Uncle Elliot kept pacing to and fro... I wondered what he was thinking about... Taylor, on the other hand made sure that the spoon touched the bowl and back to my mouth... The food was making my stomach hurting and I wanted to find relief... soon... But how could I go through with it without anybody noticing?...

After almost half an hour. I finished the bowl and drank Taylor's drink... It was very warm and very sweet... Different how my father usually did it... It was way sweeter and it brought thirst. They didn't take eyes of me before both man made sure that I ate something and drowned the liquid...

'How are you feeling?' Uncle Elliot asked as he rested his back to one of the live wood pieces.

'Good... Better...' I replied as I held my stomach... The pain was increasing by the minute but I had to cover this up until I got out of there...

'Sera, this is what I was talking about at first!' He started, while Taylor still stood there... 'You're not healthy... This is not healthy!'

'Uncle... Please! I get enough of this... I'm fine uncle! I promise... There's nothing wrong with me!'

'Yeah... I can see that!' He answered sarcastically.

'Can I go to my mother please?' I asked gently.

Both looked to each other whether they should let me go or not. 'I'm not going to fall if that's what you're waiting for.' I continued as I stood up standing my ground...

'Ok... You may go...' Uncle Elliot replied while he rubbed his face, and waited for me to go out.

As both man were in the clearance, he turned to Taylor... He had to know some things before running through with it.

'How long?' He started.

'11 months for sure…' Taylor answered back.

'What's Christian doing about this?'

'I shouldn't speak of Mr. Grey's family matters.' Taylor continued.

'Taylor, you obviously know the girl better than anyone... I think it's time somebody took action.' He continued. 'Has she started therapy?'

'No... She believes she can do it on her own.'

'Hard-headed as her own father...' He said in spite... 'I'll talk to him...thanks Taylor... And please do me a favour, keep an eye on her...' he added as both man made their way out.

Dad noticed both man coming out of the dining room, and returned to my mother.

'What did Kate want honey?'

'Nothing special...' she replied. '... Elliot and Taylor had something to discuss...'

'Ok...' he replied. 'Not even taking notice that I was there.

'Mum, may I be excused please?' I asked.

'Yes sure dear... Is everything ok?'

'Yeah... I'm fine...' I replied as I put up a smile. I learnt how to do that… how to deceive my true feelings… it became the normality…

And it all started again... I made sure everything is locked, and nobody could hear me... I turned on the water and with one swift move I reached for the toilet...I trusted my fingers deep into my throat, and started chocking... I knew that sooner than later I was about to vomit and I was right... Thick liquid started coming out... I continued trusting in my fingers wanting to get rid of everything...

After feeling my insides tearing up and water started coming out, I stopped... I moved forward flushing the toilet and went forward to wash my hands and rinse my mouth. I didn't feel any remorse anymore... I didn't feel any pain... I felt relieved.

I grabbed a towel and dried my mouth. A warm liquid in my throat was coming up. I looked at the towel, and there it was. Blood was coming out... I panicked a bit. What have I done? Could I have damaged my oesophagus? Or irritate my throat?... I shrugged it off, and washed my mouth thoroughly... I brushed my teeth and finally the blood stopped.

The towel was another problem... I tried washing it out... And after constant rubbing it became pale pink... That wouldn't get noticed much with the pink towel itself... I disposed of it immediately and after making sure that I was presentable, I made my way out.

'Daddy! Sewa is hewe... Pweassseee pweassseee! ' I heard Walter beg Flynn.

'She needs to rest sweetheart...' he replied as he held him tighter while Rhian took care of Derek.

'But daddy!' He whined…

'Your father said no!' Rhian scolded.

'It's fine Rhian..' I smiled at her as I moved to Walter.

'Sewwwwaaaa!' he screamed as he held his arms up for me to lift him up.

I saw Flynn taking in my appearance . I could feel his stare penetrating through but I blocked him... At least I thought so in my mind.

