1 Prologue

So many years had passed but her eyes were always on that road, hoping that by some miracle she could get a glimpse of his shadow as he turned the corner that led up to the bakery nearby.

A moment passed before eyes laced with sadness dropped down to the book resting on her lap unopened. She bit her bottom lip to stop herself from breaking down again. For a fleeting moment she forgot about the past and gave herself some hope.

He always used to pass by each morning and watching him through her large bedroom window had become a habit she had stumbled upon by mistake.

She could never forget that day.

A small smile graced her lips as she reminisced the events of that day. Along with her first rain came a boy who stole her breath at first sight and stole her heart at the second one.

She hadn't seen rain in a long time and so she had stretched her arms out of her window to cup each pour.

He had seen her shudder when each drop of cold rain hit against her smooth palm like tiny spikes.

He had smiled at her and she had stood there like a fool, unknowing of what to do until his back was the only thing she could see.

The next day he had spared a glance toward her window and she had hid her face behind the book she was holding like a shy and infatuated teenage girl. She had breathed out in determination before she looked out again only to see him walking away while rubbing the back of his neck.

This became one of the many reasons she hated being home schooled. She wished to walk on the same road as he did.

She wanted to know what it felt like to walk on the same path as him but most of all, she wanted to see him up-close. To have a clear look without the obstruction of the window glass.

Maya groaned and put her cold palms to her face, she wanted to forget everything but the memories remained intact even after three years. It felt like everything happened just recently.

Tears threatened to fall as she hugged her knees to her chest and counted her breaths. She could not bring herself to move. She didn't want to.

"Maya?" A soft knock came from the other side of her bedroom door just as her mother's muffled voice floated through the empty walls

"Erika is waiting downstairs honey"

Erika Hale. She looked at the door and frowned. Was it the same Erika or…

She stumbled as she rushed to open the door. For as long as she could remember she only had one friend and that was Erika Hale from 3 blocks down. But it was almost three years since she had last talked to her though she has seen her around.

Maya fixed her oversized grey hoodie and smoothed down her short hair. She felt nervous and because of that she started playing with the oversized hoodie, pulling and tugging at the strings.

"Do I look okay?" She turned to her mother who was leaning against the door frame with folded arms. She looked concerned but forced a smile when Maya stared at her in anticipation.

"You look fine Maya, just be yourself"

She brushed her hand lovingly against her pale face, frowning when her fingers picked traces of cold sweat sticking to her skin. She even felt cold.

Maya smiled at her mother knowingly and went downstairs.

Eyes that seemed familiar stared back at her as she made it to the last stair. Big cerulean eyes roamed her body, taking in her appearance before they came back to settle on her face. They were cold and emotionless and they seemed a bit too big for her sunken face but Erica looked so much like her brother and the resemblance was uncanny. The girl before her still looked good no matter how much time had passed. She smiled awkwardly and fiddled with the strings again just as Erika cleared her throat in order to clear the awkwardness that hung horribly in the air

"We need to talk"

She should have known right then.

That those four simple four words would change her life in Floren forever.