A Spark of Hope

Chapter 21- A Spark of Hope is All it Takes

"Come on Layla!" Oliver whined, running even further ahead.

"I'm coming!" Layla laughed, finding it difficult to keep up with him. He just had too much energy. Jasmine chuckled as well, keeping close to Layla.

After her mother had finally passed she had been adopted into their family. Having no relatives and no real friends, it wasn't a hard choice. She wanted to be a part of their family. 

Oliver laid out the blanket he had been carrying, smiling up at the stars that gleamed above them. Cameron and Kylo followed behind them, with Janice and David furthest back.

David glanced towards Janice, a playful smile on his face. "Is it too late to turn back?"

"David!" Janice elbowed him in the ribs, making him groan in pain.

"Cam! Kylo! Come sit!" Oliver called, smiling brightly.

David and Janice laid out their own blanket, sitting a few yards away. They observed their kids with a smile on their faces.

"Hold your horses, we're coming Oliver." Cameron chuckled, walking towards him.

The brothers sat down and Cameron pulled out a book.

Layla looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "What's that for?"

"Stargazing. You know, seeing which constellation is which." Cameron explained.

"You don't need that! You have me!"

Kylo chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Told you there was no point in bringing that."

Cameron rolled his eyes, moving out of the older's reach. "You can never be over prepared." 

Jasmine giggled, saying nothing. She loved how chaotic the family was. It reminded her of the good times with her old family.

"You don't even know how to use it!" Kylo exclaimed, smiling as Jasmine laughed harder.

"I do too!" Cameron sassed.

"Do not!"

Oliver suddenly jumped up, pointing at a constellation. "What's that?"

Layla followed his eyesight. "That's Leo."

"Leo?" he echoed.

"Leo the lion." she explained.

"And who's that?" he pointed to another group of stars.

"That's Virgo."

Jasmine looked at her in amazement. "How do you know all the constellations so well?"

Layla laughed. "I don't know. I've just always known how to navigate the night sky. Hope and I used to stargaze for hours." she looked towards her sister. "We invited you a few times."

"I can't believe I was so stupid..." Jasmine shook her head, looking back up at the night sky.

Layla smiled, "To be fair, you hung out with some bad people."

Jasmine nodded, suddenly turning to Layla. "Did you tell David about that offer?"

Layla bit her lip, sighing. "He'll make me say no to it..."

"Tell him!" Oliver cut in. "He can't tell you not to do it!"

Cameron and Kylo nodded, "Just go for it."

Layla sighed, standing up. She knew if she didn't do it now then she would never do it. She walked towards her father, her hands in her pockets.

"Hey Dad?" 

"Hmmm?" David looked up at her.

"Can I talk to you about something?" she bit her lip, kicking the grass with her shoe.

"Okay." he stood up, leading them away from the family. They walked for a few minutes before he finally turned towards her. "Is something wrong?"

"No- I-" she sighed, looking at the ground. "I-I got an offer to design paintings for a company-"

"That's great!" he exclaimed, his face breaking into a smile.

Layla's eyes widened. Did her father actually just support her? "You really think that?"

"Of course!"

She smiled as tears began to come to her eyes. "I-I thought you'd never support my dream..."

David pulled her into a hug, sighing. "I'm sorry... I've been so hard on you... and you didn't deserve that." he paused as she leaned closer into his touch. "I thought by going hard on you I was saving you."

"From what?" she sniffed, looking up into his eyes.

"The harshness of the world. I didn't want you going in the arts as your life's purpose." he explained, looking down. "I know what that's like and I thought- I thought you would have to struggle like I did." he paused, looking down at her. "But then I realized something."

"What?"

"You have something I didn't have. You have hope."

Her eyes widened. "You didn't-"

"No." he shook his head. "I was realistic, I hated the idea of hope. Which is probably why I didn't make it." David smiled at her. "But you- you can make it. I know you can."

She wrapped him in a tight hug, smiling. "Thank you..." she whispered.

"Because a spark of hope is all it takes. And you can do anything you set your mind to."

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This is the end!

Hope you liked it!

This is one of my favorite things I've ever written and I really hope more people discover it! :)

Hope you have an amazing day! 

-Snowy