Flooded Waters

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒

As she was holding a family album, a tear rolled on her cheek. Her face was covered in makeup which made her seem to be someone she was not. Although her dream had become true, she felt like she didn't deserve the place she was in. Why would someone like her deserve to be an Elite? Her parents were rich, that was all.

Mr. Liu gently opened the door that led to his daughter's large bedroom. The room had everything a teenage girl would want, a king-size bed with a ton of pillows, a desk with all the supplies she needed, which consisted of the latest Macbook and all kinds of highlighters ranging from pastel to neon colors, and of course, a gigantic closet where all her sweaters, jeans, dresses, skirts and shoes could fit in. She was the definition of spoiled but she always remained humble about it. All her parents wanted was to see their daughter smile and stay full of joy.

He softly knocked on the door to grab his daughter's attention. She quickly brushed her cheeks and faked a smile but her father knew her too well.

"Ilo? What's wrong, honey?" he questioned before noticing the album in her hands. "Oh, Ilona, you know that looking at these photos won't bring you any joy."

"I know, Dad, but I just don't want to forget the way he looked."

"You won't forget, just look at yourself in the mirror and imagine your reflection to be with short hair. That's him. He could have been your twin if you didn't have an age difference. Now come on, let's get some fresh air, your mother is waiting for us downstairs."

"Dad, do you miss him?"

"Of course, sweetie, how could I ever forget about my son? But I know that he wouldn't want us to mourn his -" he sobbed.

"I'm so sorry Dad, I didn't mean to make you feel sad."

She stepped forward to hug her father who was quietly crying. A few tears left her eyes, now dry. Once they calmed down, they met Ms. Liu, who was patiently waiting for them in the living room. She did not need to ask questions to know they had talked about Ilona's brother.

"Honey, I think we need to talk," she began.

"Talk about what, Mom?"

"Nathan. It's almost been three years now that he's left us. We can't bring him back and we can't continue to cry every time we see a picture of him or every time someone mentions his name. It was an accident, Ilona, you couldn't have saved him."

Ilona was celebrating her fifteenth birthday when someone made his way to the room she was in. Her face lightened up at the sight of his presence and everyone around them cheered.

"Nathan! You made it," their father smiled.

"I wouldn't miss my favorite girl's birthday for the world."

He grabbed her in his arms, rubbing her back just like when they were younger.

"Guess what I have for you, princess?"

"A plane ticket to Paris to go to Disneyland?"

"No," he laughed. "You remember when I told you I was trying to get my motorcycle license?"

"Yes- no way! You made it?!"

"Yes and guess what, you'll be the first one to come with me if Mom and Dad are fine with that."

"Please, please, please, Mom and Dad, can I go?"

"I don't know ... It's dangerous," their mother hesitated.

"I feel the same way as you but I'd rather she does it first with Nathan than some random guy," their father laughed.

He always teased his daughter about boys and how she would get a boyfriend someday. He did the same with his son until he left the house for college.