The Last of the Danfords

The return

                                                                                             Chapter One

    "M​aine  Armary that's the woman you'll be staying with until your legal matters are resolved. She is the closest family member you have, so Miss Danford are you ready for your new life?"

 "I don't know, going back to New York doesn't seem like a good idea." I responded, I looked at the man who'd served me since I was seven as he put the last of my luggage in the back of the oversized limo. Gabe is the best! When things got rough, which is often. He is always there with no judgment, even when I manage to get myself in screwed up situations like the one I'm in right now. I followed his movements as he planned the carry on in the limo, a rush of memories of late night dinners and ridiculous English jokes came floating back. I could not help but smile.

I was going to miss him, he was my only family. 

"Well miss Danford I' am quite distress at the thought of losing you, but I think it may be time for you to face your demons." His look of frustration, pulled me out of my nostalgia, but only to be replaced by a dolorous ache. My demons were very much intended to be kept in their box, yet they always seem to be lurking. I hated to think about the horror I had left behind in that city. Gabe was the only one who knew why I had left, mostly because he was the one who made it go away. I grew pale thinking about it, it was such a long time ago. Though it still feels like yesterday and that horrified me, especially if I was going to go back home.

 "Are you going to be okay? I could always go with you?". Gabe asked with a worry he was longer obligated to. It forced me out of my anguish, I cleared my gorge, and flashed a smile at him before I went into the car as he held the door. I didn't answer or say goodbye, I didn't want to cry. Not here, not when I had worked so hard, especially because I couldn't lie to Gabe, he'd sacrifice enough for me. It was time I let him go, he deserved a life of his own and I made sure he would be able to have one. I wasn't going to ruin that, so I smiled wide open and waved goodbye as the car rolled to far down the street for him to see me cry. I opened the file that I'd held for the last hour, it was about the woman who I was going to live with. Apparently her name is Maine, she's 42, married to Adam Armary. She is a psychologist, she is mother's cousin from grandma's side and blah blah, that did nothing to ease my anxiety. No matter what relations we had, she is a stranger. If it wasn't for my incompetent lawyer I would be in Martinique right now sipping champagne by the beach. But nooo this is the best deal that did not involve me incarcerated. It may be my fault for getting cut at that kink club, but it's modern age. 2015! every other 16 year old on the planet with the means party's. It's part of the lifestyle and the worst part is the fact that I got marked for such a rookie mistake! Drinking and a little Molly is like breakfast. It wasn't even that much and I wasn't even

that high. If I hadn't passed out none of this would of happened. I was fine but that insufferable Linda called the ambulance and insisted that I had overdosed. She's always been intimidated by me, I just never knew that, she wanted me gone that bad. It's always tricky knowing how to handle yourself around people, everyone is a possible enemy. The uptight prude of a judge in charge of my case prearranged my being shipped off to live with a woman I don't even know for an undetermined time period until my Emancipation can be legalized. So I'm going back to New York in the middle of July when it's a 100 degrees to top it all off! I exited the car on the streamline where the meticulous security team took my luggage, as I headed to the jet for my trip to the big Apple. It felt a bit boisterous outside, I so hope it is not like this in New York.

***********

Four and a half hour later I was in an elevator heading for the main floor of 111 Murray Street, it really was a visionary and astonishing Building Apartment. The canopy and softly curving form of the entry are surrounded by landscaped gardens, establishing an elegant and tranquil point of arrival. It stood tall and futuristic, much like my own home, except I lived in Le Rivage back then. I check my bare face on the reflecting glass the elevator provided, erasing some invisible smudge. I felt a little skittish, to meet my new family. The metal doors opened to a luxurious condo. It was a massive, semi-circular living room that has about 15 rounded bay windows with multiple exposures framing the iconic Manhattan buildings such as Chrysler, Empire State, and One World Trade Center. It was beautiful; The color palette for the first level was kept simple, with white and gray tones rarely contrasted by wooden additions. A massive white textured accent wall increases the feeling of space, while ensuring a sense of dynamics. The stylish mix of materials and textures is emphasized by natural light flooding the apartment through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Sustaining white columns add a royal touch to the overall design scheme and one must definitely appreciate their subtle integration. The triplex gradually unveils more bold colors, such as brown, beige and golden hues. I felt the conservative air this in place clasped my lungs it reeked of overpriced decors, It felt as if it were meant, to hide the desolation here. Nothing to personalize the space, just beautiful empty things.