Moving Out

"That was just a dream!" I tried to excuse myself.

"Oh, but it was more than that, and you know it too!" she said.

"Mom!" I turned to my mom, wanting to leave.

"You are a ticking time bomb, on the verge of exploding! You need to accept that what you saw was not just a dream, but a reality more real than you can imagine!" she declared.

I stood up and declared, "Enough! I may be a gentle person, truly I am, but you are constantly calling me a misfortune, ticking time bomb, or whatnot.

Whether you believe  it or not, I have self-respect!" With that, I walked out of her house.

My mom looked at her with a sense of helplessness in her eyes. "This is why I cannot assist her because taming a 16-year-old is far more challenging than taming a wolf!" she stated.

"I want no part in it unless it is her choice." She turned her chair away. 

As my mother got up to leave the house, Green quietly said, "Don't push her; whatever has to happen has to happen by her own will."

Next, we were planning to stay at Granny's house.

The next morning, I stumbled upon a skateboard in the parking lot and asked, "Who does this belong to?"

"It belongs to your cousin," my mom replied.

"Walrus?" I questioned.

"Very funny, but it's Walter," she clarified.

"Yeah, whatever!" I winked. "Can I borrow it for today?" I inquired.

"Of course!" she smiled.

My cousin Walter had relocated to another country for work, and he and I were best friends. He always allowed me to use his belongings.

So I hopped on the skateboard and as I rode, as I looked around the town Shadowbrook is a small, charming town that feels like it stepped out of a fairytale. My new home on Elm Street is a cozy two-story house with a welcoming front porch and a white picket fence. It's not the biggest house, but it feels just right. 

The Town Square is the heart of Shadowbrook, with cobblestone paths, a central fountain, and many little shops and cafes. It’s where everyone seems to gather, and I can tell it's a place full of life and community. Surrounding the town is the Forest, a beautiful but slightly creepy place filled with ancient trees and mist.

There's also an Abandoned Chapel, covered in ivy and slowly falling apart. People whisper that it’s haunted, and I can't help but be intrigued, even though I still don’t believe in such stuff.

Shadowbrook looks peaceful on the surface, but I sense there are many secrets waiting to be discovered.

I was lost in its beauty when the skateboard almost caused me to stumble. It almost caused me to stumble. I looked around and made my way to the nearby park to see the issue. It was then that I noticed the wheels were rusted.

"Let's find you a mechanic, baby!" I whispered.

Yes, I know it may sound strange, but I talk to the things I use.

I took it to the shop to have the rust cleaned off, and that's when I noticed two girls approaching me.

One had beautiful, silky, straight yellow hair, while the other was taller than me with long blond hair.

The girl with yellow hair smiled at me and asked, "Are you new to this town?"

I smiled back and replied, "Yes, kind of!" I then added in a whisper, "Actually, I was here before I was born!" We both burst into laughter.

"Victoria!" she introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake.

We shook hands, and then the second girl also greeted me and introduced herself as Jeniece.

I introduced myself "Julia, but you can call me Jules!" I expressed my pleasure in meeting them.

"So, Jules, what brings you to Shadowbrook?" Victoria inquired.

"Bad luck!" I responded, and we shared another chuckle.

We chatted and shared laughter until my work was completed.

We exchanged contact numbers, as I always welcomed new people into my life.

As I headed my way, a sudden burning sensation in my wound and a pounding heart left me confused.

I couldn't understand what was happening, but I knew something was not right.

Upon returning home that evening, I discovered my mother sitting on the couch, tears streaming down her face.

Concerned, I hurried toward her and asked, "What's wrong, Mom?"

"It's your dad," she whispered.

It turned out that my father had suffered a sudden heart attack without any apparent cause.

All they told us was that my Dad passed away and Uncle Reed, who's my father's brother, was bringing his body by plane after going through some necessary process.

However, we later discovered that he had left me a voicemail.

"I apologize, my dear, for not being there for you. I drifted off to my office, and then he came, the man in black, charming yet mysterious; he gripped my heart tightly.

Ever since I woke up, all I could feel was the pounding of my heart.

Eve, my sweet daughter, I don't have much time, but know that I will never miss any of your special moments.

I will always be there, sitting in the front row whenever you play the guitar.

I will witness you cutting the first piece of cake, just as you used to do, and feed me.

I will be by your side during movie nights.

Always remember that I love you and your mother." And just like that, silence filled the air.

I turned to my mother and embraced her, and together we cried until we couldn't anymore.

We remained in Shadowbrook while the body was being transferred to us.

2 Days passed, and one morning, my mother woke up to find me reading a brochure.

"It's a school, Mom! The largest school in town, ShadowBrook High!" I excitedly showed it to her.

"I used to attend that school too!" she exclaimed.

"Are you certain that you want to stay?" Mom asked gently, placing her hand on my shoulder.

I held her hand and thought for a moment, "As much as I hate to admit it, I do believe you. Something feels off, and I was only trying to ignore it. However, after Dad's passing, I now realize the truth." We sat together, leaning our heads against each other, shedding a few tears.

The following morning, I entered the school's walkway, and as usual, all eyes turned toward me.

I was dressed in a blue jacket and pants with a pink crop top underneath. Everyone stared at me, but then I noticed two familiar faces, Victoria and Jeniece.

They hurriedly approached me, with Victoria greeting me, "Hey!"

"Hi!" I smiled as they led me to the classroom. It was a big room filled with numerous students.

As they left me at the classroom door, Victoria excused herself and went to the restroom.

She seemed anxious about something. I wondered what it could be.

Anyway, Jeniece guided me inside the classroom, and that's when my eyes landed on a guy with black hair falling onto his forehead. He had his gaze fixed on me.

"Oh, him? He's the most popular guy in this school!" Jeniece whispered to me.

"What makes him so special?" I pursed my lips and turned my head away.

Although I did so, he continued to gaze at me, just like every other guy in the class, except for one individual.