Chapter 1

"When I look at my phone it’s 2:23 p.m. Now 4 hours of flight and 2.5 hours drive. Then I’ll be home. where I belong. It’s been 5 years since I saw my family. But this year everything will be different. Will I recognize her? Or they me? I’m getting on the plane. Even my fear of flying I overcome to get to them. when I was so quickly and unexpectedly separated from them. I remember back then. When the letter came. We hadn’t heard from Mom and Dad. But I was a minor. And I couldn’t stay with my siblings. And then I left. and far away. I wasn’t allowed to visit anyone again. Everything was gone. But now I’m 18. My siblings still live in the house we grew up in. In the little sweet village where everyone knows everyone. Has anything changed? I remember the school two blocks away and the toy store on the corner. and to the great christmastree  which was always adorned by all at Christmas. when I look at the clock again it is already 18.15 clock. Shortly after, the announcement that we’re about to land. When I get off the plane, I go a little bit faster. I can’t wait to get in the taxi. 2.5 hours drive. It’s going to be expensive But it’s worth it to me. When I tell the taxi driver the address he looks at me amazed and asks me where I know the family. I’ll tell him that my siblings live there. And then he recognizes me. He says that he lives there and as I said in the village everyone knows everyone. and he tells me a lot about my parents and also about the village and what has developed. But after 1.5 hours my thoughts go away. Everything will be different. Christmas without Mom and Dad. Both were reported missing. We hadn’t heard anything. It wouldn’t be the way I know it. First in church. Daddy who must go home every time by chance because he has to go to the toilet even though the church has one. and then the cozy dinner in the dining room. Of course, the living room remains closed. and then the gift. When we arrive I give the driver the money and wish a nice fest. When I turn around, everyone is already at the door. My two big sisters and my brother, and behind them, Mom and Dad look out. I’m so happy. Actually I wanted to surprise them but the taxi driver had written to them. And now they surprised me. Now Christmas could still be perfect. and with all together" 

It’s the last hour of English before our old teacher comes back. Mrs. Schneider had gone to great lengths. and although I didn’t like her at first, she was now growing to my heart. was a totally great teacher. she motivated people to participate and she praised and was happy about the participation. she showed that she was interested. With her you had the opportunity to participate. 

Our job was to write a story about “Driving Home for Christmas.” when I present everything is quiet. Everybody’s listening. When I’m done, there’s a short applause. Of course only positive feedback. It’s like someone dares to say something bad. I’m rather unpopular in the vintage. It just shows no one. I attend the 13th grade of a school in Germany. 

“I really like your story. You’ve gone to so much trouble. you can see how much heart you put into the story.” This is just a review I need to listen to. I am glad that we are in times of Corona and therefore I do not have to put on a false smile because I am so happy about the feedback. Afterwards, my best friend will read. She’s an ace in English. it tells a typical story as I wanted to write it. a soldier who is lucky enough to come home to his family. But I decided not to. Of course, she also received only positive feedback. After the lesson Ms. Schneider came directly to her  "do you write often? I like the way you write.“ My best friend told her that she writes fanfiction. Mrs. Schneider was totally thrilled. I was so happy for her. I felt more like her shadow at the time. My story was already forgotten. but mine was real. At least I’ve always dreamed of it. After that, the class continued as usual. But my thoughts were always with the story. It was just before Christmas. many did not happen in class anymore anyway. I didn’t care. When I was on my way home, I was back in my mind. I couldn’t get the story out of my head. I didn’t notice anything about me. Someone was holding me by the shoulder. I was totally frightened and turned around (you guess it, don’t you? it’s the great guy? she gets to know him. he makes a mistake and she leaves him. she gets to know another but he fights for her. they get happy. House with 2 Perfect kids and great moments together. I don’t make it that easy for you.) 

