Lacuna ¹

03

The bright rays of the golden sun's light snuck through the cracked blinds in the room in which Amélie layed in, illuminating it. Cuddled into her thick green duvet - that kept her warm throughout the night - layed the figure of the ginger, spread all over the bed in an uncomfortable position. The blazing golden rays traced over everything in the room, starting by the desk next to the window then the bookcase next to it then it landed on the bed only to trace over Amélie's figure that layed soundly in the green bed, leaving a beautiful golden hue covering everything, looking almost angelic. Amélie let out a small groan as the bright light was now too much to bare and so she opened her eyes just a cracked only to see the small room that was now home. It wasn't a dream. The green walls and decorations made her feel familiar to that in France, at home.

Home.

She couldn't help but let a tear escape her eye as she thought about her homeland and as she did so she traced over the familiar scarring that travelled down from the tip of her collarbone, past her bellybutton and to the end of her ankle. It was an accident that left her broken and scarred in too many ways to count. She closed her eyes again. She promised herself, her Maman, and her Frère that she would live on for them, no matter how hard it got always to think of them and the life they wanted her to live. She would fly not fall.

Amélie shook away those thoughts. It's a fresh start. She wiped away her stray tear and now fully awake she checked her clock on her bedside locker and read six thirty-two. It was early, but that was what she was like, an early bird. Pulling away her duvet, she let out a small breath and raised herslf from the bed. Her warm feet touching the cold wooden floor making a shiver go down her spine. Shuffling her way to her wardrobe then setting out those clothes she wanted to wear for her first day on her bed before grabbing a spare towel that she had now pronounced as her own and went for a shower being very careful as to not wake Charlie from his very loud snoring slumber. She carefully stepped over any of the noticeable raised from the ground floorboards as they were rather loud and disturbingly squeaky floorboards. Amélie paused her hesitant steps when she made it to the bathroom door and chuckled when she heard him snoring like an elephant all the way from the bathroom that resided down the hall from his room.

Tiptoeing her way back to her room after her twenty minute shower with her towel wrapped around her. She gently closed her door so it wouldn't bang and wake up Charlie before she began to dry herself off and get changed. Turning her hairdryer on a very low and quiet setting she began to dry her hair, then style it as she wished. Today, she wanted a half up half down plait. Once her hair had been completed Amélie began changing into a lovely jade green dress that stopped just above her knees that had a forest green bow wrapped around her waist showing off her figure, she had a matching forest green bow in her hair. The colour complimented her greatly. It was her favourite colour. She had a pair of simple white converse on her feet.

Staring at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but gently smile at the sight of  herself. This was her Maman's favourite dress on her. She had picked it after all.

The sudden sound of Charlie knocking on her door made her jump in the spot. Clearing her throat, she invited him in. Charlie opened the door and stood there for a moment when his gaze fell on Amélie. She looked so much like her Maman, his sister who was taken from the world way too early along with her husband and son. Two more beloved people. The two shared the same traits, such as the same bright and beloved hair colour, although she had gotten her emerald eyes from her father, his brother-in-law. In truth, she was the spiting of her mother. Her round face, button nose and the thousands and thousands of freckles. Charlie couldn't help but let a stray tear fall. Amélie noticed his shaken state, and instead of talking, she pulled him into a hug, something they had been sharing a lot of lately.

Charlie cleared his throat with a cough into his hand. "Volevo solo assicurarmi che ti alzassi in orario per il tuo primo giorno (I just wanted to make sure you got up for your first day)"

Amélie chuckled but nodded while her head was still on her Uncle's chest as they still shared a warm hug. "Sono pronto. Vuoi ancora la colazione? (I'm all ready. Do you still want breakfast?)"

Charlie paused for a moment, in thought before he spoke. "Se non è troppo disturbo rosso (If its not too much trouble red)"

Amélie smiled against his chest at the sound of her nickname come out of her Uncles mouth. She had missed it, missed him terribly. "Mai Zio (Never Uncle)." They hugged for a little bit longer before Amélie pulled away and noticed Charlie was still in his checkered pajamas that he had recieved for Christmas one year. She shook her head slightly. "Bene, tu vai a vestirti e io posso preparare la colazione, va bene? (Right, you go get dressed, and I will make breakfast, alright?)"

Charlie nodded. "Bene (Alright)"

With that, Charlie exited her room first, heading straight to his room to change into his police clothing for work. Amélie quickly shoved all her essential items she would need for her first day into her schoolbag before rushing down the stairs - almost tripping at the last step. Dropping her schoolbag onto one of the kitchen table chairs, she shuffed over to open the fridge to see its contents and use what was there to make breakfast.

🌹🌑🌹🌑🌹🌑🌹🌑🌹🌑🌹

"Ecco qua Zio, divertiti (Here you go Uncle, enjoy)"

Amélie placed a plate of French toast down in front of her extremely excited Uncle. Charlie grinned like a child at Christmas. Diving right into his delightful breakfast, tearing it to pieces with his knife and fork before scoffing it down. Amélie rolled her eyes at his bad eating habits. Charlie opened his mouth about to scoff down another huge bite of the delicious French toast when he noticed that his neice had no food in front of her.

"Non ne hai fatto uno per te? (Did you not make any for yourself?)? " He said in a somewhat guilty tone. He made his seventeen year old neice to only make him breakfast when he was supposed to be the responsible adult.

Amélie noticed his guilty look and just shook her head with a small smile. "Non mi piace mangiare la mattina (No I don't like eating in mornings)"

That made Charlie feel slightly better, but he still pushed slightly. "Mangeresti ancora qualcosa di piccolo, una mela? Per me per favore? (Would you still eat something small an apple? For me, please?)"

Amélie's smile grew at her Uncles concern. "Solo una mela (Just an apple)." She then took a green apple from the fruit bowl in the centre of the kitchen table and took a bite of it.

Charlie nodded in approval before continuing to eat his French toast. Everything was peaceful for a moment more. The two sat in comfortable silence as they ate. They didnt need to have a continuous conversation they enjoyed the quiet moments they shared together. When Amélie was at least half way through her sour green apple, she checked the time on the clock that was hung on one of the walls in the kitchen to see the time being seven twenty-eight, and her eyes widened.

"Devo andare, Zio Charlie, ci vediamo dopo, buona giornata al lavoro (I got to go Uncle Charlie, have a good day at work)" She spoke quickly as she gathered her schoolbag and tossed in a spare coat in case it rained later in the day. She pressed her lips to her Uncles cheek in haste as she didn't want to be late her first day.

"Sei sicuro di non volere un passaggio lì? (Are you sure you don't want a ride there?)" Charlie asked after he watched her rush around as he knew the nerves were kicking in.

Amélie shook her head from side to side aggressively in a no manner. "No grazie Zio, ti voglio bene (No thank you Uncle, love you)"

"Ti amo! (Love you!)" He shouted out as Amélie shut the house door.

Amélie now took the time and walked the road to school.