The Promise of Forever

Chapter-1: The Meet

I wake up with a sudden jolt. My T-shirt soaked in sweat, my heart beating out of my chest, my breathing ragged. I had a nightmare. Again. It's the third time this week and it's only Thursday. I reach for my glasses and iPhone kept on my bedside table. I check the time its 4:30. I have two hours before I have to wake Oly.

Oliver Sherbert, my brother and bestfriend. He had come home for the summer break and is going back to college today as school starts tomorrow. I have plans with my friends to go to the mall for shopping after dropping Oly off at the airport at 8.

 I decide to get up and go for a run. Exercise always gets my mind off of my nightmares, gives me an hour of peace.

After brushing my teeth, I change out of my soaked t-shirt and put on a sports bra and running shorts. I head downstairs to put on my running shoes. 

Straight across my room is my father's. As I leave my room, I quickly throw a glance at my father's room. The bed is made with no creases, he did not come home last night.

My father is an international heartthrob. He's the best singer this country has got. Obsessed with his fame, he never loses any opportunity to attend any party or make public appearances. Unlike him I do not like much attention directed towards me.

He started practicing music again to cope with the death of his mother, my Granna, The only person who could make me smile when I was sad, who could get me out of my misery by just flashing her beautiful smile. She was my light, in this mess that I call my life and I killed her.

Not allowing sadness take control again I quickly head downstairs towards the kitchen and grab an apple from the counter and fill a bottle of cold water. We own nearly 10 acres of land around my house.

I start running along our property's boundary and don't stop till the burning sensation in my lungs overwhelms me. My feet give up and I walk over to our gym not 20ft away from our condo.

My dad has always been a fitness freak and from an early age on I was well versed with the use of all gym equipment. I do some crunches during which my eyes fall on the digital watch put up on the wall.

The time reads 6am.I get up and make my way towards the house.

As I reach my room, I hear faint voices coming from the room across. The servants don't arrive before 7, curious as to who might be in dad's room I slowly move across the hall. As I open the door to the master bedroom, I stand shocked.

Climbing through the window is a figure, I can't quite make of whom, looks to me of a woman. She jumps right into the room, her boots making a loud thud. I am ready for any quick actions to be taken, remembering all the karate my brother taught me. I move towards the light switch.

"Hey Stace, long time no see." says the figure as I am engulfed in tight hug.

I instantly push her away trying to figure out who she is. Then she pulls over her scarf and ties her hair in a messy bun, and a wide smile gets plastered on my face as soon as I see her, Violet Evans, my best friend.

I reach over and slap her across her face.

"Ouch, what the hell was that for!", she yells completely taken aback by my actions. I am not very violent but you can never predict me around her. " You were gone for the whole of summer vacations and you're asking me what a slap was for! You did not even bother texting me", I shout. 

She throws up her hands in defeat. "Look am sorry Stace, dad called, he said mom might not make it till the graduation so I rushed to see her", she replies a tear escaping her golden eyes. I was so absorbed in my own head that it slipped my mind that Violet's mom, Alice, was diagnosed with stage four cancer not very long ago.