Chapter 1

Catherine's POV

"Catherine… Come quickly. We're getting late." My mom screamed. We had to shift to another house where only my mom and I would stay. My parents got divorced. I thought this is the last time I am seeing this house. Why is difficult to move?

"CATHERINE!!" I heard again. "I am coming mom." I replied.

Hi! My name is Catherine Williams. I am 22 years old studying Psychology in Columbia University. That day my brother and I were separated. We won't be living under the same roof from now onwards. No more fighting for the television remote and no more fighting for 'who is the better sibling?' I was not at all happy because my brother will be going through a really bad phase of life and I wanted to help him.

As I walked down from the first floor to the ground floor, tears rolled with me. I could not control my feelings because I was attached to that house. It was the last time here. I slid through the staircase for the last time. I hoped to see this house again but my mom wasn't sure of sending me here.

I could hear another person crying with me. I knew who it was. "Do you have to leave with mom?" James asked with a heavy heart. I was not able to control my tears and he was making it worse. It got difficult by every second.

James Brookes, my elder brother. He was not that elder to me but almost a year. We have spent 22 years together and it felt impossible to leave each other. He had completed his studies and had started his own business. I do take some credits in his work. It was MY IDEA! He was like my child sometimes and sometimes we switched the roles.

"Please don't go! What will I do without you?" He asked me. I was really upset seeing him in this condition. It was more traumatizing for him than me. I could see it on his face. I promised him, "I'll come visit you whenever you call me. I'm just a call away, don't worry." We both knew that these words would not help but he listened as I told. "Promise me that you will take care of dad the way we did together. Promise me that you will focus on your work and not worry about us." He understood every word that came from my mouth.

We hugged each other as tight as we could. Dad was there witnessing us cry. "Rachel, can I ask you something?" Dad asked. "Sure". "Did our kids ever cry in such a manner in so many years?" With James and me joined our dad, Ethan Brookes.

My mother and I changed our surnames to my mom's surname and my brother did not change. This is because from now onwards I was going to stay with mom while James and dad would stay together.

Our houses were quite far but we promised to meet at least once a week. It was finally to leave the house.