I knew it would not take long to find myself a hiding place in this little heaven. There were small trails of lilacs and violas secretly leading to the most beautiful fountain I have ever seen. It was the rare colossal and pompous kind with an idol of a woman carrying a Hydriai which was architectured in such exquisite taste and pouring its contents onto the waters below. This would be the best place for a marriage proposal. I am thinking about proposals because of the scene I have to construct in my novel about shit I have no idea about. Love. You can always write about love but never know how it feels like. Some say it is a relief from the beatings and harsh ill treatments given by the world outside. It is a small protective ground where you are loved and cared for when you need it. Something I can write but may never feel.

I took out the notepad I had found in the drawer in my room and started writing. I would not lose such a chance of inspiration I had received. For a moment there I stopped and remembered the words my mother whispered in my ear when I was a happy little toddler that she made us recite and never forget till we die. Don't allow anyone to take away the right to what you believe in-

''Fight for it and cherish it for it is the only certain thing you will ever have that will lead you to your own pool of happiness,'' I mumbled proudly. It was working. Little by little I learned to construct and fully understand what makes people love and feel loved.

''What did you say?'' asked Toby startling the heck out of me. He was the person I had been hiding from the whole day.

''Nothing. I was just reminiscing on what my mother used to make us recite when we were young.''

''We?''

''My sister and l,'' I confessed closing my notepad and forced myself into a conversation with him.

''Is she also abused like you? Is that why you left and agreed to work here?''

''I wasn't abused. My mother had her bad days. And no, my sister does not live with us and I left home because she left.'

''What do you mean she left love?''

Love?

''She eloped with her boyfriend and left me alone. Enough about me lets talk about you. I have been meaning to ask, what happened to your knee?'' That was the only reason she got him out of the pool the other day. The instructions fully elaborated that he was not supposed to be in contact with anything that might compromise the wellbeing of his kneel.

''I had this match in Botswana and it went terribly wrong when I misstepped and twisted my ankle and right knee. I was diagnosed with ACL.''

''ACL?''

''Anterior cruciate ligament tear. I have to avoid cold water or anything that may irritate and pain my knee. I guess mom already told you that.''

''No she just said I should take care of you and avoid having cold surfaces in contact with your knee. She cares about you and Carrie so much. Are you guys adopted?''

''What makes you say that love?''

''Bro I have been researching Mr Landa's business strategies for a long time now. He's my favorite entrepreneur and he did mention that he has had difficulties in the past for being unable to have children. Both you and your sister call them mom and dad. Its kinda obvious.''

I was trying to be less harsh and more factual. His gaze made my heart sink. I really tried to get the weird feeling out of my system but I just made myself look more ridiculous. Have you ever appeared to be stupid in front of that one person in that fraction of a second. But then when you try to look intelligent you just mess it up and become stupid again. Well that was me.

''To answer your question, yes they have had troubles having children and have told us their story for a long time now. And no we weren't adopted they are our aunt and uncle and our parents are in the States and we haven't talked to them for half our lives.''

He turned away from my gaze and looked at the car that parked a distance away and said ''I have to go. Please take care of Carrie whilst I'm gone. She does not look alright.''

He walked away. It felt as though he was running away from me. I guess female instincts can deceive you sometimes. I could not stop thinking about Carrie and that guy. He looked older and physically stronger. The way he had been holding her to her room did not look like a lover's touch but an emotionally straining touch of a distant human being.

Carrie was playing with her lunch staring deeply at the sink with her phone tucked away in her jeans' pocket. I did not want to bother her since I drove her insane. I did not want to be overburdening but approached her still.

''What the fuck do you want?'' asked Carrie irritated.

''Nothing I just wanted to know if you're okay.''

''I'm fine. I just need a drink,'' she said standing up from the chair around the kitchen counter and opened the fridge to get Castle Lite. She skillfully opened it showing off her skills .

''Are you even of the right age to drink that?''

''Are you gonna arrest me?'' walks away, ''I didn't think so.''

My job was going to be harder than I thought. All I wanted was a place to live with people who actually remember my name and like me. Instead I was stuck with a party boy and his rude sister broken just as I was. They were not owning up to their misery but replaced it with something else. I did not want to be living in the shadows. I wanted to be alive and carefree. I wanted to wake up feeling different and appreciative of the world's beauty. None of this would ever happen unless I found my sister through my mother who ran away like a coward.

I ran upstairs to my room to find anything, any lead whatsoever that might help in my anticipated search. I had to find my family no matter what. Finding my mother was the only key to finding my sister and my father's location. Maybe with them I was going to be part of something.

***I feel like you and I are sharing something right now. If so hit the vote and comment button and tell me what you think❤***