I put my head in my hands and tried to stop myself from crying too hard. If only I hadn't come to Paris, then I would've been visiting my parents at the moment and could've stopped it from happening. My whole family expected to be dead, even little Evie. If it was true then I really was alone in this world, without family, heavily in debt. Even Rafa was not my friend any more seeing as he knew that I'd robbed him. I stopped crying for the taxi driver was looking at me weirdly. I had to be strong in this moment. After all, perhaps none of them were dead. Soon enough we arrived at the airport. The taxi driver demanded twenty euros and while I knew that I was being ripped off, I also didn't want to push my luck in this foreign country. Luckily there were few people at the airport as it was a normal working day and it didn't take long to get to the ticket desk.

"When is the soonest flight to Manchester Airport?" I asked.

"There's one leaving in forty minutes, a ticket will cost you 90 euros." I pushed the required money into the lady's hand and ran off in the direction of the gates. In about two and a half hours I'd be in Manchester.

Rafa went back to his room, his mood now swinging to worry as he wondered how he'd cope with the final after the betrayal. If he lost the final it would have to be the worst moment in his life, losing his stranglehold on the French Open and losing a friend who he had come to adore. But he was determined to win, after all he still had his family behind him. Kicking Sophie's bags, thus spilling all of her clothes all over the floor, he left the room in search of his team and breakfast.

Toni could tell that Rafa was unhappy despite the fact that he had not said anything. In fact had Toni not known Rafa for so long and so well he probably wouldn't have noticed anything. There was nothing unusual about what Rafa was doing, he was just sitting there opposite to Toni eating his croissant and jam. Yet he lacked his normal energy and his eyes were dull. Perhaps it was nervousness but Toni was sure that something had struck his nephew hard.

"Is there something wrong Rafa?" He dared to ask.

"Nothing that you would understand Toni," Rafa smiled weakly "It's a long story,"

"Well don't let it affect you in the final," Toni said "Let's hit the practice courts and we'll talk about this later when there is more time."

Rafa nodded and got up with Toni. He wouldn't let his uncle down.

I arrived on the street where I had once lived. I had never liked the street always wondering why we had moved there from our life in Oxford. Now it was even more unwelcome. Coming closer to my house tears found my eyes again because the three houses affected were completely unrecognisable. Hardly any of their original foundations remained and deep down I knew that nobody could have survived the disaster. I stood there for a long time and a man in a suit walked up to me.

"Are you Sophie Richardson?" He asked.

I nodded, unable to formulate words.

"Come with me, we have the matter or your parents' last will and testament to sort out."

As the second serve went long Rafa collapsed to his knees knowing that once again he would be feeling the coupe de mousquetaires in his hands once more. He could feel the red dust dirtying his clothing but he didn't care for he had fought through the fourth set and won it 7-5. Going to congratulate Djokovic he felt an extreme sense of fulfilment, he had defeated the man who had beaten him in three straight grand slam finals, he had defeated the worry of losing in the French Open for only the second time and most of all he had overcome the disappointment of earlier. He didn't need Sophie when he had such a caring and supportive family. Tears of joy streaking down his face he went to his player box and hugged the people he loved and cared about most in the entire world.

"Your parents have left you everything. Their money, their belongings and of course their house when it is rebuilt." The solicitor told me.

"How much money is there?" I asked "I really need to repay my debts."

"Not much I'm afraid. They only have about ten thousand pounds remaining at the moment." He told me grimly. That wouldn't pay off half of my debt!

"Do I have to keep the house?" I asked "I have no wish to go back there even when it is rebuilt."

"You can give it to our firm," The solicitor suggested "We will rebuild it and sell it."

"What do I get from that?" I asked suspiciously.

"We then buy you a house of a similar value." He said.

"Thank you," I said "Where can I stay until I have decided where to move?"

"A hotel?" he suggested.

"I have no money," I replied sadly.

"Well I'm sorry but that is not my responsibility. If you get to the banks soon enough then you can withdraw some of the ten thousand pounds given to you but you'll need to hurry." The solicitor beckoned to the door and I went out hoping to find a cash point. While walking I looked on my phone to see the French Open final situation. Much to my surprise it was already over in fifty minutes of play. I was ecstatic to see that Rafa had won although I had anticipated Djokovic winning the fourth set. I decided to congratulate him by text and try to explain what I'd done.

Congrats on victory. Very happy for you. Please call me when you're free and I will explain everything.

Lots of love

Sophie

xxxxxxxxxxxx

A message flashed up on my screen after I pressed the send button telling me that I couldn't send the receiver a message. He had blocked my number!

Rafa sat in the locker room, finally alone. It was time to find out the truth as he unblocked Sophie's number and dialled her number.

Rafa: Hello?

Sophie: Rafa! Oh my God I thought that you were annoyed with me and I thought that you'd blocked my number and I didn't think that we were friends any more but we are still friends aren't we?

Rafa: I am annoyed with you, how could you have left me like that? How could you have stolen my money when I trusted you like my family.

Sophie: I needed to get home urgently Rafa.

Rafa: But I said I'd pay for the tickets when the final was over, I said that I needed you in that box supporting me.

Sophie: I saw on the news that my house had been destroyed. It said that my family were dead.

Rafa: Oh my God what have I done? Are your family alright? Are you OK?

Sophie: My family are dead and I never got to say goodbye. I don't have a home, I am currently nearly £30,000 in debt, you have been angry at me all day, I have nowhere to sleep tonight at the moment. Funnily enough I'm not alright Rafa!

Sophie hung up leaving Rafa shocked and even a few tears were forming at his eyes after hearing what she had to say. After hearing her cry down the phone he felt crushed and helpless. Not knowing what to do he put his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. Suddenly his phone started ringing, Sophie wanted to speak again.

Rafa: Hello?

Sophie: I'm so sorry for getting angry Rafa, none of this is your fault. I just need some guidance, what advice can you give me?

Rafa: Get a hotel for tonight and then tomorrow I'm going to fly to England to speak to you personally. Until then just try and sleep. Try not to think about your family, I know that's hard. Grit your teeth and bite the bullet until tomorrow.

Sophie: I can't believe that you would do that for me. You always make me feel so special and less alone than I am at this moment. Thank you for the advice and although I hate to be pedantic, you can't grit your teeth and bite the bullet because you'd need to open your mouth to bite the bullet.

Rafa: Yes thank your for that valuable pedantry. Goodnight Sophie Small, I'll see you tomorrow.

Sophie: You too

Somehow at the end of the call Sophie was full on smiling.