'Are you sure Sera?' he asked as I lifted Walter up.

'Yeah...' I smiled... '...for this adorable guy everything!'

'Heyyyy! And what about me?' Derek asked.

'You too young man!' I continued as I held my hand, out for him to take it...

It was a good thing I was wearing flats. I could move around easily… I was already finding it hard to get my strength and move around at times… especially when I went on pointe at ballet lesson… was it normal for fatigue to get that much?

Walter was tiring me out… was he getting heavier? Or was I struggling with everything. I moved towards the couch where my parents were sitting before I was excused. Now they were talking to Grandma Carla and Grandpa Ray… Derek sat beside me, while I sat Walter on my lap, and rested his head on my chest. Little did I know that the 4 year old, also moved towards me, wanting the same affection that Walter was receiving.

I sat her on my other knee, and held them together.

'Sera, what are we going to do?' Ava asked me.

'Mhmm… That's a trick question!' I replied. 'What would you say if I tell you a story?'

'Yesss! I love stowies!' Walter replied. 'Dewek too, he begs daddy evewy night to tell us a stowy… but he doesn't admit it.' He replied.

'I told you not mention it to anybody Walter!' His brother replied hurt.

'Derek, I love guys who love to hear stories… In fact, it's something good.'

'Ohh, ok then.' He smiled. 'Thanks Walter.' He replied as he moved to his brother and kissed him. Brotherly love… they all seemed so tough until moments like these.

'What story are you going to tell us?' Ava asked.

'A life lesson one.' I replied.

'…but we're not in school.' Derek grumbled.

'Life isn't only about school Derek. You need to learn certain things the hard way at times. When you'll grow up you'll understand, and you will pass your life experiences to your brother.'

'True… My dad grounded Clarissa, because he said she did something very bad last week, and he said that no matter if she's 30… for as long as she's living under his roof, she has to obey his rules.'

'Yes Ava… our parents want to keep us safe…' I continued. '… so do you want to hear the story?' I asked again while they all nodded. 'Ok… let's start then.'

'Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.

Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.' I started as my Grandpa Carrick and Grandma Grace came beside us.

'Please, continue!' They insisted, as they sat in front of us, wanting to hear me out. I blushed lightly, but complied.

'Turning to her, he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?" "Potatoes, eggs and coffee," she hastily replied.

"Look closer", he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

"Which one are you?" he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?"'

'What does adversity mean?' Ava asked.

'It means trouble sweetie.' I smiled. 'What do you think that the father meant?'

'That when life throws you lemons, you should make a lemonade.' Derek answered back as he rested on my shoulder.

I laughed at his answer. It quickly reminded me of Taylor Swift. 'You know Taylor Swift?'

'A friend in my class loves Taylor Swift, and then I went home and asked mum and dad about her. I like her music, but daddy said that she has a boyfriend, breaks-up and then a new song… he explained her that when life threw her lemons, she made lemonade, which is why many girls like her.'

'I love her too… she's my idol!' I told him back.

'What is an idowl?' Walter asked.

'It's when someone admires someone else… like you admiring Barney!' I explained to him softly.

'… but really… what did you get out of the story?'

Derek talked again… he slowly was turning into his father… a great man… an intelligent and insightful one as well. 'Things happen… but it's how you choose to react to them… for example… last week, mum caught me stealing a piece of chocolate without her permission, and I took the large pointy knife to cut it. She gave me a punishment, and spent the whole week without watching television, so instead, I started drawing with Walter, and we made a very nice picture, and daddy said he loved it and we placed in on the fridge.'

'That's lovely!' I replied as I coughed. '… and what have you learned from the punishment?'

'That I should always obey my parents… although I drew with Walter, I still didn't like missing Power Rangers… the red ranger went on a mission, and I don't know how it ended.' He replied, while I coughed again.

