All i remember..

"Okay Laura, you are gonna be Isabella Luther's new best friend. And you are gonna stay with them in their mansion"

"What"

And that became the beginning of the end.

*****************

I couldn't bid all of my friends and neighbors goodbye, I would not be able to read to Ma'am Laura again, I had to beg mum to let me tell her about my departure, but she didn't allow me, she said that would break ma'am Laura's heart and make her all emotional. That she should do the talking, she left me at home, telling me to park all of my belongings while she goes to ma'am Laura's place and explain the situation to her.

I was happy and sad at the same time, I was happy because I would get to see Leo, my crush, and sad that I would lose my friends and most especially Ma'am Laura. If I am not working, and not in the library, I spend most of my time with her, and I never for once got bored staying with her, I swear she's fun-filled. 

I parked my books, my certificates, my awards, well I said awards because I have two awards. One for the best graduating student for that year and the other was the one the student governor gave me at a singing competition. I sing a lot too.

"Laura! You're done parking?. "

I heard mum yelling from downstairs. Seriously, our house is like a cottage, it's so small, jokes apart. It's wretched. * I chuckled at my thought*

"Almost mum. " I dragged my only shoe out. I said out because it's under my bed, I dragged my small box out of my mini-room, down the stairs to the living room. Where I find mum pacing and checking the clock on the wall at the same time.. what's going on? 

"Mum, "I called her when I saw how unstable she was.

"Oh, Emily come give me a hug, give mama a hug.." My mum does not call me Emily unless it's a serious issue. She spread her hands out for me to come into her embrace. 

"Oh Emily, I will miss you. "

Why was mummy in tears? What happened?

"Mummy, please what's going on, remember you will always say 'a problem shared is half solved' so why are you keeping this problem to yourself? " I was on the verge of tears, my eyeballs were filled up to the brim with tears. Any little blink they are gonna pour out.

"Laura, nothing happened, I just get to wonder how blessed I am to have you here with me all the time. I mean when I am depressed, you are always there, to comfort me, when I need money and try getting some but results in failure, you go about singing and people give you money. How will I stay away from you." 

"Mum, aren't you going to stay there too? I don't know what they will do to me at night please mummy." I am finding it hard to comprehend what she's saying. Please. Can't she just come down to my level or has she lost her trust in me?. 

"Laura, you don't need to be scared, Leo is gonna be there, I know you have a huge crush on him. *she was grinning from ear to ears, making me blush in the process * Let's get going already. We are late please.. "

That very day. I left Aldovia, together with my mum, I did not know when I started crying. Yes, I was crying, but to be sincere with myself. I don't know what to feel. I don't know if I should be happy or sad. My heart is tightening at the same time I felt a butterfly in my stomach. What's wrong with me? Why am I like this, what's all this feeling? Why do I feel this way? It's unexplainable, and it's painful. 

We got to enter the public transport at the outskirts of Aldovia, with my bag and my only teddy bear. My mum gave it to me when I was 10 years old. It was actually for Isabella. Mum said Isabella disposed it off, mind you the Teddy bear is so cute... 

"Laura, we are here. Let's get going" mum snapped me out of my thoughts. 

"Okay, mum." I got down, dragged my bus with me. And followed mum into the estate. She smiled at the gatekeepers and told them I am her daughter. 

We walk through the gate. And stood at the alley, waiting for the shuttle car that's going to take us to Luther's villa, just as it was tagged.

"Mum, why is it called a villa? It's a mansion." I said, staring at the building before me. Did I just say building?. Well, it's a castle.

"Laura, you ask a lot of questions. Please don't choke Isabella with your question. She's going to report you to her dad and he's gonna fire us. Okay"

"Okay mum" I nod my head aggressively. It's insane though. 

We got to the gate, as mum pressed a small bell, probably waiting for whoever is inside this castle to open up for us. Mum dusted my body, tried straightening my curly hair with her hands, rubbed my cheek, probably to clear away specks of dust. But it wasn't helping, I felt I wasn't dressed well enough, I felt like a rag, especially when she used her handkerchief to clean my legs. I felt like screaming at her, are the Luthers worth it? Her handkerchief which she uses in cleaning her face, why would my leg be ... I wanna scream, I can scold my mum, but won't I be to make noise in this estate. I am frustrated and tired already. 

After a while, the gate opened up and someone putting on the same thing mummy was putting on, came to hug me. She rubbed my hair as if she was rubbing a dog's fur. After their greetings and little gist mum held my hands as she dragged me into the gate.

