I'm broke,

But don't fear the dark, my love;

I'll burn,

To give you that one last flame...
____________________

Emily's PoV:

It's not possible. Definitely not...

He doesn't know I'm here.

My vision couldn't be true, could it?

Wearing torn clothes dripping wet, hair tangled and salt coated, I stood shivering at the airport parking space like a homeless destitute. The passersby cast a sympathetic look on me and some even took photograph.

No wonder, I may even collect a dollar or two as charity if I stood longer.

"Hey kid, are you lost?" asked a woman in her mid thirties who drove a cab to the airport. She had long raven black hair, wore a shining leather jacket and a chocker at her neck.

"Yeah, I am" I said bleakly. I may have thrown a fit at her pretty face for calling me a kid, then I didn't have the vigor to regard anything.

"Tell me your address. I'll drop you off," she offered.

"Nah...I'm fine. I'm lost in a different way," I had no idea why I was talking to a random stranger.

"Boyfriend leaving the country after break up? That is so cruel. He must be a douche bag." said the anonymous lady.

I scrunched my eyebrows at her comment, "To be honest, I was the douche."

What's up with you Em? You're having unnecessary conversation with unknown people!

"I think I should go.." I started, but she caught hold of my wrist.

Mayday mayday! She must be mental!

"We sail on the same boat, kid. Meet my psychiatrist. She'll fix you up," said the lady, thrusting a visiting card in my hand.

"Okay" I said just to get rid of the weird lady, "How come we sail on the same boat?" I asked before leaving.

"My husband cheated on me," she said grimly.

"I'm sorry," I regarded her loss genuinely. Cheating is something unforgivable that could drive the victim nuts.

"Needn't be, I slit his throat an hour ago. Planning to escape. LA perhaps. Mind joining me?" she asked in a cool stance.

My eyes dilated and my words stammered crazily, "Eww.. nope..nada..no.." spewing nonsense, I stepped away from her.

"Haha... everyone seems to fall for that" she proclaimed, laughing hysterically, "Wow... I must look awful in the jacket. Got it along with the alimony. I made myself independent and happy with the help of this doctor. She'd definitely be of great help to you," the woman said, gesturing towards the card.

"Thanks" I gave a meek smile and for an unknown reason slipped the card into my pocket.

I waited till late evening until I had a frost bite in the wet clothes.  Nevertheless I was relieved that my vision didn't turn out to be true. With trembling hands I inserted the key into the lambretta and started towards home.

Time is a definite nemesis on my part. I reached home to find mom and dad arrived from the trip. Coming home late with a salty wet costume was enough material for two weeks of grounding.

Sneaking inside, I found everyone having dinner at the dining hall. By the sound of it, dad loved Jasmine and approved her of being his daughter in law. I knew Jasmine was a family material but I didn't know she was capable enough to get my dad's approval so quick.

You wouldn't think of it as a big deal. Feel free to meet my dad, you would.

I tiptoed to the stairs trying not to attract anyone's attention. In spite of my efforts, mom took my breath away by pulling the hood of my shirt.

"Uh..huh.. nobody escapes right under my nose," said my mother never abandoning that sarcastic tone of hers. She seemed to be younger than last year with a bright skin, pink lips and black curled hair neatly propped on her shoulder.

"Hit me mom. You've gotta very small nose" I retorted not showing my face.

"Oh my god, Did you have a bath in the ocean? You're allergic to the salt water!" Mom was right at this point because my skin began itching at several uneasy parts.

"I'm starting anew mom. Trying new things" I grinned, managing my feat of saving dried daffodils from the evil ocean monster.

"Tell that to your skin when it comes up with fascinating red patches," she commented.

"Yeah. Can you not tell this to dad, I'll go have a quick wash." I negotiated.

"Not tell what to dad? You lying to me about SAT classes or..." Dad stood behind Mom, "You taking an untimely bath at the beach?" Dad too looked younger with a crisp brown hair, flatter abdomen and a Polo T-Shirt that was unusual of his style.

Gosh, I'm screwed.

I promised dad that I'd be attending SAT classes along with part time job, but I've been saving the money for college so that I needn't depend on my parents for money.  How did he find out the truth?

"Dad I'm sorry" I apologised, rather than explaining the whole independence stuff that would take an entire day.

"What are you thinking Emily? Are you planning on having a future or do you intend to stay as a sales woman for the rest of your life?"