'Awe youw ok Sewa?' Walter asked as he held tighter on me, while I nodded. Grandma as a doctor, noticed that there was something else. She went forward and took her niece and Walter in her arms. 'But I want to stay on Sewa!'

'Sera needs to have a second dear.' She answered as she held him and Grandpa Carrick took care of Ava.

I took the advantage and stood up searching for a tissue. For the second time in few hours, I felt the thick liquid along with the taste of iron back into my mouth. In my luck, a waiter passed, and I took a tissue, letting the liquid fall into the tissue. Little I knew that Grandma Grace followed me.

'Dear, are you ok?' She asked.

She caught me off guard, and I quickly hid the tissue from her. 'Yeah… I'm all ok… I just had a tickle in my throat.' I thought of a suitable quick lie.

'You're such a bad liar!' She smiled. 'Just like your father! …are you sure you're ok Sera?'

'Yeah… I am grandma.' I replied as I looked over the kids. 'I better go back to them.'

'They can wait honey.' She said as she held me from my shoulders and made our way towards the garden. 'How are you? Truly?'

'I'm ok… I guess… I really haven't thought about it grandma…' I replied back as we sat down. 'You know… he hasn't quite talked to me as yet… and I want to know how I can make him forgive me… I know what I did was stupid… I know… I deserve all that he's throwing at me… but I love him…'

'I know you do honey!' She said as she hugged me tight to her. '… Christian was always stubborn… I remember till this very day how angry Carrick and I were when he lied to us about going out with his friends. Elliot was the one that had his back…'

'Were they close?'

'They still are… till this very day…' she answered back as she let go of the hug. '…but you dear… should take better care of yourself.'

'I am grandma…'

'Have you talked to Flynn…'

'Why is it so frikkin' important to everyone that I talk to Flynn?' I replied getting on my nerves.

'Firstly mind your language with me… I'm not your father; I tolerate… a lot… I know he has a loose mouth, but you should speak well… secondly… it's your first step towards recovery.'

'Recovery from what?' I asked desperately.

'From what happened at…'

'Grandma, nothing happened… I'm fine…'

'You're not dealing with this…'

'Grandma, please! I know you're trying to help, but I really don't want to talk about it… I want to deal with it my own way for now… when I'm ready… I promise… I'll go to Flynn myself!' I replied as I stood up. I wanted to end the conversation quick, but she simply pulled me down next to her.

'I'm not finished Sera.' She said again. 'I liked the story… is that what you're trying to do?'

'I think so… I don't know… I'm just confused… but I'll be fine grandma… Christmas is soon here… Remember how happy we were before?' I started.

'Ohh I truly do… I remember Christian not leaving from your side… he wanted to make the best of Christmas's with his family.'

'What happened now?' I asked as I remembered our happy times… For once I felt all the walls I built crushing down… I had flashbacks of my parents laughing, happy… together… us three. It was then that I started crying.

'Shhh baby girl! Shhhh!' Grandma said as she held me close to her and rubbed my back.

We remained in quiet, only to hear sniffles every now and then from me. Crickets made crackling sound, which brought some harmony. After I finally calmed down, I decided that it was time to head back.

'I think we should go back inside.' I suggested.

'Are you ok dear?'

'Yes grandma… thanks.' I smiled, as I got up and started my way up, only to find Uncle Elliot coming to us.

'Hey son.' She greeted.

'We're going mum… I came to say goodbye.' He replied.

'I should leave you two alone.' I said, while Uncle Elliot stopped me.

'No need Sera…' He smiled at me and returned to his mother. 'Ava slept… we better take her home.'

'Don't forget New Year's Eve at our house Elliot.' She continued, as she stood up and hugged her son tight. I loved that affection between them. Although he was older than my father, he still had a very healthy relationship with his mother.

'We wouldn't miss it for the world mum!' He replied as he kissed grandma on her cheek. 'Are you coming Sera?'

'If my parents say so… I guess yes.' I smiled while he moved forward and hugged me.

'Take care of yourself… Ok?'

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