Mel- Melody- Melantha.

"A Fresh Start"

"Mel! Mel! Wake up!" I woke up to a whisper in my left ear. As I opened my eyes, the bright sunlight fell onto me and as my eyes adjusted, I saw Lia standing on my bed. "Come on! Wake up!" she said jumping on my bed. What is she doing? Why is she open with me? But then I remembered everything that happened yesterday. That whole certificate thing, my past, the talk with her and Lia.

At first, I just wanted to tell her to get lost but then I thought of trying to be nice to her. She was jumping the whole time. Now, she's crossing her limits. I wanted to yell at her but I somehow didn't lose my temper today. And there are other ways to stop her and yelling is not the solution. "Okay, I'm up" I said as I sat up. "What is it?" I asked. As far as I remember Lia, she's never up this early. "Let's go together today!" she said getting off my bed and I agreed without knowing it's consequences.

"Today, you'll dress as I say" Lia paused for my answer but I was too bored to do that. "Pleeeeeeeeeease!!" she dragged to which I could just say "Whatever"

We got ready and we came down to eat. I thought it would be a disaster or something for what happened yesterday but nothing. Everything was too normal. He was nowhere to be seen. "Mel! Good morning!" I turned around and saw my new so called mom. She looked nervous or something. "You look...different" she continued in a nervous tone. I wanted Lia to notice it and ask her about it. I felt like an outsider to ask her myself and I didn't want to be nosy.

I was in my own thoughts about her change of behavior that Lia had to hit my shoulder wit hers for me to be back in reality. "Huh? U-uh, yeah! yeah! I look...girly" I said looking at myself. "And gorgeous" Lia interrupted and I just rolled my eyes. "C-come on, breakfast's ready!" she called us and we followed her into the dining room.

The moment I washed my hands and walked towards the main door, someone covered my eyes. It was Lia and she covered it with her handkerchief, I could smell it. "Just walk, we have a surprise for you" Lia's voice reached my ears. I couldn't understand where she was taking me but even though she was confusing me, I could tell we were in the lawn by that pleasantly sweet, sharp scent of freshly cut grass. But we walked further. I felt her following us too.

I felt sudden light hit my eyes as Lia untied the handkerchief. As my eyes adjusted, I saw Lia and behind her was our mom. I looked around and we were in the garage. "Wh-" Lia didn't let me finish my question. "Turn around" she commanded. I was too focused on my question that she had to turn me around for me to see a beautiful shining colour of navy blue on stylish car. Yes, a car, for me? "This is your birthday present from your father" I heard her say but I never turned to see her, my eyes were struck on the car.

The word 'father' got me, I've not seen him since that incident had occurred. He did not even make an effort to explain me about their big secret about me. I didn't want to admit it but I really wanted to know where he is. My thoughts got cut off by Lia. "Let's go to school in your car today!" she exclaimed and pushed me slightly towards the car and I got back to reality. This time I looked back and saw that she was not that nervous now.

I slowly walked towards the car but I started getting some bad feeling. I was getting negative emotions. I was feeling angry but at the same time sad, so sad that I wanted to cry. A sharp pain ran through my brain. The same pain that I got in that backyard. The pain was increasing, I felt myself sitting on the ground and holding my head in my palms. "Mel?" Lia's voice muffled slowly.

'Let us out...you are weak...let us out...' I heard two whispers overlapping each other in my head. It was so soothing. I felt I was out of everything. My problems, my past, my memories, every single thing that I didn't want to face again.

'Let us help...Let us out...' As I heard them again, I relaxed and felt something different, something taking over me... Am I dying?. I felt I can finally rest in peace...I felt my eyes close slowly and everything got black.

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"Don't worry, she'll be fine" I heard someone say. "She just needs to rest". I slowly opened my eyes. I saw our family doctor talking to Lia. They walked out of the room, I looked around, black wallpaper, white curtains, I was in my room. I slowly tried to get up but something, a soft hand on my back to be particular stopped me.

