Prologue.
Liam.
Why won't this thing flush? Angrily, I hit the toilet with my foot, only to cause pain to myself. I shouted "ouch" as I grab my right foot while limping on One leg. I hope This thing isn't broken because I will rather be convinced that I don't know how to use it than for it to be broken, I already said goodbye to that man, and the idea of seeing his face again this evening is just unpleasant. I already wasted practically a day of my life with him, all because of my Mom's request to know him better. Why can't they just get married without getting me involved? I hate situations like this, "ugh." I bet he doesn't know I'm still in here. Opening the door to the restroom, I walk out through the small hallways connecting the restroom to the restaurant. That was when I heard it. A female voice, shouting from upstairs. In Richard's office.
"Richard, I can't believe you, what about our daughter!!!" A lady shouted
"Our daughter," I said to myself. He has a daughter and I thought he said his wife was on her sickbed and couldn't even lift a finger. Is he... No, he can't be having an affair but then those that mean that he...
"I'm still talking to my lawyer, about the legal right over Layla." Richard said, "Harper, please just sign the divorce papers, let's not make things difficult."
"Is it because of her?" The lady called Harper said. "Zoe isn't it."
"How did you ...?"
"Why won't I know!!!" She shouted. "I am not signing any papers, I don't want to see you in the house tonight."
Hearing two hurried footsteps, I hide at the corner wall leading to the restroom.
"Harper!!!" Richard shouted as he followed Harper down the staircase.
Richard holds her, trying to drag her back to his office. Harper struggle when all of a sudden she lost her footing and fell down the staircase while shouting. Richard stand frozen on the staircase.
"Harper... What have I done?" Richard ask himself, as he ran down the stairs towards Harper's body.
"Harper! Harper! Please wake up, I'm sorry! " Richard holds Harper's body that lay unconscious on the floor. Her head was bleeding and her joints twisted.
Suddenly the night felt cold. A while ago she was there, I saw her. She was full of life. She was standing. I saw her standing. Sad, but still she was standing. Not laying on the floor covered with blood. Her blouse was white, not red. I thought, as my knees fell on the floor. Speechless. Her Life, the breath she once breathes now gone. Just like a fleeting dream.
How am I going to do this, how am I going to leave this place without him seeing me? I need to leave, I can't be here, I don't want to get involved. If only I knew today was going to be the worst day of my life, I won't have agreed with mom to go out with Richard to celebrate my birthday. If only I knew, I would have never been excited about turning 13.
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CHAPTER 1
Liam
The 18th of June. I hate the 18th of June. Each time I celebrate this day it brings back horrid memory of that day. That night. I'm going to end up with nightmares this night. My nightmares hunt me because I refuse to tell the truth, but then again who's going to believe me? I know no one will and I also know all these are useless excuses I made for myself, just so that I could run away. It's so sad whenever I see Layla smiling brightly at me on this day, even though it's her mother's death anniversary. I feel like shit. The worst brother on earth, who doesn't even have the gut to tell her the truth about her mother's death.
"Rise and shine sleeping beauty." Theo said, as he barge into my room." looking depressed as always." Grinning he sat at the little couch in my room.
"Come in, you're welcome as always," I said sarcastically.
"Whatever." Theo reply.
"Anyways why are you so happy this morning?" Rising from the bed I look at him while rising my eyebrow in question." it's my birthday, I'm supposed to be the happy one."
"You say it as if you are ever Happy on this day," Theo said as he lazily flip through a book he saw on the floor.
Theo normally looks like a nerd with his big glasses, but he was surprisingly a far cry from it. He hated studying and thought it was weird that I love reading, according to him I strike him as a jock who smoke, drink and play around with girls. But the only reason Theo came up with that ridiculous, slightly hurtful conclusion about me was because of Layla.
After Richard and my mom, Zoe got married. Layla and I became siblings, we started going to school together. My relationship with Layla was on a rocky path at first, we didn't particularly like each other but we didn't hate each other. We saw ourselves as strangers, strangers who didn't know how to relate. Layla was always more social and more outgoing than me, I have never really liked people, the only one I love was my Mom. She had beings the only one that has always been with me for as long as I can remember. After her marriage with Richard, it felt like my dislike for people became worst. I found it strange how Layla could always smile like she was okay with everything and everyone around her. Her Dad at most times ignores her even though she tries hard to get his attention, all he does is blame her for the death of her mother. According to him, his wife died because Layla made her sick. Layla was 11 when her Mom died, I could sometimes see the guilt in her eyes Whenever she stared at her mom's picture. But I knew the truth about her mom's death. still, I couldn't say anything to her. One day I saw her smiling at school with her friends, who were talking about their Mom, then they ask her about her mom. even though they knew she was dead. I walk up to her and asked her why she was smiling. She looks at me in surprise, as she bend her head down and said that was the only thing she could do. That was the first conversation we both had with each other, ever since the first day we meant, ever since our parents got married. Since that day, we were no longer strangers, we became more than friends.
