The Day I Started Living

Chapter 5

*song: Hurt me by Lapsley*

We walk in and are taken straight to our seats, 'reserved' I thought and wondered who we would be seeing.

I order a coke when the waiter came for our drinks, my dad being the south African he is asked for a beer and at first the waiter looked perplexed by my father's accent but decided not to question it and walked off, when the second waiter can bringing a couple towards our table, I sucked in a breath when I saw the two people.

The women caught my eye first looking like a model on the runway being dressed in a plain black designer ball gown, it made her vibrantly green eyes stand out even more and the man well he looked like he just walked out of a 'vampire diaries' episode in a very expensive suit.

"Dad" I whispered as they approached "are they joining us for dinner"

It was only then that I realized we were in a very fancy restaurant and that my father was in a worn out grey suit, I felt so under dressed with my oversized grey jersey and black jeans.

"Good evening, Mister Lockwood" said my father as he stands to meet our guests, I remember that name but I can't quite figure out from where.

I smile politely as everyone gets settled into their seats, I lower my head to cause not attention towards me, as I always do when my dad drags me along on his business meetings.

"Hello" said the beautiful lady in a very melodious voice "I'm Cora and my husband over here is Robert" she smiles warmly at me

I look up confused as to why she would talk to me, my father always tells me to shut up and not to speak unless he has spoken to me first. I look to my father for approval, he tries to give a small curt nod but this had not passed the attention of the couple.

"Hello it's nice to meet you, I'm Keira" I say giving them a small smile

"Oh! What beautiful eye you have there, darling" says the man in a very strong voice full of authority

"Look Robert, look, she is blushing isn't she so cute" exclaimed the Cora as she smiled at me full of warmth, I felt my heart break it's been a while since anyone has looked at me with... adoration which is strange since I've only known this lady for 20 minutes and I already feel a connection not just with her but with both of them.

The waiter arrives with our drinks and I'm grateful for the distraction, the rest of the conversation was between my father and them. I choose not to listen to their discussion, instead I fiddled with the loose string on the table cloth, I finally got frustrated with the string and then with a blink of an eye the entire side was undone. I sat dumbfounded with the string folded nice in my hand.

"Kiera" my father called looking a little annoyed that I made him look bad in front out the lovely couple.

"Yes, father" I replied

"The Lockwood's are leaving London at the end of the week" he says , I nod confused as to why is he telling me this "and you will be leaving with them" I blink, my face blank but my mind is racing ,replaying and then after the confusion passed the anger set in.

"WHAT!?!" I exclaim loud enough for the tables around me to turn heads but not enough that the rest of the restaurant to hear.

"You will be going with them, to America or Europe ... I 'm not quite sure" he said not looking at me.

It then dawns on me where I heard the name 'Lockwood's' from, this morning when we arrived in the lobby.

"This was the plan wasn't it, you sending me off? That's what Aunty Jade was crying when we left..." I look down at the table as the realization set in "she knew" I said and closer to the end my voice broke, confusion and betrayal was all I felt.

"Don't cry, darling you will fit in, the people there are very friendly" said Cora with a smile and sad eyes, I see her reaching for my hand but I move it- from sad eyes to hurt - I didn't understand and I didn't want to.

Their mouths move but I don't hear anything, they try and lighten the mood but I didn't feel anything but anger but most of all was betrayal.

How can she say that! How can any of them say this? My father, my only family is abandoning me and like the coward he is can't even look me in the eye and tell me, his giving me away to a bunch of stranger! I'm so furious the tears well up.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning" he says, he turns to look me in the eyes with an blank expression but his eyes or full of sadness and relief "As a father I can't provide for you and that is all I ever wanted to do, then I get home and there's a note and all it tells me is that she's gone, your mother with Katie and never to return... I can't even look at you without being reminded of her, of what I lost" he stands to leave

"But I'm your daughter, your blood" I say with tears flowing freely down my pink cheeks, my lips quiver as I hold in a sob.

"No Kiera, you're not when I met your mother you were only 6 months" he said soberly

I'm not his daughter, my mother ran away from me and now I'm being taken away from everything I thought was real.

With him saying that he goes and gets a cheque from Mr. Lockwood , he walks around to me gets on one knee and turns my chin so I face him

" I have always loved you and this is what I have to do , to protect and provide for you. To grow up happy and away form all that is bad in this world , I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me one day" tears run down his face same as mine and with that said he wipes his tears and kisses my forehead , saying goodbyes are hard I know that but giving up all you have left is worse.