Chapter 1

A new beginning is always so beautiful.

Yeah, right! Which genius said that?!

“Dad, I hate this! Why couldn’t I just stay back in London?” The carboard boxes are never ending and so are these clothes, “DADDDDDD!”

It’s only been a couple of days since I’ve moved out to Somerset, but I hate it already. There’s nothing to see, transport is terrible, everyone is old. What does a person who’s 18 do here? Bird watching?! London is only a 3-hour journey but honestly who has time for that.

“What? What is so important?” Dad rushes in and his eyes show how exasperated they are making me feel guilty. Why am I complaining when he has had to change his life too?

“Sorry, nothing dad. Do you want some help?”

Dad smiles whilst walking to sit down next to me on the floor, “No, I should be fine, but I want you to try to enjoy yourself whilst we’re here. I don’t know how long we have to stay so I can’t promise you anything, but you know how much this would mean to grandma”.

I nod my head and dad gets up to leave “besides, you’ve got your first day of university tomorrow which should help you to take your mind off of stuff”.

The anxiety of a new start hits in. Yes, I know Somerset but only as a midterm vacation place not as my whole life. No one that I know of is going there but I’m relying on the fact that no one would.

As a child I loved grandma’s place. It was so elegant and grand that it made me feel like a princess but now I’ve never wanted to escape faster from here. No room in this 10-bedroom Georgian manor feels like home to me. I look out the window into the starry night, the stars are so beautiful out here. Something you’ll never see in London. The forest that surrounds this beautiful place makes me miss the hustle of London.

Whilst gazing out, that’s when I see it, a figure of a man.

A man that shouldn’t be here. He’s not moving or doing anything but just looking directly into the soul of the manor. A chill spread down my spine making every hair stand up, I continue to keep my eyes locked until the trance is broken due to noise from the next room. I look out into the corridor but by the time my gaze goes to the person, he's gone.

Weird.

I stroll to grandma’s room admiring the portraits on the wall, “Grandma? Are you okay?”

Grandma turns around from where she’s standing by the window and smiles “Yes darling, I’m very well thank you. Take a seat” she gestures to the one-seater sofa.

“Your dad tells me you’re not enjoying it here” she says as she glances through her glasses.

“Well...” my cheeks turn a bright red and I look everywhere but at her “I am, I love it”.

Grandma giggles and takes my hand in hers, “you don’t have to lie to keep this old lady’s heart. I know it’s not ideal for a youngster, but this is the house that I wed into, where your dad, aunt and in fact even you took your first steps so how do I just let it go”.

I squeeze her hand tighter “I understand grandma but no one’s telling you to sell it. You could always move in with us and we could visit Archontes Manor occasionally. Especially since you just had your cardiac arrest”.

“I know dearie, I know… your dad did suggest that to me, but your grandpa died here and to this day I can feel him with me. Every minute of every day”.

I nod my head and look down at our hands clasped together, it’s been 2 years since grandpa died and I’ve always wanted grandma to move in with us, but she’s always been stubborn. Wouldn’t he have moved on? I doubt he even remembers us. Any of us.

“The day that you fall in love is the day that you’ll understand my emotions” I glance up and see grandma giving a gentle smile.

“I’m sorry but it’s just hard adjusting”.

“Don’t be sorry, I’ve had two mischievous teenagers of my own. Now you better go to sleep, it’s your first day tomorrow”.

I nod and give a hug to grandma. I start walking out before turning to look back at her, she’s starring out of the window, her head resting against the sofa and a gentle smile plastered on her face with the rosary being held close to her heart, I smile and head out.

I walk down the same corridor but this time I stop at a specific portrait. It takes me back to a happier time when grandpa was still alive, and my parents hadn’t had a divorce yet when everyone was so happy. It was my Christmas vacation when I was 10. I always looked forward to every midterm vacation, any excuse to come out here. The stockings are hung by the blazing fire, all of us are wearing matching jumpers and there in the far corner is a plate of cookies and milk for Santa. I can’t believe I thought he was real, I laugh to myself, reminiscing the memories. The way that everyone looked at one another was exactly how I wanted my future to look like but now I’m not so sure of that. Their love faded, why would mine be any different.

I sigh and turn into my room. I throw all my clothes from my bed into the cardboard boxes again and jump in. But not before tossing and turning constantly. I even used the bathroom twice so that was not the reason why I couldn’t sleep. Eventually, I just decide to watch K-dramas. There’s nothing that the sweet smile of the male protagonist can’t fix.

I feel my eyes growing heavy, so I switch off my phone and start to drift off but not before saying a small prayer that everything goes well tomorrow. I don’t know if the Big Guy listened or will make it happen, but my heart somehow said yes.

That’s all that matters.