Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Adventure

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Underneath the smiles and polite actions, she felt herself shrink in a sea of pain and denial. For all she really wanted was to feel loved, appreciated, and cared for.

-NOTVANTE

First Point Of View

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Waking up to the pleasant smell of dull withering anthuriums had become my custom for the last eighteen years. It was another piece of me, almost my small match made in heaven. Seemingly it remains as the one thing that kept me sane. Blinking, I sighed and laid in bed immobile wanting this moment to never end. For the worries clouding my head made me want to curl back up. The sun had barely set, and through the small crack of my open window, the birds softly chirped their harmonizing morning song. They welcomed me into what felt like a euphoric bliss. This feeling was always here to engulf me when I needed it the most.

I gripped the duvet closer to my body glancing to look at the worn out piano that was shoved against the small space between my bed frame and the wall. It was the other source of happiness that kept me sane. Maybe I should play it.. it takes me away from all these problems. I sighed and got up slowly—my body feeling weak as I got up a bit too fast than usual. I had my daily things to do today, but in all honesty, I did not want to do any of them. My mother spoke of how we had guests tonight. She said they were kind and poise; The complete opposite of what we were. We were not rich, but we were not poor either. We simply had the things we needed to keep going not to keep living. She rambled on about how they had all the luxuries she wished we had and how if we had all that we would be living a better life. I completely disagreed. When out of school all I would do is sit every afternoon and either wrote or drew getting all of the happiness benefits from doing so.

The piano by the corner of my room was a gift from my father. My father was the kindest man one could ever have met. He had the kindness of a thousand butterflies fluttering their wings in the sky or hyenas dancing to the rhythm of unity. He was like no other person. Sadly, as much as I love to talk about him and cherish him, he is now somewhere better. Not here with the rest of us lost souls. It was the only good thing I had to remember him.

I softly pressed down on the keys trying to get myself a bit of a propelling start for today, but even after I pressed the key down over and over I couldn't feel the happiness that I wanted. I closed my eyes.

"Dad... It would only be better if you were here by my side, telling me stories of how you and mom met, or how you and mom took random days off just to stay at the beach from dawn to sunset... I-... It would help me.."

I shook my head softly. Then I stood up and grabbed the things I needed to start off my day. First thing on that list was helping mother out with breakfast. She loved making breakfast for us and then packing some up for our neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Xiu. They were a kind couple that always took their time to deliver to us freshly plucked vegetables and flowers. We never asked them to, but they refused to hear us out. So we took them with great gratitude and returned the gesture with the little we had.

"Good morning, Eomma. What are we making today? Should I get a couple of things from the grocery store? I got some money off of the deliveries I have been doing."

Eomma glanced at me and threw me a defeated look.

"Honey, no. Don't waste your little money. I can take care of the food and anything else we need. Just-"

"Eomma. I will go buy some things from the store. Once I get back I'll help you with the food and anything else that needs to be done. For now, just sit and take a break."

Without anything else, I slipped on my worn out converse and left after saying my goodbye and took off with my bike. It was getting too hot lately to be walking around without a sort of transportation, so I only used my bike when I thought it was convenient. Mom usually needed it more.

My town was known for the number of adventurous kids that vigorously skipped their curfews. Usually, those who did such things always wanted to express how confined they felt in this world. There is a particular group rumored that I always hear about in town. No one has ever seen them in the light of day, but their creations stain this town; giving it the only hope we have around here. None of us have such willpower as they did. The new fathers disapproved of them though. To them, they were only rotting this already rotten world. I thought otherwise.

I slowed down and stopped in front of their latest creation. It was the mere picture of a flower. One that had blossomed early and was showing its beauty to the world. The leaves and the blossoms were still in the growing process, but you could tell that it would be a strong flower. I turned away from the mural softly and finished locking my bike before grabbing my reusable bag. Mom was probably waiting for me to quickly get home and help her out.

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