Here I go. Stepping out of my comfort home to start my training for teaching young children. I got accepted into Brooklyn college to start my teaching degree hoping to return back to Storybrooke to work alongside my nan; Snow White.
Yes you have read it correctly. My nan is Snow White. You see, I live in a small seaside town in Maine called Storybrooke where every fairytale character you have read and watched lives peacefully together with very few evil villain attacks.
Well starting my degree, I tried to reduce the amount of lies I told about my really strange family. Some weren't full lies, just little white lies that were half true. All I want is a chance to be a normal young adult without everyone knowing who you are and who your family are. This is my chance to make friends a Hope Jones, daughter of Emma Swan-Jones and Killian Jones. Not Princess Hope the future queen of the United lands as Queen Regina announce I would be her heir.
Living away from home gives me independence and a chance to make friends who live in the same dorm house as me. Like my dorm mate, Charlotte (Lottie) Williams. She reminds me a lot like Ruby back home; loud, confident and easy going. I think knowing she is like Ruby made it easier to become friends as I already know her personality.
Despite doing separate degrees, we still remained friends and talked about our days over a glass of GT. Starting my journey into teaching, I met some incredible people. One individual stood out for me. His name is Brooklyn Carter. He is the oldest person on the course - minus the lectures - turning 19 recently into the year. I, on the other hand, is the youngest person on the course. Despite this, Brooklyn and I became great friends; catching coffee together or even studying together in the library.
Of course, I told him about my family. How my mum and dad are the towns sherrifs, my grandpa a gardener, my nana a teacher, big brother Henry an author and Aunt Regina the mayor. All this are only minor lies about their true professions were. I lie as I'm scared I'll scare people off too soon.
And 'soon' came too soon...
It was early spring and I was sat in the college park reading a book for the following semester when my phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, I knew it wouldn't be great news...
"Aunt Regina," my voice full of worry, "what's happened?" I asked.
"Hope," Aunt Regina said with a panic startle, "your mother had asked me to phone you - as she's not in the right mental state right now - to say you need to come home." she continued in a solem manner of despair.
"W... Why?" I quietly asked.
"More will be explained when you're here." Aunt Regina replied, "Don't worry about your semester, I have already sorted it out. All you need to do is pack essentials and drive home." she added.
"Okay," I mentioned before the line ended.
With this knowledge, I gracefully stood up and made my way to my dorm. Usually at this time, I would be heading to class. But no, I had to travel 7 hours back home. When I go back to the dorm, Lottie wasn't around so I didn't have to answer anh possibly questions. I couldn't even tell Brookyln, my boyfriend, about my rapid departure. I couldn't tell anyone. I quickly grabbed what I needed before heading to the parking lot to get my mum's car that she gave me; her beloved yellow bettle.
Aftsr 7 long hours of driving, I arrived back at my childhood home to be greeted by Aunt Regina. I was told to quickly dump my stuff inside before travelling with her to the hospital. The hospital. Now I knew something wasn't right. One: Storybook was eerily quiet and two: why did I have to go to the hospital? Where are my parents. With the streets eerily quiet, Aunt Regina and I made it to the hospital in record time before being led through corridors after corridors where I rushed into the arms of my parents.
"Can someone please tell me what is happening?" I impatiently asked.
"Baby girl," my dad - Hook - started, "nana is in a critical condition." my dad continued before I exclaimed, "WHAT?!""Right after you went back to college after Christmas, her health started to deteriorate." mum said through her sobs.
"NO!" I screamed before crying out.
Back at college, my absence was slowly noticed by Brooklyn and Lottie who both asked the same question to each other. Without discussing, Brooklyn attempted to phone me but I wouldn't answer. I did text him to saying that I'm fine and was back home followed by sad eyes/crying emoji. When he saw this, Brooklyn instantly made his was to his car and drove the 7 hour journey to my home town by following my location.
Back at the hospital, we all drifted in and out of sleep; hoping that nana (Snow White) would pull through. I was shaken awake by dad...
"W... What happened?" I panically asked.
"It's all the same," dad started, "but there is a visitor for you in reception, quite startled too." he finished.
Knowing it could only be one person, I immediately legged it out of the family room without any further information needed."Brooklyn," I called, drawing his attention, "what are you doing here?" I asked.
"I've come to support you in this tricky time you are facing." he replied.
I didn't need to say anything else. I ran into his arms and cried. Brooklyn is the most amazing boyfriend anyone could ask for. Once I calmed down in his arms, I realised that I needed to explain. Fully explain.
"Brook," my special nickname for him, "I need to explain." I finished.
"Not right now," he replied, "all I want to do is be here for you and support you." Brooklyn added before giving me a kiss on the forehead.
As we walked back to my family, Brook had his arm over my shoulder in a protective way. Without showing it, I was nervous of how my dad would react to me having a boyfriend that he doesn't know about. I stopped a few inches away from the room; Brook sensing my sudden pause and told me that everything will be alright. As we walked in through the doors, everyone (mum, dad, grandpa, Henry, and Aunt Regina) looked up to see us enter. Dad was the first to ask the question; "who is with you, baby girl?"
I replied, "This is Brooklyn Carter and we study the same course together at college," before muttering, "he is also my boyfriend."
Everyone quickly rushed to ask my to repeat the last part saying they neverlike mumbling and that it isn't a princess quality. Great, not only does my boyfriend know that I live in a land of make belief, but he also now knows that I'm a princess. Just as I'm about to repeat the last part of my statement, a nurse and grandpa walked in with sad, mournful expressions. Brooklyn immediately took hold of my hand, sensing bad news was about to come.
"Dad," mum starts, "what's happened?" she asks.
"S... She's...gone." grandpa barely said before crying again.
Aunt Regina and Henry comforted grandpa whilst dad comforts mum and Brook comforted myself in the tightest hugs ever possible. Before too long, I couldn't take it anymore. I rushed out of the hospital and headed towards my own personal chill out space that only dad knows about. I could sense Brooklyn coming after me before dad out his hand upon his shoulder telling him to wait a few minutes before he would take him to where I would be.
"I'm sorry about your lost, Mr Jones." Brooklyn said as they walked towards the dockyard.
"Thank you,"dad replied, "this place must be strange for you." dad added with a slight giggled.
"It is," Brooklyn said before adding, "Hope never really talked much about her home. She did mentioned that you and her mum were sherrifs, her brother an author, her grandpa a gardner, her late nana a teacher and her aunt the mayor. I'm not sure what is true now." he finished with sad emotions in his voice." All of it is semi true as she never lies about anything." dad replies before pointing Brooklyn in the right direction to where I would be.
Brook didn't need to call out my name; he could hear the sobs and sniffs that I was making. As he approached, he didn't say anything besides sitting down next to me and pulling me into his arms. He just let me cry it out whilst comfortly rubbing my back which gradually brought me down out of my high emotional state.
All I could think was that Brooklyn was here in the time of need that I needed him the most.