Bittersweet

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1...

Two Years Later....

"Emily Jean Thomas, this is the last time I am saying this, come down for dinner or I will personally drag your butt down the stairs." I grinned at my aunt's threat and closed my sketchbook, ready to go downstairs. "Geez, hold you horses aunt, I am coming."

I went down to the dining room, and saw Uncle Jack sitting with a scared look on his face. I chuckled at his expression and he turned to playfully glare at me. "Still with the mood swings?" I asked sitting down. He sighed and stretched "Yes it's five months already, just four more to go." He grinned. Yup, Aunt Cherry is five months pregnant and I could tell that they were both really excited for their first baby.

I smiled at him as my aunt set the plates on the table and sat down. It's been one week since we shifted to Uncle Jack and Aunt Cherry's old house. Uncle Jack owns a chain of restaurants, and just, I could say luckily, one month before the accident, they settled in our town. But after two years, they still didn't like it much and decided to move back to their old town.

I couldn't say I was complaining much, because I honestly think changes would be good for me. New house, new environment, new school, this was offering me the chance to start afresh. Be who I am and create first impressions. Or atleast, that's what my therapist told me.

Yes I see a therapist, and no, I refuse to call them a shrink, because I think it's an insulting name. Unlike, some kids, I think Dr.Suzie; my therapist is a great person. She has her own incredible way of talking and inspiring me, and she has helped me through a lot.

"So Em, what do you think?" my aunt and uncle were staring expectantly at me. I blinked at them "Sorry what?" They both smiled at me but didn't comment on my behavior, I had a habit of spacing out. A lot. "I was saying, my best friend Lily invited us for dinner tomorrow." My aunt stated. "Oh, okay" I nodded at them. "All of us." She said. "Even me?" "Yes Em, even you, you are a part of the family now, aren't you?"

I smiled at that statement. I was truly grateful of them for taking me in and caring for me like their own child. I have no idea what I would do without them. I tried my best to not disappoint them. "Please Emily, think of it as your first step of opening up." One thing you should know about me is that I am not a social person. In fact I only had a total of two friends which I lost two years ago, after the accident.

"Fine" I sighed and told them, "But only if you bring new charcoal pencils for me, I am running out of them." "Deal" Uncle Jack said. As you can see sketching is my favorite and only hobby. It has been there with me throughout my, as I like to call it 'dark times'. At first sketching was only a way of pouring out all my emotions but gradually it turned into a hobby. I haven't even seen my first sketches.

After I agreed, Aunt Cherry got too excited and began chattering happily about tomorrow plans, all of her previous bad mood gone. Uncle Jack was grinning at her and I smiled at the cute couple before me.

After excusing myself from the dinner table, I went to my room. Opening the door I was greeted with the sight of pictures of my family. There were just too much, the whole right wall was filled with it. I just couldn't choose between them and ended up putting most of them on my wall. Aunt Cherry had to stop me from going beyond that wall.

There was just one thing that I haven't fully recovered from after the accident. And those are the haunting nightmares every night and crying myself to sleep. That's why I hate night time. In the day, I can act brave and walk with a smile on my face. But the night brings out my vulnerable state.

I unpack some of my stuff that are still not opened and then do some sketching until I am really drowsy. Then the usual schedule begins the crying, staring at the pictures, sleeping, nightmares, waking up crying and then sleeping again. Uncle Jack and Aunt Cherry were used to it, they did try to help a lot in beginning, thus the therapist, but nothing worked. But after I pleaded with them to leave me alone they finally agreed, even though I knew they were worried sick about me.

But I had accepted this, that I was mentally fucked up, even though it isn't seen on the outside, inside I am a blubbering mess, surviving my life every day. The accident had taken a huge toll on me.

**********************************

Vote and Comment!