Whenever I was with Layla, I always notice a certain big glasses creep who was always staring at us. Layla call him Theo one day she saw him on the street close to school, faking like he was reading, while all he did was watch us like a creep in secret. Theo glared at me whenever he saw me in class while I was just plainly confused on what his problem was with me. He tried following me home One day, I was going to let him and act like he wasn't there and move on with my life when all of a sudden, he stopped me and then ask me why I was going to Layla's house. he said that I should leave her alone. I just stared at him confused while he blurted out of nowhere that Layla was his girlfriend and that I was bothering her. I continue staring at him while he started blushing. I busted out laughing, thinking to myself, so this is what all this was about. I told him that I was just Layla's stepbrother, he was welcome to date her whenever he wants. Theo said that he didn't believe me, that he wanted to follow me home and see things for himself. He did, he followed me home and introduce himself as my best friend. That was the day he went into my room, invaded not only my personal space but also my life, and ask me to call him Theodore. Saying that only Layla was allowed to call him Theo, but I never did. I call him Theo. And that was how my supposedly fake best friend became my actual best friend.
"Tell me, is it Layla?, Because that's the only reason you can be so happy." I watched his expression as he blushed While trying to hide it. I still find it amazing how he can always blush whenever he thinks of her.
"Shut up, I was just happy that you are finally 18."
"Yeah right," I said in disbelief "I believe you are so happy that you remember the promise, you made to me on your own 18 birthday, after I kicked your ass at football, that you were going to grant me any wish I made on my birthday. Even if it involves you jumping off a cliff." I smile as I reminded him of his promise.
He looks at me cautiously and he asked. "What do you want?"
"Ask Layla out on a date already," I said. " Either you tell her or I will."
"What!!" Theo shouted. "Can't you ask for something else"
"Nope," I said.
"It's not like I'm not going to ask her, it's just that... just that_"
"Just that what?" I asked, interrupting him." how long are you going to keep being a coward?"
"What if she likes someone else?" Theo ask
"Then you would be depressed right now. You wouldn't have the chance barging into my room grinning like it your birthday and not mine"
"It's like me being you on the 18 of June." Theo said " I still don't get why you hate your birthday"
"Well, what's there to like." I got out of the bed, stretching out my body. "this Day isn't just my birthday, this day is also Layla's mother's death anniversary."
"Yeah, I know"Theo reply "but you know, she said that she wanted to forget that part of this day and just be happy and celebrate your birthday," Theo said sadly.
Of course that little liar. I thought. "She's still up to her bad habit" I walk into the bathroom.
"Those smile's of hers" Theo whisper "Are like a broken puzzle."
From shattered memories. I thought as I laid my back against the bathroom door, listening to Theo.
*****
"Happy birthday Liam," Layla said as she hugged me.
"Thank you." hugging her. "You know we don't have to celebrate this day right," I said
"I know." She said as look at me sadly. "But it's alright, it's just a small family gathering."
"Alright" I turned around to look at the living room, searching for Mom, I feel like something had been up with her lately. But the only one I could see was Theo, playing video games on his phone.
"Where is Mom," I asked Layla
"She's in the kitchen with Dad"
I look at her with questioning eyes, raising my eyebrows. That man may own a restaurant but he never cooks at home.
"Well Dad's relative called and they say that they are not coming," Layla said
As usual. It's crazy enough that you celebrate someone's birthday on the same day your wife died now you want your family to join in your madness. I have only seen his family once and that was during his wedding with mom. Honestly, I hate that man, how can he smile on this day every year, trying to get on my good side as if he is doing me a favor. Ignoring what he has done, he's supposed to be locked up in jail.
"How does Mom feel about it?" I asked
"She's alright, she even told him not to, but as usual he doesn't listen".
That man doesn't listen to anyone but himself, I honestly don't know what my Mom saw in him. His words were full of roses if only she knew it was worst than thorns.
Layla looks at her phone "Rose said that she is going to be a bit late" she said as she read the text message on her phone. "But she's coming with the cake."
"Please tell her to pretend like she forgot it"
"No"
"But I don't_"
"I don't want you to lose this day of your life, because of me."
Sighing, I look at her trying to think of something, anything that could change her mind. Among everyone in my life the ones I truly wanted to look after and take care of were just her and my mom. As for Theo, that four-eye coward can always look after himself. I thought as I smile.
"It's alright, I'm not going to lose this day." I brush her brown long hair with my hands as I smile at her "Theo said he has something he wants to say to you" I said making my voice loud enough for Theo to hear.
"He did?" Layla ask, turning around to look at Theo who was already looking at us.
"I did?" Theo said, with fears in his eyes. Pleading me not to say anything.
"Yeah remember, what you said in the room." I said, "anyway I will leave you two to it." I walk towards Theo as I whisper to him "Don't mess this up."
*****
"What is this?" Asking myself I pick up a piece of white cloth from the floor.
I felt a cold hand wrap around my feet, looking down at my feet I saw myself shrinking as became 13 again.
"Save me," A pale slender Lady with dark brown hair covered in blood said as she dragged herself on the floor.
Afraid I stumbled backward. I fell hard on my butt as I landed on a white blouse stained with blood. Screaming, I crawl backward away from the blouse. A pale hand kept stretching, trying to reach me.
"Ahh!" Screaming I woke up, sweating and breathing heavily. Roughly I pulled off my bedsheets as I look at my feet and my hands.
Another birthday, another nightmare. Once again the same dream, ever since that day, that night. Ever since then, when it all started. The 18th of every June has been filled with nightmares. It felt like Mrs. Harper's way of wishing me a happy birthday. I thought as I smile sadly as tears drop fell from my eyes.