Ms. Unlucky & The List

Prologue

©2013 All Rights Reserved By Bianca A. Guevara

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Prologue: Memories

"Higher, Daddy, higher," screamed the little five year old in the video.

She was happy as could be with her parents, alive and well and playing with her. Her father, Alistair Dawson, a college professor, with little signs of aging aside from the laugh lines on his face, was pushing his young daughter on the swing set in the park, while his wife, Michelle, filmed them. His wife, a writer and published author, was laughing happily at her daughter's obvious glee. They were a happy family and they had no real sorrows. Not yet, anyway.

The film played and then went to a more recent image. The little girl was now in her young teen years and it was her last birthday before the accident. The horrifying incident that ripped her dear mother from her forever. She was sitting at the table waiting for the inevitable birthday cake with the twelve lit candles to be bestowed to her by her mother.

"Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday, dear Phoenix," her mother started singing as she precariously carried in the cake. Everyone attending started to sing along with the beautiful blond woman with the bright blue eyes. Barely 37 years of age, her mother was still just as beautiful as she was twenty years prior, there were plenty of photos to prove that fact.

The birthday girl was almost a splitting image of her mother. Her big, blue eyes were just a shade darker but sparkled with exuberance. She had her mother's feminine cheek bones, though not fully showing through her slight baby fat and her hair was a mess of curls, like her father, while her mother's hair was stick straight.

"Okay, Nix, make a wish and blow out the candles," her mother said. The young girl gained a thoughtful expression while making a wish before taking in a deep breath to blow out her candles all at once. Everyone clapped as soon as the candles were extinguished. Nix had wished for a new Ken doll, instead of what she couldn't even know to wish for, which was for God to keep her mother safe a week later.

Another clip was shown with the little girl dancing on her father's feet at the father/daughter dance at her school. She was looking up at her father smiling in pure joy. Her mother was sniffling in the background and cooing over how adorable her two loves were. It was a sight to see.

Then it went on to another clip.

"Let's see what my wonderful ladies are up to," Alistair could be heard off camera. He was walking the camera down a hallway towards a door that was lit around the edges. He slowly opened the door to reveal his wife and daughter sitting on the bed, giggling, and painting their nails. Michelle was instructing her daughter on how to do it correctly and not cause any smudging. They were talking about all kinds of things, including boys, which young Nix thought were stupid and mean. Michelle reassured her daughter that she would soon think of them in a better light and start dating.

"My daughter is not dating until she's thirty and that's if I'm feeling generous," Alistair informed his wife.

"Is that so," Michelle countered, giving her husband a pointed look. The camera shook as Alistair presumably nodded. "You are off your rocker if you think that you can keep my little girl from experiencing love," she told him, hands on her hips.

"I'm just thinking about what's best for my baby girl," Alistair said, zooming the camera in on their daughter who was fully concentrated on painting her toenails just right.

"She won't be little for much longer, love," Michelle said, off camera. Alistair zoomed out and directed the camera to his wife.

"She will stay young as long as we can keep her that way," was his reply.

The film continued on to show a now sad little girl, swinging alone, while her father recorded her. It was a while later and she couldn't bring herself to be elated at the fact that it was again her birthday. Her first birthday without her mother. Who could ever be happy at the loss of someone so amazing and special? The world was a darker place without her and no one even cared anymore. It wasn't a day to celebrate and be merry because there was no reason for it. Not without her.

"Come on, Phoenix. Mommy wouldn't want you to be sad on your birthday," her father pleaded. It was a sad attempt, but it worked. With great effort, the young girl of now thirteen years, pasted on a false smile and tried not to cry for the millionth time. "That's better, Nix. Now, tell daddy what you want for your birthday and we will go and get it right now," he told her. She pondered and then lit up.

"I want some books," she told him. Then he laughed and the clip cut off there.

The last video on the camera was the most recent and it was the most heart-breaking. It was only a week and a half prior and it was of Nix's 17th birthday. The setting was in a hospital room, instead of her house or the great outdoors. The only people in the video were Nix and her father.

"Okay. Is it on? Nix? Is it on or not," her father asked from his position in the middle of the hospital bed. He was bald now, all of his lush light brown hair gone from the chemo. His gray eyes were duller and looked tired. His skin was pallid and made him look old. He was trying to hide his pain, with his smile, but it was perfectly clear on camera.

"Yes, dad, it's on," his daughter assured him. He smiled wider and looked to the camera instead of past it.

"Well, my little girl is now seventeen years old today. Wow, where has the time gone? I remember the day you were born and I held you for the first time. I cried at the gross little bundle in my arms, all covered in baby goo and blood-"

"Dad!"

"Sorry, but it's true," her father said, laughing. "Well, anyway. I hope to be there with you for many more birthdays but only time will tell. If I don't make it past this one, I want you to know that I love you and your mother and I are always with you. You are strong and you can make it through anything if you set your mind to it."

"Dad that is so corny and I'm right here," she told him.

"I know but this is for the future. So you can look at it later, Nix. For the memories," he told her, looking past the camera at her.

"Yeah, well, it's weird to talk like that. You're getting better. You're going to be fine," she reassured him.

Little did Nix know, but her father wasn't getting better. He had been getting worse and she was too blind to see it, until it was too late. He had passed during the night, in his sleep. A peaceful way to go, really, but it still left Nix all alone in the world. Without a mother and now without a father, Phoenix Dawson was suddenly an orphan.