful mansion but we weren't going through the main door, rather circling around the back. I walked out of the Car two of my bags with me and one with Aunt Lily , Aunt Lily simply walked me over to a tiny looking Cottage.
But before I could follow her I felt like someone was watching, I froze on my spot at that moment and looked around but no one was in the sight. I hurried inside the cottage.
Little did I know, I made a big mistake, I didn't know what I felt like freedom right now was gonna turn into a cage soon...
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