Our Promise

The Present

- Fourteen Years later-

"Please come again." I said to the customer.

I work at a restaurant pretty far from where I live, where the money I earn goes not towards myself but towards my parents. They needed the money more than I did. My parents work at a bakery. It's not doing so well but they can't seem to find another job that they particularly enjoy. I started to work here when I turned sixteen. Of course it was hard in the beginning to work and go to school but I managed. I didn't really have a choice though. My parents needed the money.

After I graduated high school, I didn't bother to go to university or college because I knew that we couldn't afford it. I guess this is my life now.

My life wasn't perfect. Some days I didn't get the best food or even food at all. It's kind of silly because my parents work at a bakery but it costs money. Even if we did make the food, we rarely received any business and where is the money going to go if we do take food? You will have to owe it back and we don't have that type of money. A lot of people in the town looked down at us a lot because we are not exactly rich.

I changed a lot over the years. I have light brown hair that falls into natural curls at the end. I also have light brown eyes and when I go in the sunlight I could see a pinch of green in them. I finally grew! I was always so short and I always hoped that I would grow tall. Now I'm standing at a proud 5'7. Not that tall but tall non the less.

You could say that my life changed a lot. It has been fourteen years since I had last seen him or talked to him. I miss him. I still remembered everything about him. I still remember the way he scratches the back of his neck when he's nervous and the cute dimples that show when he smiles. I couldn't get him off my mind. I still had the ring that he gave me. I never took it off. Not once. Of course it got smaller as the years went by, but now it only fits on my pinky finger. The past fourteen years have been filled with loneliness because of my lack of ability to connect with anyone or even make a simple friend. The day he left was the day that my life went downhill.

I wanted to go to university and get somewhere in life but I don't think that will happen. A rumour is going around that says that the bakery that my parents work at will close soon because they aren't getting enough business.

Recently, a new bakery opened up at the end of the street. We never really got that much business in the beginning so now that a brand new bakery opened up, the small percent of people that used to come to our bakery is now going to there's. If we don't get enough business then we will be forced to shut down. Where are we going to get the money to have a house and food? Were already poor as it is. We barely get passed the day with enough food. I work in a restaurant so I'm basically the one that brings home the money and that is not really reassuring considering I get very little pay.

I sighed as I walked to the new bakery. I wanted to see what they had that we didn't have. Was the stuff more cheaper? Was the inside more better looking?

All my questions got answered as I walked into the bakery. Right when I entered the bakery a hostess escorted me to a booth. I was so overwhelmed by the sight in front of me. It definitely was better than our bakery. Although the prices were a tad expensive, I hardly thought anything of the prices because the smell of the newly baked pastries came to my mind. The sight of the chefs making the food right in front of me made my mouth water. I was in a little lounge where everyone can stay inside and chat. It reminded me more of a restaurant because it was humongous. The fireplace that they had at the very left of the bakery made the atmosphere feel so warm. I was definitely not used to this extravagant place. Nothing could compare to this bakery.

My home looked like a total dump compared to this. Is it sad to say that this is the richest place I have ever been in? My house was a very small place that looks like the roof is going to cave in at any moment. There is also a huge tree next to my house that looks like it's going to break any second. The inside doesn't look to good either. My house had two bedrooms which was just the right size for my family but the problem was that there was one bathroom. I hated when I had to share a bathroom with my parents. We had a very small kitchen. I was surprised that we could even fit a table in there. We couldn't afford a TV or even a computer but sometimes I liked it that way. It meant more time that I could work and get money. It was also time to spend with my family. Although I always try my best not to complain because I know that I don't have a huge mansion for a house and beautiful clothing and shiny new cars and all the money in the world, but this was good enough. I guess.