Nara

Let me tell you a story…

There was once a girl, a happy girl, the most happiest girl in all the world. She had nothing to complain about. Her life was as perfect as it could possibly be and she wouldn't have changed it for anything.

She had everything she could possibly want. Good health, great friends and the two most wonderful parents in the whole entire world, who she loved very dearly. She lived in a good home, her grades put her at the top of her class and she was no stranger to male admirers. She woke up with a smile and fell asleep with a smile. So, indeed, it was quite obvious that this girl had every reason to be happy.

She had not a care in the world, so long as she was surrounded by this perfect life that she loved so much.

Her mother was like her best friend, like a child in an adult's body, but the girl didn't mind this. Any moment that she could share with her mother was a blessing and she would share moments with her at every chance that she could. She loved her mother so very much. They would shop together, go out together, watch movies, listen to music. The bond they shared with each other was strong and it clearly showed. Even through the times when the roles were swapped, and the girl became the parent and the mother became the child, their bond remained as strong as ever. If anything, it grew stronger. The mother was the girl's world.

She felt very much the same for her father. He was her daddy, her hero, the one she looked up too. They always say that a father is a daughter's first love and a son's first hero. Well this rang true for the girl. There really was no other man like her father. She looked more like her father than her mother and shared many of his character traits. Yet these similarities in their personalities brought them closer together. It's like the girl and her father understood each other. It was a special bond they shared. She wouldn't change him for the world and she loved him with all her heart.

They were such a close family and they made the girl beam with love.

It had been the girl's birthday a few months previous, she had turned 17. It wasn't the most important birthday in the world compared to others, but her family and friends had still showered her with joy, happiness, and love, almost as if it were something as big as a sweet sixteenth or a twenty first. Presents and cards were sent and received and a little party also took place. It was just a few close family and friends. Yet the girl appreciated it so much and was filled with so much love. Her life really was perfect.

A performance of her favorite book, Wuthering Heights, was due to be played at the local theatre in a few weeks, so for her birthday, her parents had brought her tickets to the show. She was elated and accepted them with many thanks. The night had finally arrived for the show to take place. The theatre was a mere 10 minute walk from their home and since they lived in sunny Arizona, the night was warm and clear. The girl was giddy with excitement as the family walked down the road, heading for the show. She was shaking with anticipation. Her mother told her to calm down, but the girl found that she could not. She just kept grinning.

That was the moment her life changed forever.

It happened so quickly that she almost missed it. Yet the memory of it would live with her for the rest of her life.

The empty quiet street suddenly came to life as a big black shiny van came skidding round the corner and halted to a stop right before them. The family froze as it did this, panic in all their eyes. They retreated back as far as they could, the father standing in front of the mother and girl, protecting his family.

Two men stepped out of the van. One was tall and dark skinned, his hair platted into dreadlocks. The other had long blonde greasy hair, tied behind his head. The smile on his face looked sinister. The girl's happy grin had faded long ago.

It was almost like a scene from a movie, too good to be true.

The girl heard her mother whisper in her ear to run, almost as if the mother knew that this encounter would not end well. Yet the girl did not move. She knew that her mother was right, she should have ran, her mother had her best interests at heart after all. She disobeyed her and stayed with her family, her feet refusing to move, too scared to leave her parents behind. She clasped onto her mother's hand as tightly as possible, her whole body shaking in fear at the sight of these obviously dangerous men.

The girl, even though not a religious person, silently prayed in her head. She prayed for the safety of the family and for them to walk away from this drama unscathed and unharmed. If that was the only wish she was allowed in life, then she prayed it came true, for all their sakes.

Yet, her worst fears suddenly came to life as the man with the long blonde hair pulled a gun out from the inside of his jacket. He pulled the mother away from the girl and shot the woman point blank, in the middle of her forehead. She limply fell to the ground making no noise. She was silent.

Speckles of blood splattered over the girl's face as her mother's life ended. She watched as she fell to the ground, staring with wide eyes and utter shock before letting out an almighty scream of terror. Tears streamed down her young face, not quite believing what had just taken place.

Her father's words, telling her to run, broke her from her frozen and shocked state. This time she listened and her feet began to move without her mind registering it. She ran as fast as she possibly could down the street, turning her head to see if she was being followed. Indeed she was, by the dark skinned man. Behind him, she saw her father being bound and gagged and thrown into the black of the black van. Kidnapped.

She ran as fast as her young legs would carry her, knowing a fully grown man, who looked athletic and fit, was following close behind. She was tired and out of breath, but this motivated her to move. She knew that if she didn't, she would suffer the same fate as her poor mother and father. She knew exactly where she was heading. The Police Station. She knew that she would be safe there. It was only a few blocks away.

The journey there seemed to take forever, her legs pushing as hard as they could, falling tears blurring her vision. She heard the footsteps behind her getting louder, so she knew the man was getting closer. She ran and ran and ran until her destination was in sight. After what had just happened, she could not muster a smile at the sight of her haven. She ran in, screaming, noticing the man had not followed her. She assumed he had left, knowing there was no way he could get her here. For this, she was grateful.

An Officer came straight to her aid after hearing her scream. When he saw the blood across her face, he immediately called for help.

Her night at the Police Station was a long one. She recalled her story several times to different people in different rooms, the story never getting any easier to tell. She was allowed to clean herself up and sort herself out and was given food, drink and a blanket to keep warm, even though she didn't need it. Yet the shock of it all had not allowed her to show any emotions. She was blank, numb, afraid that if any emotion were to show itself, she would come completely undone and would breakdown. She needed to make sense of everything before she could emotionally except what had happened.

The police were concerned for the girl's safety, the men were still following her after all. With her parents dead and missing and her safety at the forefront of their minds, they decided what to do for the best would be to place her in a Witness Protection Programme. This would keep her safe till the men were found and put away forever. The girl was saddened and frightened by this, but she knew that it was for the best. After all, just like her mother, the police had her best interests at heart. She would be placed with a loving and caring family, far away from Arizona, until the men were found.

What had started as one of the best days of the girl's life had finished the worst. In the space of mere minutes, she had lost her mother, saw her father kidnapped by sinister strangers and found herself shipped half way across the country for her own safety and protection.

That's the story! It's a sad story, I know, but it's my story.

Hi, I'm Bella Swan and today, I'm going to Forks, Washington to meet my new 'family'.