"Wow.. this is more beautiful than I remember. Did they repaint it? "

Mum friends chuckled at me, probably seeing the way I was turning around. Staring at everything. This is beautiful... 

"Laura let's get going already please." Mum pleaded, dragging my box along with her. 

We got into the house, I wouldn't lie to you, this is heaven on earth. I kept turning and turning. It was a sight to behold. Truth be told, I don't know how to comprehend all of this...

"Leo stop! " I heard the voice of a girl behind me. 

Heaven knew I froze at the sight when I turned. I was faced with my long-time crush, he had that heavenly smile, I felt butterflies in my tummy. I couldn't breathe well. I don't even know what to say, my mouth hanging open.

"Who's she ma'am Randi?" I heard a tiny voice called my mum...

"Oh bell, she's your playmate." My mother beamed nervously… 

"And why is she like this, I mean why's her dress this rough, she has hair that  looks unkempt." I froze and touched my hair.. Why would she say that to me? I don't like her, I just hope Leo isn't like that. That would break my heart... 

"Bella, why don't you take her to the room adjacent to yours for her to arrange her stuff, probably you could help her with her hair, what do you think?" The woman that opened the gate for us spoke up.

"Okay Nanny. But I ain't touching her hair. My fingers are gonna get itchy" I turned to look at my mum, she shrugged at the same time giving me a fake smile... 

"What's your name?" I heard an entirely different voice, gosh it was Leo. Leo asked me what my name is. He wants to know my name. Oh gosh, I am so happy. What should I tell him? Emily or Laura. Which would be better? Mum calls me Emily when she's serious or probably when it's an important or official issue. He's staring at me and is about to freak me out, someone please come to my aid. Please!

"Doesn't she talks.? How can a dumb person be the playmate of my sister, is that even possible?. " my eyes widened in shock! 

"I am not dumb.. mummy I don't want to stay here, I don't want to be her play whatever, they are too rude. " tears were laced in my eyes already.

"Laura they are not rude, okay, Bella takes her to her new room okay " mum cooed. 

"A maid should do that, not me… " Isabella muttered, but we all heard it.

"Come with me." I look up to see Leo already at the staircase moving up. My cheek flushed a bit, I stared at mum, I swear she doesn't want to let me stay here too, but something is holding her back. 

"Go on Laura, Leo will show you to your room. Okay."

------------------

"Emily, you are at it again. I thought we talked about this already. You are heavily pregnant, and you would go on thinking as if it's the food you should have eaten. Now check your time, it's past 1 in the afternoon and a lady heavily pregnant with two babies has not had anything to eat throughout the whole day, when it was clear to both of us that you ate last, yesterday evening. *she paused to stare at my already wet face* Em, I know this is hard for you, it's gonna be hard for anyone in your situation. But you gotta be careful if you wanna hurt yourself. Think of the babies in you first. They are innocent, please don't starve them. Eat for them, not for yourself. Please Em.``

"Thank you Mary-Rose, I would eat when I feel okay. But for now, I am good. I mean me and my babies, we are okay. We are perfectly fine" 

"Emily, I know all is not well, but please eat something.."

"Okay, let me take my bath. Just get me Milkshake and that's all."

"Just Milkshake?.  would that be enough?.  "

"Mary-Rose, for now, that will be enough"

She moves out of the room, as I walk into the bathroom. Stripped and stood under the cold shower, I remember that night. The night of my wedding.

"I promise to love you, cherish you, stand by you in good health and sickness, in riches and lack, I promise to listen to you, to take care of you. Till death do us part." My eyes were laced with tears as I watched Leo read out the vows. He cleaned it all and held my cheek.

"Miss Macbeth, your vows" the priest snapped me out of my trance. 

"I promise to love you, cherish you, stand by you in good health and sickness, in riches and lack, I promise to listen to you, to take care of you. Till death do us part." He smiled, his face was close to mine as he was waiting for the Priest to pronounce the word.

"By the power vested in me, I pronounce you Husband and Wife, you may kiss the…"

Leo did not wait for the Priest to finish what he's saying before he took my lips slowly and softly. He kissed me in a very slow and passionate way. 

"Em.." I heard a knock on the bathroom door. "Em are you in there? C'mon your Milkshake is ready." 

I did not know how long I stayed in the shower but all I knew was immediately I got out, I collapsed.. that was all I remembered