Chapter 1

I breathe in the salty air, letting the breeze fill me with joy, as it flows through my auburn hair.

"Dinah, now is the perfect time to launch the kite!" I say, looking down, to see my older sister sitting on the picnic blanket as we stand on the beautiful pebble beach that we have all to ourselves, being only March. My little eight-year-old sister, Ruby, stands in the shallow water digging up sea urchins.

"In a minute, Jane. Just let me finish my sandwich." Dinah answers.

I call over Ruby, and we get out our home made purple kite, and wait for Dinah.

My sisters and I live with our loving parents, in our flat, in the city of Cardiff, in Wales. While I love my family, I do not enjoy living in Cardiff. I dream of escaping the claustrophobic city, travelling the world and going on thrilling adventures. However, city life is what my parents prefer. In fact, the only travel they talk about is going to North America someday, to see bigger cities such as New York or Quebec City, always describing it as a place where dreams come true. Ironically, they are from small towns in Ireland. All I know about it is that they came to Wales when they knew that they were going to have Dinah. As vague as the story sounds, I simply cannot put into words of how much I adore my family. Dinah is 19, and is very smart. She works multiple jobs to pull together enough money to go to university in England, and become a doctor. Ruby is young, and my parents had her unexpectedly, but she is a blessing nonetheless. She is very kind, and loves reading and nature. I am determined to protect Ruby, and to show her love and support, seeing how vulnerable she can be. That is why coming to the beach and getting away from the city like this is such a huge treat for all of us.

"Jane!" Ruby calls, "Are we not going to fly the kite!?"

I laugh as we launch the kite into the billowing breeze, as we splash and play on the beach, as the kite dances gracefully above us. There is no other perfect way to spend a peaceful afternoon.

* * *

The next morning, I am awoken by the sun shining through the window. I bury my face in my pillow. I want to sleep! Is that too much to ask!? I hop out of bed, and waddle tiredly to the corner where the kite we flew the day before was sitting. I brush my hand along the purple fabric before pulling a navy blue dress that goes just past my knees out of my dresser. I tell Ruby, who is sleeping on the other side of the room, to wake up. I envy Dinah so much, for having her own bedroom. It is no fun sharing one with an eight year old. Luckily, mother and father said I could have Dinah's room when she leaves for university.

"Ruby!" I snap, "It's time to get up!"

Ruby punches her pillow and hides under the covers, and I decide it's no use. She's always hard to wake in the morning.

After I am dressed, I brush my hair and tie the front back with a white ribbon. I put on a ruffled white pinafore over my dress- all the girls put white pinafore aprons over their school dresses so they will not get dirty.

I lace up my ankle-high black boots and head downstairs, where I find mother making breakfast, and Dinah reading at the table.

"Good morning, Jane" mother greets, "I trust you slept well."

"It would have been better if I got to sleep in," I reply, "Ruby won't budge."

"Dinah, go wake your sister please," mother says, "and tell her that I'll have to drag her out of bed myself if she doesn't."

Dinah smiles, and heads upstairs to get Ruby.

"Set the table, please Jane." Mother tells me. I get some plates, and forks, as I see mother making eggs and toast.

"Has father already gone to work?" I ask.

"Yes, he took a sandwich with him," mother replies, "he said he needed to be there early."

This is unusual for father, he usually is at home to greet us before we leave for school. He must be quite busy today. After eating breakfast, I grab my hat and books, and I see a laughing Dinah walking behind Ruby as she trudges downstairs. Immediately I begin to laugh too. Ruby had her ribbon loosely knotted in her hair, that was sticking up everywhere and even had a rats nest.

"Oh, Ruby!" Mother exclaims, half chuckling, "be sure to fix your hair before you get to school."

We say our goodbyes to mother for the day, as we head out the door on our bustling street. Every morning, we walk a few blocks over to Adamsdown, where our school is. We live right next to Adamsdown, in Splott- all different districts in Cardiff. We walked past the Adamsdown boarding school, where rich kids from all over the world go. I've always wondered what it was like to go to such a school. I would give almost anything just to get a peek inside. A few blocks later, we reach a square with separating roads. This is where Dinah splits from Ruby and I. After we split, I stopped Ruby.

"Please let me fix it," I say, looking at her hair.

"No," Ruby says, swatting my hand away, "It's fine the way it is!"

"Have you seen your hair this morning? It looks like you we