Red Rhythm: His Sweet Obsession

27

■ Note: Places, Cities, States, Institutions, Illnesses, Gadgets etc. and many other similar things have been made up in this book, they are not reality based and hence shouldn't be thought of as such. It is advised to not take the things written seriously or practically. These things have been added solely for the plot, it is again advised to think of them as just fiction and nothing more. Happy reading. ■

● AUTHOR'S POV

"You're leaving Samwill!" Aalyiah questioned, her pitch a little higher than the usual.

"You disappear for a whole week and now you're telling us you're leaving!" Aalyiah couldn't compose the rush of her thoughts, and just let them spill, when finally, Grace placed her hand on Aalyiah's shoulder and she settled down a notch.

"It might come as a surpise to you two, but I have always wanted to live in Wallsky." Ava replied, and before Aalyiah could start again she continued, "There's not many fond memories for me here in Samwill. Just the debt of my alcoholic father, along with the fact that both my parents have died."

Hearing that, an aching silence seeped into the air. Ava had never spoken of her family in this way before, not to Aalyiah and Grace.

"I have been trying to leave Samwill for a long time now. But, there was always something that hurdled in my way. I started saving up for it after my father died, and now, I am finally able to leave." Ava explained, determination lacing her words, a resolve evident through her eyes, and in her heart she knew well, that it was all a lie.

Ava never desired to live in Wallsky, she sure tried to leave Samwill, but only under the misunderstanding that she had been abducted by Xanthos Aldine. She had not been saving money to leave, with the cuts made in her pay for Xanthos' debt on her father, and the expenditures of her daily-life necessities, it wasn't possible for her to have any sort of significant savings.

"I should have told you both about my family a little more, I guess. But, there wasn't anything that gratifying about it for me to share." Ava reasoned, her fingers linking and unlinking themselves.

"I was completely rooted having to live the life that I did. Didn't have it in me going about discussing it as well." she explained, exuding an air of fatigue.

Ava knew she should be fully honest with her friends, but, she also knew now was not the time for that. Leaving Samwill and settling down with her mother in Wallsky, wasn't going to be a walk in the park. She was thoroughly informed of the entire situation, which involved; not just being mindful of their potential foes, but also, the legal aspects of their reunion.

Getting briefed on what went down in the past 12 years, made Ava realize, the lengths her mother went to secure a future for them. She couldn't do anything rash and spoil everything, she couldn't afford to.

"I'm glad you talked to us personally, we were worried about you. Sure, it was a shock to us when you said you were leaving all of a sudden. But, we understand. If we can't help lessen the burdens you're facing, we also shouldn't add to them." Grace comforted Ava, and emphasised her last sentence looking at Aalyiah; who was sitting, listening to everything.

"Right, I'm sorry if I went a little overboard, I just.. I just didn't know you had ummm... had lived such an uncomfortable life---" but before Aalyiah could speak further, Ava took her hand in hers and started, "You did not go overboard, your question was valid and so was you being upset."

Something heavy pushed down on the air, as if a rush of emotions soaked into it, physically amplifying its weight.

"Gosh, enough with the melodrama now!" Aalyiah said, trying to shift the mood. She was the kind of person who did not enjoy having emotionally charged conversations, because her waterworks were really swift in the matter. Hence, she would keep them at bay, for as long as she could.