The wounds are fresh, but there is no one to tend them.

Audren

I sat relaxed in the backseat, surrounded by the warm glow of sunset and the melodious giggles of my youngest sister, Sandra. Her bright eyes sparkled with childhood innocence, and the dimples on her cheeks - a feature we both inherited from our mother - deepened as she laughed. My sister Ruhanika, a year younger than me, sat beside me, her fingers flying across her phone's screen. I couldn't help but smile - she was probably texting her boyfriend, my best friend, Ryder. It had been a classic tale: she'd fallen for my partner in crime, and I couldn't blame her. She'd had that typical "I fell for my brother's best friend" love story going on, and I'd been happy for her. My gaze had drifted outside, watching the world pass by, until a loud scream from my mother pierced my ears. Terrified shouts followed, and then the screech of tires, the crunch of metal, and the sound of shattering glass-

I flinch as I feel a touch,a warm one on my leather jacket. My eyes jolt open and meet the concerned ones of the air hostess,"Sir,we are about to land. Are you alright?" Sweat tingles down my forehead,as I look away.The city of Verdacia is finally in view. I give the air hostess a subtle nod,but the hesitation and worry are evident in her restrained movements.She turns away and my gaze linger on her brown hair,for a brief moment.Mother. Her healthy black hair which had few strands of golden and red reached her waistline. They were soaked in crimson red,and few of its strands flew and landed on Sandra's pale neck which was stuck between the two broken seats,her lifeless hands dangled on either side. Only if I had- No,No,No! Get a hold of yourself Audren, stop thinking about it. Stop it.

I straighten my back, swinging my legs behind the seat for a moment, giving the passenger beside me enough space to leave. As she does, I slouch. My vision blurs and I grip my pants while gritting my teeth to stop another waterfall of sorrows. But alas! I fail; a tear slips from my left eye and mixes with the grey fabric of my pants.

With a body as rigid as a sculptor's clay, I force myself to get up. My footsteps are heavy and echo in the plane;I wish the ghosts of my past could carry me to my destination. I pull my brown cabin bag, and it lands on the ground with a thump. I bend to grab the handle but my eyes flicker on a hello kitty sticker on the corner. I clearly remember, how a seven-year- old Sandra in her white shorts and pink t-shirt ran in the entire house sticking stickers on random objects. Father was supposed to leave for a buisness trip in few days, and when he saw her doing that,it became his favorite cabin bag.

I close my eyes; Sandra's scream still haunts me. My hand reaches out to pull the sticker,but it stops midway. I don't have the strength to do it. I gulp before standing;my eyes travel to the luckiest person in the plane. The captain is hugging an old woman,"Oh, mother, it's so good to see you!" Mother. A faint smile decorates my face before I leave.

***

Stepping off the plane and into the bustling airport,I am instantly surrounded by the cacophony of announcements,chattering travellers and the rhythmic rolling of suitcases.

The smell of expensive coffee fills my lungs and I pause briefly,taking a deep breath as memories of past flicker through my mind. On a trip to India, Samantha and I were being extremely mischievous at the airport. We insisted on having a pastry despite its high price. Mother was furious at father for indulging with us, and giggles rang through my ears.

Shaking off the memory, I continue towards baggage claim, the weight of my suitcase matches the heaviness of my heart. Each step echoes loudly in my mind, accentuating my solitude. Passing through the crowd I notice families reuniting: a navy officer kisses his wife while cradling her swollen stomach; two children, apparently twins, run to embrace their father who quickly throws his bags on the ground and picks them up. Their happiness only deepens my sense of isolation.

Lost in thought, I almost collide with a hurried businessman,"I'm sorry." I mutter bowing apologetically, feeling more out of place now. My eyes scan the busy terminal, searching for a familiar face or a sign with my name.

Just then on the opposite side,I spot a lady with striking red hair cascading over her shoulders, framing her slender figure. She has an air of confidence, her posture straight and presence commanding yet gentle. Beside her stands a man, tall and broad shouldered, holding a placard with my name written in bold and. Are those flowers? I notice the pink and purple blooms around my name. His eyes, a deep shade of brown, scan the terminal with a calm and steady gaze, contrasting the welcoming smile on his lips. He spots me and waves. I look around to confirm if he is referring to me, as I have never met Mason and Juliene in person. I may have visited them before but I was just a baby.

I awkwardly wave back, forcing a smile. Juliene stares at me for a moment, as if seeing someone else in me. Her eyes seem lost, and Mason squeezes her shoulder gently, pulling her back to the present. She nods, regaining her composure, and Mason gestures for me to come to them.

I am about to take my first step, but just then a few men in black suits hurriedly order several people and me to step back. "What the...?" I mutter, nearly stepping on a lady's dress. "I'm sorry, miss." I apologize quickly as the buzz around me gets louder.

A boy, extremely handsome with tousled dark hair, bright blue eyes and an emotionless face walks through the sea of people. Dressed in a light blue shirt and black jeans, he exudes an aura of effortless cool. The paparazzi goes mad, clicking endless photos as they try to capture every moment.

Teenage girls nearby start squeaking and giggling excitedly, some even jumping up and down with their phones out, snapping photos and recording videos. The noise and commotion are overwhelming.

Completely bewildered, I shrug my shoulders, exchanging confused glances with those who are around me. As quickly as it started, the frenzy dissipates. The boy disappears through a side gate, and the paparazzi, as if on  cue, follow him in a swarm, leaving the terminal in relative calm once more.

