Captured By Darkness

Chapter 1

Captured By Darkness

"Happy birthday sweet heart"

My mouth stretches into a happy smile and as I open my sleepy eyes, I  rub away the sleep catching my Dad's loving smile. "Here." He says keeping his fatherly smile.

In his hand sits a small white box with a pink ribbon tied at the top in a neat bow. Sat closely to me on the edge of my bed he takes my hand and settles my gift firmly in my palm "What is it?" I ask although looking at it I'm guessing jewellery. 

"Open it and see."

A knot forms in my stomach, oh no.

I sit up brushing my bead hair back over my shoulders, I give him another pretend excited look and very gently pinching the end of the bow I untie it. Lifting off the cardboard lid my eyes reflect it's sparkle, "Wow, Dad it's beautiful."  That's the truth it is remarkable.

"It was your mother's engagement ring." He explains with a touch of sadness in his voice.

I twirl it in my hands mesmerized by its beauty. The sapphire stone glitters in the morning sun shining through my bedroom window. Dad must have opened my curtains. I am however a little confused by this gift to, well me.

"Em, should Jamie not get this?. You know to give to the woman he will  one day marry?"

Dad laughs out loud, "No, Aleigh would've wanted you to have it, it will keep her with you wherever you go."

Oh my god does he know something and not letting on? Shit..

Dad already dressed ready to start the day  looks to the ring, his grey blue eye's shine. He takes my hand in his taking hold of the ring and slides it onto my left middle finger.

"It's yours now sweetheart, keep it safe."

He lifts my sparkling hand kissing the top of the diamond stone, the grey stubble from around his chin tickles me. "My precious girl."

My eye's lower from his feeling guilty but then I look back up smiling. A real one this time.

"I love you Dad."

He tilts my chin to the side noticing my worried expression, "Are you alright?"

Uh oh here we go, brace yourself Nikki.

"Yeah...I  just wish I could've known her."

His hand weaves through my blonde strands giving me the same sad smile,

"Oh Sweetheart, she's in you, in fact you remind me deeply much of her, your beautiful just like she was, and I can tell you Nikki your mother would be so proud of you. I mean look at you, you've grown into a radiant young woman."

With that not wanting me to push further he pecks my cheek and leaves.

Thank god...

After my Dad avoided talking anymore about mum, which I'm glad.  I don't think I could take another minute hiding how I really feel, or what I have planned today. I scramble out of bed to get ready. Opening up the cream painted door I walk into my wardrobe, hidden in the corner underneath my jackets I pull out my back pack, quickly I check its contents making sure I have everything I need for my long journey. A few changes of clothes, the necessary toiletries, a map and my only picture of mum. I clutch it in my jewelled hand shedding a tear, her beautiful wavy golden hair which is pretty much identical to mine hangs perfectly down the side of her young heart shaped face, I look into her eye's and it's like looking in the mirror.  I've taken all of her features, I think I have dad's nose as hers is small and pointy whereas mine is round, but everything else I'm mums resemblance and Jamie too he is you could say the boy version of me. I give her a kiss and fold it back into the side pocket.