There comes the hurricane. Dad's losing his patience.

"Don't worry dad. I've been learning from the library" I said, trying to console him.

"Learning what? How to sweet talk customers to buy your products?" He bellowed unmercifully. Jasmine and Harry abandoned dinner and hurried for my rescue.

"Fred, cut her some slack. She hadn't ate anything. Let's talk after dinner," said mom.

"Pfft... whatever," dad grunted with an unyielding temper, "I can't believe I came to know about our daughter from a new person," he murmured under his breath.

New person?

I glared at Jasmine. She gave that look of guilt. I knew at once what happened.

"Bitch" I sweared at Jasmine right before my parents, "You dare to secretly date my brother and earn my father's trust by playing Judas on me? You're despicable"

"Em, language!" Mom reprimanded.

"Em I'm sorry, I didn't know anything about this," pleaded Jasmine.

"If being truthful is considered to be wrong, then this world would be filled with sinners and wrongdoers" advised Dad, supporting Jasmine.

I lost my shit.

"Can't you support me at least before this outsider dad? You know what... it's useless. You don't care about me. So don't interfere in my life" I wailed and stormed off to my room.

I regretted my words sooner than they were said. I didn't keep the promise I made, so it was quite fair on dad's part to lose his temper.

Letting out hurtful words and feeling remorseful immediately after it, could be the most bitterest feeling that ever existed. Either I shouldn't have said those words or, shouldn't be guilty for saying so. Getting caught in the middle, kills.

I spent an hour, soaking in the bathtub. Ten minutes of bathing and fifty minutes of self loathing.

Resolved on coming to good terms with dad, I searched for mom. Any sane person wouldn't go directly to their father before getting a counsel from the person who could exactly forecast his state of mind.

Bad mood, no good in apologising, rest in peace, bye.

Mom was cleaning the tables by the swimming pool of our guest house. San Diego is a major tourist attraction so our guest house was filled with paying guests almost everyday, which supports Mom and Dad financially after Dad's retirement from the army.

I gave a hand in helping Mom. She said nothing but smiled and gave a pat on my shoulder. Apologising with mothers have always been easy, for they understand magically without any words.

"How have you been doing Mom?" I started the conversation pleasantly.

"Unbelievably good, darling. Your father and I have been going on trips with the satisfaction that both of your lives had been set on the right path. Your dad was really proud of you, following your heart. He's just afraid that you would be heart broken if you failed at the starting point of your career. He doesn't mean to be a dictator," Mom explained patiently about dad's condition.

"Mom I screwed up again, didn't I?" I sat beside the pool and sandwiched my head between my hands. Embarrassment crept up my nerves on account of my immaturity.

"You may have, sweetie. Don't worry, we are there to guide you. Even if we are broke, we'd be happy to burn and give that one last flame to set you on your path."

I was totally melted. I hugged mom tight and cried into her shoulder for several things that she didn't know, yet she was able to convince me like she knew everything that I've been through.

The next morning, first thing I did was knocking my dad's study to apologise. Dad was on the phone so I entered after knocking. He put a hold to the call and looked at me for a moment.

I opened my mouth to say, "Dad I'm sor..." He cut me off in the middle and threw a paper bag consisting tea bags and sugar packets.

"We are running short of staff Em. Do me this favour. Drop this at room number six of the guest house. Need not enter the room. Ring the doorbell and give it by the threshold." said dad and got back to the call.

Through this he indirectly conveyed, 'apology accepted!'

Some things never change. Proper apology with parents never happen.

With a stupid grin on face I climbed to room number six of the guest house and knocked the door. There was a quick shuffling of steps and the door was unlocked with a loud click.

I wished the door was never opened. It created a butterfly effect of revoking many doors that were meant to be sealed shut in the dark abyss of my mind. The churning at the bottom of my stomach intensified until it was unbearable. I tried gasping for breath, but in vain.

Because standing at the other side of the door was none other than Nick Tyler himself.

"Nick.." I whispered with tears brimming at my eyelids.

"Thank you," he grabbed the bag from my hand and shut the door at my face.

Guess it's my turn to stand on the other side of the door.

_____________________

A/N: Hola dear readers. Hope you all are at the pink of health. Stay healthy, confident and motivated.

I think apology with parents happens the same way as in Emily's family XD

If you liked this chapter, kindly support with likes, comments and shares. It would mean a lot.

Thank you for reading ❤️

Happy reading :-)