Three years later

WITH MY BAG HUNG on my shoulders and my phone secured between the fingers of my left hands, I stood. The bright morning was tinged with mild mistiness, the temperature refreshing. My ecstatics were all over the place; it's glows spreading across and chasing the darkness away.

Fresh air filled my lungs as I pulled out the buds from my ears, leaving me exhilarated. I was amazed at how peaceful the world was compared to the loud music that had been blasting into my ears.

With my eyes fixated on the house before me, I tucked my phone into the pocket of my jeans and the first thing that ran through my head was- our new home.

My story definitely didn't start here. It had long started when I was born, when my world began crumbling-with scars and blood I can never forget. But today, my story was going to be fresh and rewritten with the ink of vengeance, broken hearts and bruised soul but strongest of all-with the ink of a tough, brave and valiant heart.

Today was the day to mend all broken hearts.

"What are you doing Carla?" my mom's voice pulled me out of my never ending world of admiration. With a deep breath, I turned around to face her. Opening my mouth to speak, she beat me to it,

"Come help us with the boxes," she carried out some boxes from the truck that was parked in the neat yard.

I nodded, breaking into a smile, "okay." I walked towards the back of the truck and looked for a box I could carry. I decided on the box with the inscription, 'Kitchen utensils' Not bad.

I lifted up the surprisingly heavy box and dropped it on the front porch. My eyes caught Allison, scanning through the trunk as I walked towards her. A messy bun laid on top of her head, few strands of her blonde hair dancing to the cool air that swept past.

"Seriously, blankets and pillows?" I asked her, incredulously when I sighted her place her slender fingers on the box.

Her head immediately turned to look at me, nature green eyes fixated on mine, "What? You know I don't have strength like you big cousin," she grinned.

I broke into a chuckle and grabbed another box, "If you say so but, you'll have to carry more boxes than the rest of us."

Not giving her a chance to respond, I let out a low giggle and walked towards the front porch to drop the box. Once again- like a fever of enthusiasm, I fixed my eyes on our home, my emotions dancing in the air. This choice was made by my uncle, considering the fact that I would be going to college in the next week and it was the second house we were moving into in three years.

Breaking away from the trance I had been in, I considered getting back to work before any of the two adults noticed. As if on cue, my uncle's voice overcame the silence of nature.

"Hurry up with the packing girls."

By the time Allison came to drop the box she carried, I started walking towards the truck to get all stuffs out. My lips stretched into a smile when my eyes caught my very box of clothes. I need to find my room now.

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FROM WHERE I STOOD BY THE DOOR, I could see the sunlight that filtered into my new room from the window, illuminating the bed swallowed in green duvet covers and surrounding the floor in glittery radiance.

The room had a feeling of calmness and optimism.

Two feet away from my bed, was a reading desk that was set up with my reading lamp and three books- I'm not much of a reader. A hair's width away was a wooden, empty bookshelf that leaned against the cream colored wall and stood on the wood paneled floor.

I made my way towards the bed and flopped heavily on it. With eyes wandering around the room, I was amazed at how beautiful the room was- I even had a goddamn personal bathroom. My eyes stared out the window and into the amazing scenery of the city. In a week's time I wouldn't enjoy this.

Damn college.

Tilting my head towards the door, I glared at my luggages that sat by it, motionlessly. All I wanted to do was get my ass to sleep but I still had to set up my room as well as get ready for college. With an exaggerated sigh, I picked myself up from the bed and walked over to pick up my bag.

I emptied the contents of one of the bags on the bed, revealing my clothes that mostly consisted of tops and jeans- I wasn't the fashion type.

My eyes caught on to something in the bag. A diary. With trembling hands and a crashing mind, I picked it up. As I leafed through it's content, a wave of nostalgia overcame me. With tears threatening to cloud my vision, my mind ambled down the rusty, old memory lane.