As I slowly turned to my side, I saw..."Mom...", wait did I just call her mom? Though my voice was very low, her body stiffened as if she didn't expect that, yeah me too... She didn't speak anything, just supported me to sit up.

"Mom..." See? Second time! What's happening?!? "Yeah? Do you want some water? Do you want to eat something? Do you want to take rest? You want to be alone? Do you want me to leave? It's okay, I can call Lia and tell her that you are not going to scho-" She cut off as I held her hand. "Mom..." Oh no! I am getting crazy! "Mom...Be with me..." was the only thing I could tell her.

I hear her say "Always..."

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LIA

"Hey Lia!" Someone tapped my shoulder. It was the new guy, what was his name again? Alex? Aaron? Definitely not Aaron. That name doesn't suit him. Then Alex! "Hey A-" I got cut off by someone shouting "Aaron! What are you doing there? Come quick!" And this new guy turned around "Coming!" He responded immediately. Oh! Shit! So his name turns out to be Al-Aaron. Aaron turned around to me again. "What is it?" I asked.

"You are Mel's cousin? Right?"

"Twin, actually" I replied to which he kept a questioning look but didn't ask further. "Ohkay...tomorrow is Me-your birthday right?" he said. How did he know? and that was exactly what I asked next "Yeah, How did you know?" to which he just shrugged. Maggie or Ronald must have told him. "Mel didn't come? Will she come to school tomorrow?" But why will they tell him? "She's a bit unwell, so she couldn't come today and I don't know whether she'll come tomorrow or not" I replied subconsciously to which he just nodded and left.

I walked towards Maggie, recalling how Mel destroyed her own car laughing like a maniac as tears ran down her cheeks and suddenly fainted. How did she do that? Maybe asking her to drive was a bad idea? Did I do something wrong? I was brought back to reality only when Ron shouted "Can't wait for tonight!" he looked at me and then continued, "You look like a zombie, very ugly, you didn't put on make up?" Oh, shit! after Mel's outburst this morning, I totally forgot to touch up my make up!

"Yeah" Maggie added "By the way, pick us up at seven tonight". "Oh! sorry guys...I am not coming to the party..."I hesitantly spoke thinking of what happened this morning, Mel needs me. "WHAT THE FU-!?!" Ronald burst out. "But...everything was planned!! How could you do this in the last minute?!?" Maggie gritted through her teeth. "I'm really really sor-" Ron cut me off "Whatever, just give us the money and your car keys, I'll drive". "Yea, you always pay remember?" Maggie added. "Of course!" I replied and they snatched my bag digging for my money. I hope they don't call off our friendship because of all this...They threw my bag aside "Let's go babyyyy" Maggie chirped while Ron led the way. "Wait! Guys!" I ran behind them quickly grabbing my books not wanting to get lost.

It was Chemistry class and Mr. Adam started collecting everyone's projects. "Ronald! Where is your team project? Tomorrow is the last chance for you to submit or else...you too Maggie" Mr. Adam then turned to me "And you, Julia, I'll let you off the hook just this once as you generally don't do this" I nodded looking down.

"How could you just forget it at home?!?" Maggie yelled at me. "I'm sorry..." I murmured. I forgot to keep it in my bag yesterday night after talking to Mel. "You always complete everything but what is wrong with you today?" she continued. "And why does that bastard always show partiality towards you?" Ronald spoke in. "I guess she seduced him" Maggie commented. "Wha-" I was in shock, how could she think of me that way? "Jeez...relax, it was a joke..." Ronald quickly said "Of course, as if she can" Maggie muttered. I had to get out of here as soon as possible. I quickly said my goodbyes and left.

I was travelling in the bus as Ron took my car keys. It wasn't anything new, by this time, I should be able to cope up with all this, this was my life. Tears were threatening to fall down my cheeks but I reminded myself, 'You cannot cry, you cannot be weak, no one is going to come to comfort you, console you. You were, are, will always be alone, so just smile' I took a deep breath and smiled weakly.