Caesar's Rose

Chapter 1

ROSE

It is a sunny day in my small town. My mum and I are at the train station, standing among the long queue and waiting to get train tickets to New York city.

Yes. You heard me. New York city.

I heaved a sigh as the hot sun licked out sweats from my temples. I don't understand why today of all days chose to be this sunny. It actually rained yesterday.

No one knew it will be this sunny today!

It is burning hot.

I was literally excited about the rain yesterday. I actually thought it will rain today and then, get this trip cancelled.

Don't get me wrong, I am not unhappy that we are going to the big city of New York. Everyone loves New York. But I get anxious whenever we change to a new environment.

Not like I have travelled a lot in all seventeen years of my life. I haven't even left this small town since I was born. But we have changed houses several times. Thanks to my mum who loves new places.

Now, she has chosen New York city to move to.

Yeah, it is a big one. She has decided to take a huge step.

I get anxious and sick whenever I change to new environment. In my mum's words and I quote, "You will love New York city, sweetie. You have nothing to worry about. In case you fall sick, I have medication for that."

Mums.

Sighing, I held my bag tightly to prevent thieves from snatching it from me.

Yes, thieves. There are a lot of them in this town. I believe they are around here mostly, because everyone here have their bags in their hands.

If I could think like the thieves? I believe they think there are a lot of money in everyone's bags.

Well, if they take ours? They will be very disappointed once they open it because we don't have any money except our ticket money.

We are poor.

Which is a terrible condition to be in.

But hey, I didn't tell you the most interesting reason why we are moving to New York.

There are two reasons though.

One, we are going to my dad's place. Mum said he owns a big house in the city.

She said he is very rich and sophisticated. And will love to see me.

That's the more reason why I should be excited. But my phobia for new environments is preventing me.

I am happy that I am finally going to see my father.

I have missed him my whole life. Even though I have never met him.

Mum said he is a retired soldier now.

I asked her why he didn't pay me visit all these years.

She said the nature of his job wouldn't allow it.

I pondered on what she said. One day, I used my classmate's phone to research the nature of his job.

I discovered that soldiers ARE, allowed to visit their homes once in a while.

At that moment, I realized that my mum lied to me. I researched further and I discovered that soldiers usually die during operations and wars.

I instantly felt terrible.

She lied to me because my dad actually died in one of his operations. That's why he couldn't visit us. She lied to me because she doesn't want me to feel bad.