Kayley: Seeking Truths

Chapter One

Hi, everyone,

So this is my first story on Wattpad and I really hope you like it. I've been working on this story on and off for like 6 years and it's about time I got it finished. Please vote and comment as I genuinely want to know what you guys think and I may in the future one day self-publish just to have my own copy lol. Well enjoy!

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Light bounced off the seagull’s wings as it swooped over Cadgwith on a gorgeous summer morning. The gull weaved effortlessly amongst the houses, breathing its freedom in. Kayley was dozing in her bed when she heard a thump hit her bedroom window. Sighing, she reached up and opened the window so the gull could enter. The dirty bird waddled into the room and flew up to the top of her wardrobe where it watched the inhabitants below. The young girl sat up looking at the gull and thought it a lucky creature; it was able to go anywhere it wanted without being checked up on all the time. Cadgwith was small; it was hard to get lost in a simple fishing village.

Her father was working downstairs in the bookshop they owned beneath their home. She often helped out in the dusty shop; mainly as the cleaner. Her father was getting on and had arthritis in his back; he couldn’t bend down to sweep the dirt up from the floor or climb a step ladder to clear the corners of cobwebs. It was his life and her prison. She sighed as their ginger tom strolled into her room, its ears pricked up. It stopped in front of the wardrobe and looked up at its prey, which sat snugly atop overlooking everything.

“Jasper,” Kayley threatened, getting up to put on a pair of comfy jeans and a cream jumper. The cat flicked its fluffy tail left then right to tell her that he had heard but didn’t particularly care about her threat. The gull glared down at the feline but felt a bit of relief knowing the cat couldn’t reach it.

“The pair of you behave.” With that she left the two creatures to the staring contest that had begun. Walking down the dreaded stairs, Kayley could hear her father scuffling around.

“Morning Kayley, did you sleep well?” he asked as she entered. She shrugged pushing her red hair out of her face. He fussed over papers that needed sorting and placed books here, there and everywhere making a mental note where they needed to go.

For as long as she could remember, Kayley remembered her father fussing over every little detail. He needed everything organised, everything tidy in order for him to function. She was often told to play outside when she was younger so she didn’t disrupt her father’s shop. However, for the past several years it had fallen to Kayley to keep the shop going.

“Do you need my help today, dad?” Kayley asked, as she eyed the pile of books that were in the ‘errand’ section.

“Yes, could you deliver these books to Mr Barns for me, please? Don’t forget to buy some pork from him for dinner tonight.” She nodded as he handed her two dusty books, so dusty they had probably been stocked on the shelf for such a long time. “And then can you deliver these books to the chap who works at the harbour.”

“Mr Fisher?”

“Yes, I think that’s his name. I can never remember his name.” Kayley sighed as she placed two more books into her bag. “Oh, and do visit Mrs Lewis will you? She’s not been very well this last week.” Kayley nodded and went to leave.

“Kayley.” Looking back she knew what was coming. “Don’t leave the village.”

The sun blinded her as she stepped out from the dark bookshop. Salt wafted from the sea as the summer breeze wrapped itself around her. Freedom had never tasted so sweet and yet so tempting. She breathed in and sighed relief. She enjoyed visiting Mr Fisher; he sometimes took her on his boat to go sailing and would teach her things about fishing and about the sea. She could talk to him about topics that she couldn’t with her father.