The Tragic Life

Chapter 2

WARNING: CHAPTERS 32 - 36 OF THIS BOOK CAN ONLY BE READ ON INKITT! LINK IN MY BIO ♥️
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I ask the taxi driver to park one street down from their house, needing to practice my speech one more time. I've rehearsed it twice in my head on the way over here, worrying that I didn't put sorry enough times in the first three sentences. By the time I go over it again, it's too late because I'm already heading up the pathway that leads to their trendy three bedroomed bungalow.

It's so Yasmin with the bright coloured flowers and Buddha type ornaments lining the front of the lawn. I remember her saying that she got a good deal on them when they were holidaying in Phuket, but the shipping cost to take them home was four times as much as the ornaments themselves.

A loud bang jolts me from admiring the garden to the front door where Yasmin stands in the doorway with her pyjamas hanging from her slight frame. I worry that she looks thinner than usual, the new hairdo she's sporting making her look leaner in the face.

I blow out a long breath, lifting Emily higher on my hip when she starts to slip down. "Hey, Yas."

Letting out a long whine that turns into a sobbing noise, she leaps out of the door to run to me. "Oh my goodness, you're here. I can't believe it."

The scent of her floral perfume coats us when she opens her arms to wrap around us, my face squashing into her shoulder from the strength of it. This is far better than I ever believed it would be, and I haven't even explained myself yet.

"I'm so sorry," I say, feeling so much peace in this moment. "I'm so sorry for the things I said. I'm so sorry."

"I know you are. I forgave you the moment you said them because I knew it wasn't you. It was the grief talking," she replies, edging back to stare at Emily.

I go to hand her over. "Do you want a hold?"

Yasmin doesn't waste any time in grabbing my daughter from my arms, her nose-diving into her hair as she closes her eyes tight. "Hello, baby girl. I've been waiting forever to meet you."

I refused to let either of them meet Emily, scared to share her with the world in case she was taken from me too.

I move closer to them when Emily's eyes search me out. "Emmy, this is your auntie Yas."

"Auntie Yas," Yasmin whispers, closing her eyes so tight that the tears trickle down her cheeks.

My eyes begin to sting at the sight of her so upset. "Yeah, auntie Yas who's going to be the one who lets her get away with things I won't."

We both giggle at that because we know it's true. Yasmin lives life to the fullest, not caring one bit as to what others think of her. I take a lot of inspiration in her lead. I need to find my fun again.

Yasmin smiles at me. "Always. I can't wait until she's older and I can introduce her to the joy of sparkling wine."

God help me. "You do love your Prosecco." which is why I brought two bottles of the stuff with me.

I figured it could be a sweetener should I need it.

"Oh, I do. You were never much of a drinker, though, were you?" She stares down at Emily, seeming to be checking her every feature.

I love that she's doing that, but it's making me feel equally as guilty. "I love those red slushy type cocktails, though."

Yasmin raises her eyebrow. "You mean the strawberry daiquiri?"

The name rings a bell. "Yeah, that one. I always had those on a night out."

"You did. I'll give you that," she says, giving me a side smirk.