I never understood love perfectly but after I met him I finally understood the meaning, what it means to protect it, cherish a bond like no other, and hold onto it no matter what. I understood the true meaning of devotion, care, and love. We both fought for what we wanted even though we couldn’t be together, even though fate brought us together it still wanted to set us apart.

It was a lost cause... and my most painful memory was watching the very beast I desired rip me apart all because of the mistake I made. I ruined what we made... I destroyed the last fragment of what we shared, all for it to crumble into pieces, and I watched as the very faint of humanity washed away from his eyes... the very eyes that gave me warmth became my worst nightmare.

Even in death it still haunts me.

~

"I love you so much," my mom said, kissing me gently on my forehead like she wanted to imprint that very mark there and I welcomed it by closing my eyes. I desire just to be with her but soon this will all be a dream too... if only I didn’t have to leave.

"Do I really have to go?", the shaky voice that I could barely recognize came off me, I thought I would be strong for it, I guess I’m not.

"Come on we talked about this-this is how it’s gonna work, for both of us, okay?" she assured me with hands on my shoulder.

I nodded playing with the tip of my cardigan with my fingers I felt the need to cry but I fought the feeling, this didn’t feel right for me, it has always been me and her against the world as she always said to me and now I have to go off on my own. My mom was only what I got and leaving just made it harder than I expected.

"And besides you will get to spend time with your aunt, you haven’t seen her like forever"

Oh great! My out-of-the-world aunt who I haven’t known since I was born, just photos and my main thought of her was..."You know she’s weird" I raised my head.

"Oh come on don’t be such a fuss, I assure you" she rubs my arms once again. "You’re gonna love her", she gave me that look with those green orbs of hers. She really wanted this to work and I know it, how could I ever say no?

Most of my features came from my mom. She was so beautiful, like a perfect model, her red hair straight and styled short like a curve. The way she walks and behaves was extremely wonderful. I want to be like her someday but I doubt that will ever happen. I licked my lips.

"Yeah" I nodded, not too sure.

"Oh honey" she engulfed me in a bear hug, I was skinny so she could have all the bear hugs she could offer. "I’m sorry but you know I need this job," she broke the hug, staring into my green orbs once again. I nodded, forcing a smile. The tears were just ready to fall, I tried to fight it but I’m afraid I can’t any longer, this was just too much.

At the sound of the speaker calling my flight, I knew that was my cue.

"That’s my plane," I said in a hurry, taking my roller bag away from her hold. "I love you", my voice cracked this time but hopefully she won’t notice.

"I love you too honey".

I licked my lips and backed her before leisurely sauntering away into the crowd and then I broke into hot tears and sniffling using the back of my hand to wipe it off, my round glasses hoist up due to it.

"We’re in third priority of take-off"

I settled on my seat, wiping my face more and giving a heavy sigh, tucking some loose curly strands of my hair before leaning against my seat. This was it... I looked out the window with the view of Washington airport. I sighed, closing my eyes as the plane began moving, this was gonna be a long 3 hours of flight and further away from home.

~

"Hey, kid!"

"Kid!"

I groaned, my head rolling. "Kid!"

I jolted awake facing whoever woke me up from my peaceful sleep, I must have passed out while staring at the clouds and listening to my blues, I unplugged my earplugs.

"The Plane landed minutes ago, you should get down," the elderly lady told me. I blinked a couple of times at her, I remember now, she was the one who sat next to me during the flight, reading a magazine.

Her orbs trailed to my lips and she cringed in disgust, I gave a look of puzzlement before sliding my hand to my lip, and I felt something slippery. Ha great, I drooled! A habit of mine.

"Thanks" I grumbled, wiping it off, my cheeks heated, this was embarrassing for me, at least I should be grateful it was an old lady who saw it.

I groaned, dragging my rolling bags, I walked into the halls with a crowd around me, I tried my best to ignore the noise and the bumping people around me, in such a situation I felt so small that no one could barely spot me, I WAS small, I just have to find my way through until I was at a clear path, I walked out of the entrance, dragging my bag with me and groaning, I just had to pack too much, of course, I had too, who knows when I will be in Washington again.

"EMMA!"

I jumped at the sound of my name like a scared cat, bumping into a man behind.

"S-S-Sorry", sluggishly adjusting my glasses, he gave a curt nod before walking past me.

