I first saw the Outer Banks out of an airplane window as we sailed closer and closer to the paradise it was considered by many. The cheery summer time atmosphere was something I could not emulate as I sat in my uncomfortable seat, the chair of the person in front of me annoyingly close to my face as the plane passed over the deep glimmering blue sea and then the brilliant white shores of Kildare island came into view below. The passengers around me all exclaimed, elation lighting up their faces and clear in their voices as they barely managed to hold back their excitement at the sight. They let out blissful sighs as they gazed out at the scenery of the place where they would be residing for the next few months. Me? I was the only person with a scowl plastered all over my face. Because unlike all these jolly vacationers, this wasn't going to be a temporary stay.
I craned my neck to see back the way we had come, and watched the bright blue water recede into the distance as the lush land spread out in long majestic waves underneath us. I felt a heaviness on my chest that only grew as the blueness faded, as if the sea was the last little bit of home I had left, as if we could turn around and go back at any moment and everything would be fixed. But of course, the plane didn't falter as it cut a path directly to the airport. I clenched my hands into fists. Why did everything have to be ripped from me? Why couldn't I just keep one thing, one thing that made me who I am? Who was I here? I had no place on this sprawling land of beaches.
I took a breath. The person in front of me lent back even further, people chattered like eager sparrows, and I caught that last gleam of blue before the sea vanished along with the sun.
"Captivating, isn't it?" I nodded wordlessly as I followed my mother into the little red-brick house. My back ached from carrying around my huge backpack, and I was relieved to finally drop it onto the floor.
"Be careful with that," Mom fussed as she leaned to retrieve the bag. "There're some expensive things in there." I sighed, and did a quick survey of my immediate surroundings. My first impression was unimpressive. The hallway was small and shabby, with pealing wallpaper and not what anyone would call a good designing scheme going on. I grimaced My mother straightened, and caught the look.
"No worries. We'll fix it up."
"Sure." I picked at my nails. My mom spotted the movement and reached to pull my hands apart.
"Stop that. You'll ruin your nails." I felt the urge to scowl at her, but I had already been enough of a child.
I stepped away from her and into a large empty room. My eyes locked onto the unusual addition to the scruffy room right away. It didn't match the bare floors and walls of the rest of the house, and I hadn't seen anything like it in any passed houses we had moved into, and I had seen many strange things. I reached over and flicked on the single bare light bulb in the room. It let out a pale white light that allowed me to see the object more clearly. I took in a sharp intake of breath and stepped further into the room.
"Mom?"
"Yeah?" I heard her step into the room behind me and then pause. We both stood in silence for a moment, and then I turned and met her stunned gaze.
"What is that doing here?" She just shook her head, her expression slightly dazed as she regarded a specific spot on the wall. I turned back to marvel at the strange anomaly. On the wall directly opposite the door about a metre off the floor, sat a large painting. It depicted a woman, staring serenely at something out of frame. Her chestnut coloured curls were tied back in a brick ponytail, and her shoulders were tensed as she gazed at whatever it was she was looking at. In her hands, she held what looked to be a small golden locket in the shape of a diamond, and behind her, stood a large mansion lined with dark tinted trees.
I felt almost mesmerised by the mysterious qualities of the painting, like it was hiding secrets. I turned to face my not again.
"Mom, did you know this would be here." She tore her eyes away from the mural long enough to give me a startled frown.
"What? No. How could I have known this would be here?" She darted her eyes back to the painting and studied it. "Why did they include a random painting? Did they raise the price of the house over all to accommodate that? Don't tell me I payed extra for some random art piece," she muttered to herself as she stepped closer to examine the painting. I stared at her back for a second, the light falling on her dusty blond hair. Then I turned and slipped out into the hallway once more. I hurried to one of the suitcases left piled up by the front door and started the laborious process of lugging the thing up the stairs. I gave the living room door a cursory glance before turning away and hurrying up the creaky stairs. I wouldn't look back. There was something my mother wasn't telling me, and for once, I had no idea why. Though I sure as anything knew I wanted to find out.