I kept replaying each incidents as I took in the unique write ups of the diary. But the happy thoughts morphed into grief at the remembrance that nothing would ever be the same again. I stopped reading when I caught sight of a- paper laying sprawled on the floor. Diary still clutched in my left hand, I crouched to pick up the item. It wasn't just a paper, it was a pic taken when I was a toddler- all three of us.

She still had this with her.

My vision became blurry as I stared absent-mindedly at the pic. I hadn't looked at any family pictures since everything happened. I blinked repeatedly to stop the tears from making their way out. I'm strong so, I shouldn't be crying over spilt milk.

Not wanting to set up at the moment, I placed the diary and the pic back into my bag and walked out of my room. The warmth of the living room was inviting as I walked past. All I wanted to do was get some fresh air, not expecting to be stopped by my mom in the kitchen.

"Where are you going honey?" her motherly voice called to me. I turned around and made my way to the kitchen, plopping myself down on one of the stools by the counter.

"You know, jogging," I told her nonchalantly.

"We just moved in, can't you wait till later?" she asked softly.

I shook my head. "I really need it now," I stared at the counter absent-mindedly, "I need to clear my head."

Understanding what was going on with me, she placed her loving hands on my shoulder. "I understand honey but I really hope we can move on in this city."

Hope shone on me like the rays of sun, spreading its warmth on the green plants. It is said that hope is an act of true courage from the bravest part of our soul. To open my eyes and see there's a road to better things was a difficult task for me.

Moving into different places was not something I would always be happy with because it seemed to me that my nightmares chose to follow me everywhere I go. So, the rays of hope that suddenly shined on me scared me, I quickly moved away and shaded myself with hopelessness.

What happens when all this couldn't stop? What if we can't move on from our past either? Mom might start starving herself when she thinks about everything we've lost especially thinking about her. Anxiety was terrible and my lungs fought, but it was my fate.

"I hope so too," I responded, voice clouded with unsureness.

She broke into a smile, "Now tell me, what do you think of the house so far?"

"Honestly it's amazing," I took a look round the kitchen, turning around also to admire the living room. "And it feels more homey," I added when I turned to face her again.

"You're right about that," I heard my uncle's voice behind me. I tilted my head head behind me to look at him, breaking into a small smile.

"Of course, I'm always right," I bragged, jokingly, my smile as bright as day. He patted my head as if I was a little kid, making let out a grunt in response.

"Don't you think we know that?" he chuckled, "You're heading for college next week so, I want you to freshen up so we could discuss about it."

"Yes sure..." I paused, "after, I go for a walk?"

"Alright," he permitted and I immediately left the house but making sure to say 'thank you' because the two adults wouldn't want any form of excuse for not being polite.

As I walked down the porch steps, I looked up at the clear blue sky with sunlit clouds drifting across and the burden I bore on my shoulders were suddenly lifted off. It wasn't new to be feeling that; being buried by sorrow and all the oxygen stolen away from me. But the cool air seemed to have been able to calm my nerves and fill every holes in my damaged heart- temporarily.

I took in a deep breath and got on my toes, jogging ahead. I have no idea why I had decided to go for a jog in the first place because, I didn't know anyone neither did I know my place around the big city. - I should call myself stupid right now. I had no idea how the people in the city were like yet, I still had to jog so far.

I hadn't even realized that perspiration had clouded my forehead and soaked my top until I halted to catch my breath. Standing in the middle of what I called nowhere- though with few houses, I almost gave myself a punch in the face. Couldn't I have just jogged a short distance? But no, the memories clouding my brain pushed me to the edge.

"Carla?" a very familiar voice called out behind me and I was on full gratitude that I could find my way back. I turned around to face her, walking towards me in her ripped jeans and blue top.

"Heyy," I waved, "what brings you here?" I went ahead to ask instead of asking her for help. Stubbornness was a bad habit of mine.

"Just a little grocery shopping," she grinned, lifting the bag of items I hadn't noticed. I wasn't surprised anyway, she was capable of doing just that but, the confusing thing was why she didn't wait- I mean we just moved in.

My eyes were fixated on her, eyebrows raised. Sheet out a sigh and understanding what was going on in my mind, responded, "I know, I know, I should've waited but I really needed them."

