Silver Lining

Chapter One

ELIZABETH's POV

I couldn't remember what specific day it was. But all I know is that, it happened in mid-January of 2014. For a change, I decided to make this year spontaneous. Like I don't need to sit down, grab a cup of cold milk and start writing my new year's resolution. Then again, cold milk will never work for doing my homework that night because I might fall asleep and end up not finishing my tasks. So I got up from my study table, went to the fridge and grab an ice cold water to help me stay awake. Then all of a sudden, my father caught a glimpse of me and called me over. He was having a cup of coffee with a Macbook in hand.

As I walked towards him, with a cold glass of water in hand, I sat down.

"How was school?"

"It's fine, I got a perfect score in my Calculus and Physics quiz today."

"That's good."

I just nodded, I wasn't in the mood to have a chat with anyone. But suddenly, my dad sighed loudly.

"Liz, are you sure you're okay? I've noticed you the past few weeks and you seem not yourself. You've been working twice as hard on your homework and studies. And you're awfully quiet. Is this about....?"

He didn't need to say it out loud cause he knew what I was thinking when he saw my lonely state. My ice cold glass of water was already sweating of cold beads and so was I. It's been four months since me and my boyfriend broke up. Yes, it was long enough to move on, but I loved him so much, I thought he was the kind of guy I'd spend the rest of my life with. I couldn't say it was messy but we separated in the wrongest of time. Before I left town to compete in a national contest was it all happened. Needless to say, I came home empty-handed.

"I'm all right, dad. I just. I'm just trying to keep my mind off him. I'm sorry for making you worry. I'll be fine. I promise."

"I hope so. I just want you to know I'm here for you. Everything will be okay." My dad said as he squeezed my hand in comfort. I smiled.

"Thanks dad." I gave him a hug.

"You're welcome. Now, go finish your homework and get to bed. Your eyebags can't get any bigger, you know?"

I laughed at his sarcastic remark, grabbed my now-warmed glass of water and did exactly what he said. Afterwards, I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I looked at myself on the reflection and gasped.

My eyebags were getting more darker and bigger.

"Huh. My dad is right. I really need to get some sleep. And stop crying."

I think this was the first time after four months I have looked myself in the mirror. And boy, do I sure look like a complete mess! One of the effects of a terrible breakup probably.

I stared for a whole minute in the mirror and scrutinized my physical appearance.

Okay, my face was ice cold pale, it could pass as Edward Cullen's long lost sister, but a not so attractive vampire that is as my puffy eyes were bloodshot red and my eye bags was as huge and dark as charcoal. My nose was all red and stuffy and I have the lips of a teenager's decayed body.

My clothes were always sweats for the past months and my blonde hair was tangled and downright smelly. I winced just at the thought of me during the last four months looking like this.

I didn't want to look like I just came from the trash or I was the stranded in the beach for so long I've lost count.

So I decided to stop this dreadful look I'm sporting for starters, taking a long, hot shower. As I turn on the shower, I felt the hot water streaming my cold, pale skin and I suddenly felt alive again. Like the dead just finally awaken from their tombstone. I started washing my long hair and applying my strawberry scented shampoo all over my hair and massaged the roots. Afterwards, I grabbed my loofah and squirted my watermelon scented body wash and scrubbed my whole body hard, it started to get red. I rinsed every suds on me and dried myself by patting it with a pink cotton towel.

I figured that since I was going to change to a new Elizabeth, I vowed to apply lotion. My Victoria's Secret Love Pink raspberry flavored lotion that my mom got for me for my birthday. I know, I'm a sucker for fruits, I'm certain that I smell like fruit salad. Afterwards, I went to my closet and decided to wear my Hello kitty pyjamas and black tank top.

I blow-dried my hair, applied my facial moisturizer and jumped to bed. Paris jumped in as well, cuddled up in my pink polka dot comforters. As I sat, I decided to pray. It's been a while that I haven't prayed to God since I was pretty bummed about my breakup but what do I have to lose? I miss God and I need guidance.

"Dear Lord, I want to thank you. First of all, for this glorious pampering I did tonight. It wouldn't be impossible without my dad criticized my whole physical appearance. I'm sorry I haven't spoken to you for a while. I just feel so lost right now. I was at the library the other day and saw this interesting book which is now a movie. You know, the Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick which is about a man with bipolar disorder who is released from a psychiatric hospital and moves back in with his parents and he said he will find his silver lining. I'm no bipolar but I want to believe that every cloud has a silver lining. Can you help me find it?"

I didn't know what was the last thing I said or even bothered to say "Amen" but all I know I was drifted off to sleep.