CHAPTER 7

Hey guys, thanks for the reviews, and thanks for the ideas for the story line! I couldn't help but make that TFIOS reference back there… glad someone noticed it!

I stared at the dusty image of a smiling woman, her raven coloured hair whipping behind her as she turns to smile at the camera. Her vibrant green eyes were so similar to my own, her grin illuminating her whole face. I glance at the next one, where the same lady is holding me as a baby, my small chubby arms flailing around. She's laughing and looking down at me with admiration and awe. The next picture is on her wedding day, dancing with my dad, her long elegant arms wrapped around his neck as they swayed to the music. She was so beautiful, and dad stared at her as if gravity didn't hold him to earth, but she did. As if he couldn't believe she was his. That she had chosen him. There were no more photos of her after six years ago, because that had been when my mother had drowned in a river where we had all gone camping for the weekend. Where all of our lives had abruptly come to a halt. The last time I ever saw her smile, heard her laugh. The last time I saw my dad happy.

A tear slid down my cheek, followed by another one. A wretched sob caught in my throat and for a second I couldn't breathe. I missed her so much, everyday. So much it was sometimes hard to keep on going.

At that moment Alyss bounded down the stairs, beaming. When she saw my tears I had hastily tried to wipe away her smile faded.

'What's wrong?' Alyss asked, her voice wavering. Then she saw the pictures on the mantelpiece. 'Mum?'

'Yeah. Mum.'

'Well, you know what she would say,' Alyss whispered.

'What?'

She smiled at me. 'Life goes on.'

'When did you get so grown-up?' I asked, ruffling her hair affectionately. 'Come on. School time.'

A black, sleek Rolls Royce pulled up next to the school as I walked along the sidewalk. The tires screeched as the vehicle came to an abrupt halt. I squinted at the dark, tinted windows and raised my eyebrows as Edison stepped out of the passenger seat and waved to me.

Another man appeared from the driver's side, and my attention immediately snapped towards him. The man was Indian looking, well built, handsome and had gold eyes strangely similar to Anik's. Edison and the man walked towards me while I stood frozen on the pathway.

'Hey Emma, this is Sohan, my dad,' Edison introduced. I reached out to shake the man's hand, noticing how warm his palm was. Sohan smiled and wrinkles appeared near his eyes, and when I looked closely a few grey streaks were visible on his hairline.

'Nice to meet you, Emma,' Sohan said cheerfully.

'Um, you too?' I replied, shooting Edison a quizzical glance.

'Ah, I've heard so much about you,' Sohan continued. 'I see what you mean son. She is rather beautiful.'

Edison shot his father a glare and ducked his head, embarrassed, scuffing his shoe on the concrete. I felt a blush rise on my cheeks but Sohan just chuckled and moved past me, walking back to the car and sliding in, waving as he drove off, a cloud of dust rising behind him.

I turned to Edison and grinned. He gave a sheepish smile and we both started walking towards the school gate.

'You have a cool dad,' I said, glancing sideways at Edison.

'Yeah. I know.'

'Do you have any siblings?'

'Nope. Only cousins I've never met.'

'Really? You've never met your cousins? Why?'

'I don't know,' Edison replied airily. 'Dad doesn't talk about them much. But my mum always talks of them fondly, as if they used to be really good friends.'

'Tell me about your mum.'

'Well,' Edison began. 'She is really tall, has long black hair and is incredibly independent. Her name's Anamika.'

Thanks for reading! Sorry for the short chapter, I was just desperate to update. But more importantly…

IT'S KISHAN'S BIRTHDAY TODAY!

7th November has come!

*Celebration*

Anyway, please please please review! I'll try my best to update soon