It was my ex-boyfriend. There were good reasons why I broke up with him. And he proved it to me again. “Well, it’s sad that no one took your fucking attention number nh. let me guess you wanted affection again because you’re so bad. My God, you’re dealing with your life Your parents are not death. They just don’t know where they are. But you don’t realize how much everyone thinks you suck either, do you? You and your attempts to get into the center.“ he wrote a story about a lost love he met by accident at the airport and opened his eyes. Very original. Some people had turned around. I didn’t pay attention to her I looked at him “You say I need attention? Do you remember how you behaved after I broke up with you?” “It hurt me a lot”, he yelled at me.“It hurt you?” I looked at him questioningly. “Be honest. You really enjoyed being pitied by all the sluts. For them I am the bad one who hurt you so much. you only described your point of view. as I had written to you. That I didn’t have the courage to tell you personally. Did you also tell them that I was afraid of you? Afraid that you would hit me again ? or need to do things? I trusted you. you knew I was being harassed and you exploited it limitlessly.” Before he could say anything, I turned around and left. He wanted to follow me but I ran through the red light of the main road and now the cars were driving. I ran. To the place I was so familiar with. Away from everything. It’s a small creek. But today was something different. I felt weird. I decided not to stay. So I ran home. I saw my ex-boyfriend outside my door. I hid and a short time later he disappeared. I went home. My mother was still working. No one there. I had my peace. There was a recipe on the kitchen table. I’d like to for my life. At the beginning of the year I had given my mom a folder with many recipes. they would occasionally pick something out and buy something for it. “Salmon with noodle in tomato spinach sauce.” I was happy. Cooking made me think differently. As always, I first brought my things to my room and changed. in comfortable things, everything is better. then I turned on the music loudly. Maybe a little too loud. After 1.5 hours the food was ready and my mother came home appropriately. 

“Hey dear, how was school?” she asked fittingly as always. “Great. Everything’s fine as usual.“Oh, you’ve cooked. I’m starving.“ I had already set the table. My mother went into his room and put on comfortable clothes. Whoever I got it from. Then she came and we said a prayer at the table. We lived very Christian. It was very important to my mother. I didn’t mind, I got involved in the church and helped in the church. As we sat together, my mother asked me a bit. What about the boys? She was like my best friend. I could tell her everything. Suddenly she took two letters out of her pocket. “They were in the Letter box. They’re both for you. When I got home, I saw Daniel at the door. Does he want anything else from you? Please tell me you’ve understood enough and don’t do anything with him.“ she knew about everything that had happened. When she was present, he always seemed so friendly. was the perfect guy. And that’s how he was when I fell in love with him. When I met Daniel, we were in the Third grade. I just moved in with my mother. Had to change schools. I settled in quickly. Primary school was great. The class was awesome. In the 4th class we were on a class trip. and I admit I was shot in Daniel. But my mom always said, “You’re way too young, darling. Enjoy your childhood and don’t think about boys yet.“ and so I did. Spent a lot of time with my friends. Been out a lot. Then came the change of school. the Fourth grade was over and I had 3 schools to choose from. I decided to go to the comprehensive school. That’s where I felt most comfortable. And as luck would have it, Daniel was there and we were in a class again. Daniel was the perfect guy. Like I always wanted. Blonde hair, slim and super nice. In sixth grade, he was into me. On Valentine’s Day, he gave me a bracelet. it was beautiful and as luck would have it we got together. Everything was perfect. But at some point his circle of friends changed. He continued to evolve. He knew I was weakened by my past. He was the only one I’d ever told. And he took advantage of it. Didn’t take my no. If I tried to prevail, he hurt me. Length didn’t tell my mother about it. We had a clean life. But one night she overheard me sitting in my room and feeling devastated. 

She helped me break up with him. She helped me get over him. Helped me that he didn’t matter in my life. She saw how bad I was. I told her everything. how he was behind her back to me. She gave me the letters. “Trust me Mama. Daniel is history. I finished with him. Today he yelled at me again and thought he could make me small. I stood up to him and then left. When I was home he was already at the door. I waited for him to leave.” She looked at me in amazement. “Honey, relax. He’s not a part of your life anymore. He’s an asshole. He reminds me of your father. Please don’t make the same mistake I did.“ I promised her I would definitely not do that. We finished eating and then I went to my room. We had a clear rule at home. When I cooked, she would clear the table and reversed. 

I looked at the letters. One was Daniel’s. What was he doing with me? I opened the letter.

“Hey, sweetie. na? You’re gonna miss me, I promise. You need me. I know you. I’m sorry how it went. I wasn’t myself. I’ve changed. Please come back to me. I love you” 

Yeah, sure. I don’t understand this young man. He thinks I’m stupid too. I took the letter to Mama. she saw, read, and tore it.Then she went to the fireplace and burned it. I filmed all this, and I filmed it, and I sent it to Daniel. I talked to her for a second, and then I went to my room. I opened the other letter. There was no name on it. “You come into my territory, then talk to me... trust me.” Funny. Who’s that? And how did he know where I lived? What was he doing with me? It was guaranteed Daniel. I didn’t understand the world anymore. I closed the letter and put it in my desk. It was already 9:00. I made my bed ready and picked up my book. I loved reading. favorite Young Adult books. it was a mix of everything I loved. I was currently reading the trilogy “Love.” It was so exciting, but in some ways it described my life. My past. It just grabbed me. 

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***