"Uh-oh I think I scared her"

I faced the voice who almost gave me a heart attack for calling my name out of the blue. Only for it to belong to a middle-aged woman, and judging from her looks, that was definitely my aunt, and can she be more weirder than those photos?

"Hello," she said with a hand wave, dressed- well how am I gonna explain that? long mixed color shirt, and a crop shirt. Her slightly strawberry hair is a curly mess and packed with just a pin. Well, now I know who I got the trait of heavy curls from.

"H-Hi" I stammered, I made no attempt to walk to her. "Aunt Vanessa"

A smile graced her lips, her features practically glowing, she must be proud I knew her name, well how won’t I? She is no other than my mom’s twin, didn’t I mention that? That my mom’s a twin? Well, now you know.

I remained where I was, before sighing deeply, more like preparing myself to engage, yeah I know...I’m really a nervous wreck when meeting people I don’t know. I sauntered toward her in slow steps but in a blink, I was engulfed in a bear hug.

"Oh my god look at you, so lovely, better than the pictures," she said, almost squeezing the life out of me before finally letting go and I let out a breath, adjusting my glasses.

"And don’t call me aunt makes me seem old," she drawled.

"O-Okay"

"You’re nervous" she whispered like I wasn’t standing there before her. "Of course, you will be, we haven’t seen each other like forever, don’t worry darling, I’m here now and will take care of you just like I promised your mom" she says playing with her fingers and giving me the biggest smile.

I licked my dry lips at the mention of my mom, feeling sadness overwhelm me but I pushed it aside.

"Why are you so skinny? Don’t eat meat? Please don’t tell me you’re vegan" she asked, checking me out like a 5-year-old, which only made me blush more in embarrassment, I could see people who pass by staring and hiding their amusement, perfect!

"I eat meat, I’m just..." my chest rose and fell, "...Skinny" yes that me, even when I was born, I was so tiny than the average baby, I was like 245g? Yeah! Doctors thought I was premature but that didn’t seem to be the case, but overtime as I grew I put on some weight but close enough you could tell how much of a slim model I was, I think a model is better than me.

Vanessa snorted a laugh. "Well you look like my dearest sister back in the days, you should have seen her"

I couldn’t help a faint smile that crossed my lips, I DO look like my mom back in the days, I saw some of her younger photos and I couldn’t believe she was the one, because right now she had a wonderful body, it sort of gave me hope that I would one day look like her and not all petite like I was.

"Or you could be skinny forever", she looked into space as if thinking, cracking up her lip in a comic way. My smile vanished.

"Ha! Just kidding, don’t worry I’m sure when you’re older you will be a total killer, those cuteness will surely drive in the boys"

I just forced a nervous smile, I’m afraid that not gonna happen, I was hardly noticeable in my old school, I was the invisible girl and I preferred to stay that way because I wasn’t one who loved that attention.

"How old are you now?" she asked out of the blue. "High school right so you’re like 13 or..."

"I’m 16, 17 in a few months"

"Great, still teen fun yeah?" She playfully punched my shoulder. I just nodded. "Oh we should get going, we have all the time to talk when we get home," she yanked my bags from me. "Now come on dear,"

I just followed quietly as she led me to a 1990s Mercedes Benz car, orange in color. freēwebnovel.com

"This... is yours?" I asked hoping she would say no.

"Yes dear, she’s probably pushing a hundred but still a darling" Vanessa said patting the car, it made a crank noise as it would fall apart, it was a miracle it still stood after that noise.

"Lovely isn’t she?".

"Great," I said in no humor.

~

The drive through the city was a quiet one, only the sound of the radio echoing in the car. My aunt lived in Alaska, a totally different view from all the big buildings I was used to. This was new for me, just like my new life was about to start here, I just hope it was a good one. My first impression of Vanessa was mild, she really is weird like I thought she was, but she seemed like someone that has a big heart, so... it was good, I guess.

I turned back to the view, I was getting antsy in my seat, we have been driving for a long time, and I had just gotten off a plane. I wasn’t ready for another seating trip, my butt couldn’t take more of it. I adjusted my glasses before I spoke.

"Are we there yet?"

"Oh dear, it seems like Sis didn’t tell you’’ she said, making a turn.

"Tell me what?" I blinked.

"I don’t live in the city, I live in a town, Juneau"

"Perfect," I muttered under my breath, I haven’t lived in a town before, I knew much of the city and its loud exterior but wasn’t exactly sure what I could make of a town.

