Eyes Behold

49.Thanks

A wide eyed Rose looked around, trying and trying hard to blink away the shock she was in. She had just realised that the set-up was to acknowledge her work. By whom? For what ? Why her ? She had no idea . This first shocking discovery hadn't settled down yet that this other had sprung up.

There were roughly 300-400 people around her , majority of whom she didn't recognise and she had to give a speech in front of all these people. She didn't know the first thing about speeches and she definitely knew nothing about speeches in front of a group as large as this . She had always been the one to be behind the scenes. The spotlight and front arenas were for Amelia and Claire.

She had always turned into a stammering mess in front of a crowd even after learning the speeches beforehand. And now , Francisco was expecting her to suddenly give a speech on front of all these people. About what ? Her brain hadn't processed that yet.

A sharp nudge from the side woke her up from her dreams to throw her directly into a living nightmare. As if the cameras weren't enough, now the whole area seemed to be filled with eyes staring at her , their focus entirely on Rose. She sent a glare in Louis' direction,her eyes holding a promise to repay him back for the nudge and slowly followed the doctors towards a smiling Francisco .

Seeing a frightened Rose, Louis took it upon himself to start speaking. So the doctors started with their experience of meeting Rose and how it developed to where they stood today. Rose was extremely thankful to Francisco as he stood next to her all the time . She couldn't have done that alone. As the doctors ended with their speech, they got off the stage. Rose immediately felt betrayed but still stood next to Francisco who then suddenly turned to follow them after sending a quick smile her direction.

Rose tried her level best to return the smile but it seemed more of a grimace. Then like the traitor she didn't thought him to be, Francisco left her alone on the podium. She immediately took back anything good she said about him in her mind. To her he was the reincarnation of Satan and she resisted the urge to shoot him down with her poisonous glares. Her heart might have enjoyed it but the same couldn't be said about the cameras glaring at her and snapping her pics continuously.

Looking at all the attention she was getting, her nerves sky rocketed and it was a surprise she didn't took off running right then and there. She closed her eyes and balled her hands in the folds of her dress. Taking a deep breath, she took in the calming ocean and the subtle waves that were occasionally washing the shore. She remembered the time she would babble about going to a beach one day with her parents and the plans she had to drown Chris , the annoying devil she called her brother.

Remembering them , a small smile split up her mouth and her hands relaxed subconsciously. She kept her eyes on the surprisingly calm ocean.

" I always imagined coming to the beach , walking on the shore in long flowing dress and a large hat , being chased by my brother and my parents sitting on the beach, laughing at us. " Her voice soft , filled with a painful longing, the type which was powerful enough to tug at the hearts of even those who had never met her before.

Everything seemed to have gone quiet. Everyone's attention wrapped around the girl in pink who stood on the podium with a faraway look, the innocent ocean drowning in the pain her eyes held. How ironic !

" Never I thought the turn of events would be like this to bring me here today , standing here , with all of you. Yet I don't regret it. " Her attention finally towards the crowd awaiting her.

Her eyes found those of her Aunt who was leaning onto her Uncle, light tears lining her eyes yet she smiled, wide and large, encouraging Rose, easing her nerves as she took in the face which was so similar to her own mom's .