Not bothering to go in further, I ordered, "Let's get home."

"Come on, not just yet."

"Ally," I warned.

"I still need to explore a little more, you can go home yourself."

Damn! Can't you see I'm lost?!

"You can explore tomorrow," I coaxed.

A smirk tugged on the corner of her lips after few seconds of her not responding, "Don't tell me you don't know your way back."

I scoffed, "Of course not, I can't get lost." but I am now.

"Then bye," she attempted to walk away but I grabbed her by the arm, jerking her back.

"Fine, I lost my way now can we please get back?"

"Of course but let's explore a little."

"Listen Ally, we don't know ANYONE in this big city so there's no way we can just go around aimlessly, just know I wouldn't save you if there are bad guys," I huffed.

"You know you love me," she grinned, annoyingly. While I rolled my eyes at her, the grin on her face never left. She was a really beautiful girl that belonged on the cover of fashion magazines. Her hair was in long waves, her green eyes suddenly wide at something behind me.

"At least can we get a snack?" her eyes never left what was behind me. I turned around to see a barbecue stand. Okay, we're definitely getting a snack.

I made my way towards the stand, Ally following behind. I purchased our snacks with the little money I had taken with me.

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THROUGH THE WINDOWS WELCOMING THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT, the dining room was lit vibrantly. Clatter of forks and spoons on ceramic plates echoed as we ate our dinner amidst laughter that took part in the noise. I really loved the comfort I was feeling, seated with my family and even their words-no matter how little it was comforted me.

I needed to make most of the time with my family before I headed for college, I didn't know how I would cope without them but as my mom always said, it's part of life. All we needed to do was catch up because life seemed to be fast-forwarding and things were changing.

"Alright family, this is a time of celebration you know," my uncle's voice broke the chit chats, "I'm really glad that Carla got accepted to CSUN and I'm positive you'll make us proud." The last statement was directed at me.

"I promise not to disappoint."

"And not fight," Allison chipped in across the table, earning a glare from me.

"What?!"

"You're heading for college so try not to get into trouble." She added jokingly, "don't fight."

"I don't just fight Ally."

"Oh really? Do you want me to list the number of people with broken noses as a result of your fist?"

"It's not my fault I'm short tempered, besides they deserve it, next time they'll learn not to mess with a girl," I retorted.

"Enough girls, this isn't the reason I began this conversation," uncle told us. "Anyway, Carla I really need you to focus on your studies and as Allison said, try to stay away from trouble."

Seriously?! I'm not some trouble maker so, why do they keep telling me that?

I let out a sigh, "Yes uncle."

"Listen Carla," my mom's smooth voice began, warm hands resting on mine, "don't worry my dear, I'm pretty sure there'll be a lot of sensible people there that are smart enough to mind their business. I know you'll make us proud my baby because, you are much stronger than you think, both mentally and physically. "

I broke into my widest smile, "Thanks mom, I'll always keep your words at her heart," I placed my right hand over my chest.

"You don't have to worry aunt she'll make us all proud," Allison once again chipped in.

"You also have to make us proud Ally, it's your senior year in highschool," Uncle told her.

"That's not a problem," she grinned while I let out a giggle.

When I finished up, I went to the kitchen to wash my dishes in the sink, Ally joined me seconds later. We both hummed to the soft music that played from her phone whilst cleaning the rest of the dishes. The music was soothing, enough to keep my whole system calm and ready for bed.

It didn't take long for me to retire to bed as my eyes weighed more than it should. I sat on the bed and stared out my slightly opened window. The moon was in it's full shape and bathed the earth with it's luminous glow. There was peace in the room, calming down my senses. It was time to get my life back on track, that was why we moved in the first place.

As I laid down on my bed and under the duvet, my eyes instantly went shut, my soul having a sense of peace. My brain checked out, my whole body slipping into REM.

This is the very first chapter of VALIANT, and I was pretty excited when I wrote this, please let me know what you think of it.