Finally, I turn back to see Mason and Juliene still waiting for me. Determined to reach them without further delays, I hurry towards them. The suitcases knock against my knees as I almost run. Juliene's face lights up with a warm smile and Mason's eyes crinkle with amusement as I approach.

Mason pats my back and shakes my hand. "Welcome to Verdacia, Audren. We were eagerly waiting for your arrival."

The reason for my arrival is an unpleasant one. They shouldn't be so eager. I manage to pull out a fake smile, "It's good to be here." I lie,while shaking Mason's hand. I turn to Juliene, who has a teary smile.

"You look just like your mother." She says, her voice barely above a whisper.

My lips press in a thin line, and I ignore that remark. Mason directs us to a car- a huge seven- seater. I am not sure how many children they have but that seems excessive even if the number is four.

Juliene takes my suitcase and places it in the dicky, while I place my cabin bag on top of it. Before leaving, I give the hello kitty sticker a little pat.

I slide into the backseat, Mason gears up to drive. I lower the window, hoping the fresh air will help ease the tightness in my heart. The sophistication and unfamiliarity around me is suffocating.

Juliene turns to me with a curious expression,"You didn't bring much luggage?"

What am I supposed to bring when I have lost everything? I nod slowly, forcing a casual tone,"I didn't have much to begin with."

Awkward silence fills the car again. The sunlight bathes my cheeks in warmth as it begins to set. Just then, my phone chimes, and I instantly check it. It's a message from Ryder.

Ryder:Have you reached? If yes, then just reply to this message. There's no need to call. Take enough rest.

A faint smile plays on my lips as I text him back. I have reached. I hit the send button and soon Mason kills the engine. I hop out of the car and notice a scooter and several different colored bicycles. That's a lot.

Mason pulls my bags out of the car. Before I can insist on carrying them myself,a melodious tune catches my ear.

"I'm Out of My Head, Out of My Mind Tonight!" Certainly two or more girls are singing it.

"Gosh, we leave them free for less than an hour and they are already having a party." Juliene says.

As we approach the house, Juliene rings the doorbell. Instantly, the singing stops, replaced by hurried shushes and the sound of rushed movements coming from inside. The door opens, revealing a small figure with whitish hair and bright blue eyes. She looks at me in awe and runs inside screaming cutely,"He's here! He's here!"

I step through the doorway, and I feel like the center of attention of several unwelcoming eyes. There are at least four girls who I am assuming are in their teens while the cutest one is the youngest.

One of them, wearing a blue sports t-shirt and shorts, eyes me from top to bottom and scoffs, "You are the new guy, huh?" She swiftly uses her legs to kick a football that lands perfectly in her hands. "I expected much better."

Just then, another girl chimes in, "He definitely is daddy material." She looks dreamy for a moment, while the athletic girl rolls her eyes in annoyance. I am beyond shocked. Juliene and I share the same expression of disbelief.

"Ruby, has Evelyn been reading those Wattpad stories from your account? I told you not to allow it!" Juliene tries to control her temper. The young girl, who was seemingly busy typing on her phone, looks up and defends herself, "It definitely wasn't my account this time." She eyes Evelyn suspiciously. "She probably has some secret account, you know."

The room falls silent for a moment, the tension evident.

Juliene sighs and turns to face the group more sternly. "Let's all try to remember our manners and be welcoming to our guest. Audren is a part of this family now."

Ruby, the one in the blue sports t-shirt, shrugs nonchalantly and tosses the football into the air before catching it again. "Yeah, okay," she mutters. The girl who made the bold comment about me being "daddy material" remains lost in her daydreams, while Evelyn looks genuinely embarrassed.

"I am sorry, Audren. I will make sure to talk to them. Why don't I show you your room? You can take a rest," Juliene says, and I nod. She leads me down the hallway, and on the way, I notice a photo frame with pictures of the family. The smiles and moments captured hint at a deep bond between them.

"How many daughters do you have, Aunt Juliene?" I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

She chuckles softly, "Seven. Two of them are outside right now."

Seven daughters. That explains the lively, almost chaotic atmosphere. She stops in front of a door and opens it, revealing a dark room. "This is one of my daughters' rooms, but you can use it for now." The room has items which are mostly black in color. I can make out that this girl definitely is a tomboy.

"Thank you," I say sincerely, but my voice seem faraway.

"You’re welcome. Make yourself at home, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." She gives me an encouraging smile that eases some of the tension I’m feeling.

As Juliene heads back down the hallway, I set my bags down and jump on the bed. A knock on the doorframe catches my attention. It's the young girl with the whitish hair and bright blue eyes. "Are you going to join us for dinner?" she asks innocently, her eyes wide with curiosity.

I shake my head. "Not tonight. I'm really tired from the journey. Maybe tomorrow?"

She nods understandingly. "Okay. Rest well."

They seem nice... But this isn't my home and they are not my family. I feel my head ache a little, the day’s events catching up with me. The exhaustion is overpowering, and before my head even touches the pillow, I am already drifting off to sleep.

***

This pillow is the best.  I think while smiling to myself as I bury myself more into it and rub my face against it. Wait... This doesn't feel like fabric. My eyes are still closed but I feel a hand on my cheek, tracing my jawline.

What the actual fuck? My eyes snap open, and I find myself staring into the light brown eyes of a girl with disheveled hair who looks as shocked as me.

We both instantly jerk away from the awkward position. I scramble against the wall, while she tumbles off the bed and lands on the floor with a thud.

"Who the hell are you?"