Love Me From Afar

1||One

“Look at me, look clearly and you will see that I'm not there. This is just an empty shell.” — Unknown

                    

    Delacey - Dream It Possible
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  CHAPTER ONE

The rain was pouring faintly, it was a cold Friday and I was currently packing my bags getting ready to head home in Durban. It was that time of a season where you just pack your stuff and get ready for the holidays, just like what I was doing. I shrugged my coat and grabbed my bag, looking back at the room and a sigh escaped passed my lips, I walked out. I was happy that I was finally going to see my mother, trust me I was but the only thing I was not looking forward to was meeting my step-siblings. I was seriously not good with new people and it was not going to be different. My eyes landed on my father who was waiting impatiently for me.

‘‘Finally, I thought you were already thinking of bailing out.’’ He smiled brightly at me.

My father was in his late fifties but he still looked as young and as handsome as ever. He was a very sweet person, humble and friendly. We had quiet a strong bond, him and I. He was the only person I was able to talk about everything with. No matter if it were boys, school, friends — everything. He was a very understanding person.

‘‘I was just lost in my thoughts and took time,’’ I murmured approaching him. We lived in a little apartment in Bronkhorstpruits, Gauteng. My father was a teacher so we were able to afford things we
needed, just like the roof we lived under.

‘‘You got everything with you right? Your charger, your books...’’

‘‘Dad,’’ I chuckled. ‘‘I have everything with me. Lets go, we have a long drive ahead.’’ I told him dragging my bag out of the house. He locked the house then followed behind me as u head towards his truck. He took the bag from me while I walked over to the passenger seat and settled there comfortable. After a little while, my father climbed in his drivers seat.

He drove of immediately as my eyes darted out of the window. I sighed reaching out to the cold window as I started drawing little hearts.

The droplets of rain hit the window effortlessly, causing a little excitement inside me. I loved rain, in fact, I loved nature. The soil, the rain, animals, the trees – it was so calming thinking about such things. They meant a lot towards me and there was no doubt that my room would look like that too. Full of nature. I was lost in my thoughts until I fell asleep. Making few stops, after a full ten hours we were driving through Durban. I was annoyed when my father entered a very expensive area, you could see the mansion which screamed beauty and money.

Not that I was jealous of my mother, I loved what I had and the life I lived. Having what I needed and able to afford. I just hated the flex, the money. It was not me. The rain was not pouring in the area but it was very cold and there was no sign of the sun. After a while, I heard my father.

‘‘Aislinn, we're here.’’ I groaned. ‘‘Remember I didn't teach you to be disrespectful, be respectful towards Chris and his children, your step-siblings.’’

‘‘I know I know father.’’ I sighed as the car stopped at the driveway. The house was very huge, it was a triple story you'd swear it belonged to the Ferguson's.

I got out of the car watching as my mother ran up to me excitedly. She was in a gold hugging dress which reached just below her knees, black stilettos on her feet, a Brazilian weave and a make-up baked on her face. My mother was a natural beauty,
but maybe she wanted more.

‘‘Aislinn,’’ she screamed pulling me in a hug. I rolled my eyes but still hugged her back. Pulling away, she looked down at me and frowned. ‘‘You look… good.’’ I knew that was a lie. I was in plain black jeans and a black polar neck, with a brown coat and all-stars. She always saw that as being dull.

‘‘Thank you mother,’’ I said.

‘‘Call me Lucinda, I always told you to call me that.’’ I knew I knew. She didn't want me to call her mother because it apparently makes her look ‘too old’. It didn't matter to me though.

‘‘Lucinda.’’ my father said behind me.

‘‘Mathews, its good to see you.’’ my mother said addressing my father.

‘‘Like wise, you look, you look.’’ I knew he was still in love with my mother. It was very sad to see. His eyes shone with sadness, probably thinking about their past.