"Don’t worry you will love it, everyone is easy going there", she turned up the music.

I sighed. Thanks a lot, mom. That moment we passed a signboard that said ’Welcome to Juneau, Alaska. Population 31,785’ just right at the corner of the road.

I shut the door of the car and it made that sound again, please don’t crumble! Luckily it didn’t and I found myself looking up at the dull skies. I figured it might rain but I just convinced myself it was just cloudy in the broad daylight. I turned to the two story cottage house, giving that homey feeling just from the outside view, ash color with white highlights, a garden just right at the front.

Looks pretty good, I never stayed in a personal house before I was sure there were no rules from the landlord and stuff, back in Washington the apartment we stayed at was filled with rules from our owner, like ’you’re not allowed with loud music, you might wake up the cat?’. I cringed by the mere thought of it.

My eyes scanned the environment, there were other houses but they were covered by trees. The sound of birds chirping everywhere, and the wind was calm and cool.

"It’s so quiet," I said, closing my eyes, feeling the breeze against my skin, no car horns or a yelling man across the street. It was just... good.

"Yeah but the festive period isn’t," Vanessa said, dragging my bags to the door.

"You really don’t have to carry all that"

"Don’t worry, I got it" she dragged them into the house.

It took a minute before I stepped in, it was nice and clean, not what I expected, it was spacious and had all the furniture you would need, hands in my pocket as my eyes skimmed through the living room. So this was my mom’s house before she moved to the city, taking in everything and sighing deeply. I also noticed some dream-catcher thingy hanging just at the windows, even the living room had too, seems like some sort of decor.

"Emma" I whirled, Vanessa was on the stairs smiling.

"You may now see your room," she said dramatically in a British accent, I was forced to chuckle at her antics.

We got upstairs and the house only seemed bigger? Well, it’s a family house so I should expect such. I watched as Vanessa inserted the keys.

"You’re gonna love it, It was your mom’s room," she said to me and I only just forced a smile.

The doors opened and I was led inside, it was a bit spacious just about the size of my room back in the city. A lovely bed that called me to just jump at and have a good nice sleep because I was extremely exhausted. Just right at the wall where the head of the bed was were fairy lights around making a glowing effect which I loved, the bed was just beside the window the room had just one but a very wide one, a couch and a wardrobe and a center rug, dark pink and I spotted a door by my guess led to the bathroom. The wall was dark pink with small designs.

"So do you like it?"

"Y-Yes, it’s cool", My eyes shifted back to the window and then I noticed those dream-catcher things again, hanging at the window and dangling due to the breeze.

"Um Vanessa, why are there dream-catcher things on every window?"

"Oh that is not a dream-catcher even though it looks like one," she said amused, I turned to her confused.

"Well then what is it?"

"Rule number one"

I pinched the bridge of my nose "What? There are rules now?" I half expected there won’t be any, but it seems like I was wrong.

"It’s just a simple one" she shrugged, I sighed. "Never take off what’s on the window,"

Okay, I am now curious and one thing about me, I get a strange bold behavior whenever I’m curious. "Why?" I asked folding my arms.

"Well let’s just say it keeps things unwanted out" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

I adjusted my round glasses. "What do you mean like a ghost?" I huffed.

"No, something way scarier," she said in a strong tone, my smile faded. She laughed, it was awkward, I remained still not joining in at all.

"Got you!"

"T-That’s not funny," I said, trying to assume it was a joke.

"Ha, I’m just kidding....really ghosts? Yeah right" she huffed with a wave of her hand. "But seriously don’t take it off, I’m very native you see"

"Yeah mom mentioned it, she said you are very..." What word would I use? "Voodoo..." I shrugged.

She smiled. "Well I’m not voodoo. Dinner will be ready in an hour, get cleaned up," she walked out.

I let out a sigh when she left, my eyes moving to the dangling dream-catcher against the window before it traveled to my dresser I didn’t know was there.

I eyed my looks in the mirror, your typical 16-year-old, my baggy cardigan, and my skinny jeans that showed just how skinny I was, but I had a slightly round hip one I wish would develop more. My freakishly heavy curly strawberry blond hair I forced in a bun on the top, kinda like my signature packing style, just spot me in the crowd with my top bun, my round glasses, and god the freckles that spread across just beneath my eyes and cheeks, one I wished I never had. I tore my eyes away from my looks not liking it one bit, I proceeded to unpack my things and get settled in, I should focus on that.