Forever Yours

CHAPTER 1 ~ OCEAN

-OLIVIA JANE YILMAZ-

It's late afternoon, the leaves of the trees in the garden slowly fall on the ground, where they will dissolve in a few weeks.

I'm tired. It was a hard day at school today.

As I watch the leaves, I imagine them being me. Falling down and slowly dissolving.

Dissolving faster because of people stepping on them. On me. Ignoring that I am lying right there. After I fell. And lying on the ground.

„Olivia?"

My mom asks as she comes into the living room. I turn around to look at her. She is wearing a long, red cardigan over her dark blue denim jeans and her straight, brown hair is lying on her shoulders.

I smile. „Evet, annecim?" (yes, mom?)

She returns the smile and looks at me with her blue eyes. My Mom learned some turkish frases and words after all these years. „Dinner's ready. Your dad will be here in a few minutes. Let's sit down and talk a little bit until he arrives, okay?" she smiles, but it looks like she is worried about something. „Sure." I stand up from the hanging chair I've been sitting on and looking outside watching the leaves.
~

I enter the dining room, and see that our table was set for five people.

„Mom?" I look at her confused.

„Yes, honey?" she seems to be a little nervous as she must have realized that I noticed the five plates on the table.

„Who is coming over? Is that why dad's late?" I watch her closely as she tries to smile and she says „Yes, two old friends. Your dad thought it would be a nice gesture if he picked them up."

„Oh." I sound as surprised as I actually am.

Two old friends? The last time friends came over was when I was in Middle School and a few colleagues from my mom's work came to our house to found a book club. It didn't even last for two months, because some were reading the book faster than the other members of the club and got spoiled all the time.

I get it. I would have left the book club too. I hate getting spoiled, especially when I am really exited about a book's or movie storyline. And because many had left, my mom thought it would be the best to break up the book club.

Someone rings the door bell. I walk to our front door and open it.

My dad. And two familiar faces. If only I could remember who they are.

„Hello, my name is Olivia. Nice to meet you", I say as the tall man on the left smiles and makes a quick gesture with his right hand as a greeting. I look at the woman next to him, who seems to be in her late 30s or 40s. She is quite skinny compared to the man next to her. She smiles, and I can see a dimple on her left cheek. It makes her smile look even more friendly.

Both look at me, they seem a little surprised.

„Olivia, dear! It's nice to see you again. May we come in?"

I step away from the doorframe and smile politely as they both walk inside. Followed by my dad. He must have been getting something from the car before they rang the doorbell and I welcomed the guests, because as he winks at me and smiles, he carries a big wrapped box in to the house. It looked like some sort of gift, it was wrapped in pink and gold striped wrapping paper, with a huge bow on top.

I follow my dad inside the dining room. The couple was already sitting at the table, side by side, and my mom sat across of the woman. Next to each other, you can clearly see the height difference of the couple. The woman, which has dark blond hair with a few white, shiny strands in it, is atleast a few centimeters smaller than her partner. They both are wearing very formal clothes. The man a light grey suit, with a pair of black leather shoes and a black tie. The woman wears a nice dark red dress and a necklace with huge pearls.

Next to them I look like a wet towel which laid outside in the garden for too long.

Suddenly I realize that I was staring at our guests for too long, and they notice and smile at me awkwardly. I smile back nervously and sit down on the chair at the end of the table. I am now sitting in between the woman and my mom. My dad sits down next to my mom after putting the huge box on one of the kitchen counters.

Silence. No one said something for what feels like hours.

Finally, my dad decided to say something. It looks like he is struggling to find words for what he is trying to say.

„Well, Madeleine, how was your trip to Paris?" he smiles at the woman. She nods and puts down her fork before she could take another bite of her food.

She smiles. „Paris is such a wonderful city, honestly. It's a great place for shopping and the Eiffel Tower at night was absolutely stunning. Right, Steven?" She looks at the man next to her. I suppose that they are married. Both of them have a ring on their right hand.

He looks at Madeleine, who looks at him very urgently waiting for him to say something. Usually I would smile, but something about this situation makes me think that I shouldn't.

„Yes, absolutely. Paris was great." he chuckles nervously as he looks at everyone. And because we stay silent, he looks down on his plate again.

Silence. Again.

Steven and Madeleine. These names sound so familiar. If only I could remember-

„Olivia, dear, could you hand me the bowl of vegetables?" I look up, surprised, but hand Madeleine the bowl with a smile. I guess it's my time to say something. I can't stand this awkward silence anymore.
„Well, may I ask, how did you and my parents meet?", I ask politely.

Everyone is staring at me. Some are shocked, some seem very surprised about what I just said.
„Sorry, did I say something wrong?"
Madeleine looks at me and smiles after looking at me shocked.
„Dear, did you really forget who we are? Oh, darling, I know it's been a while.." She looks at me with a sad expression.

I remember.

Madeleine and James Wales.

Liam Wales' parents. My kindergarten best friend.

Memories flood back into my brain. My heart feels warm as I think about my childhood. Things weren't so stressful and hard then. Everything was so easy. Back then you could have fought with someone and be friends the next day again. I smile at Madeleine, and everyone seems to be very calm again.

„Yes, I did, sorry. But I remember again. You are Liam's parents." Liam. My only friend in kindergarten to elementary school. We spend almost every day together. I quickly smile again as I think of him. What a pure hearted child he was. And a little gentleman too. He always opened the door for his parents, or more likely, tried. But it was adorable. I wonder how he is now. How he looks, to which school he goes, everything.

„Yes, I'm glad you remembered", says James. He didn't say a lot until now, I must admit that I'm a little bit surprised that he even engaged in our conversation. I smile politely as I ask „How has he been doing?" Madeleine's expression changes quickly, just like James'. My parents just look confused at the three of us, while they seem very interested in our conversation. Madeleine and James look at me worried, confused and slightly scared at the same time. „Great!", Madeleine says to quickly. Something doesn't feel right here. But I guess I know why they are here now. Still I'm very confused because I would of thought that he would have been here too.

I think they want me and Liam to meet each other again.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

A/N:

Thank you for reading the very first chapter of Forever Yours!

Please don't forget to vote, comment, follow and share this story! ♡

I hope you will enjoy the next chapters too! You reading this encourages me to finish this story 🫶💗

Love,
I ♡ (FlowerinHawaii)