Never Forgotten

Chapter 1: {Always Expect The Unexpected}

I wasn't ever what you would call "normal".

But, I never found anything wrong with that.

And my family....was far from normal as well.

I guess that's where I get it from.

You see, my mom's sister, otherwise known as my Aunt, her daughter, Jasper, left one day for school, and never returned. My Aunt was never heartbroken about it in the slightest, and Jasper's sister didn't seem to be affected much at all. It's odd really. I did get the chance to talk to my cousin a few times, and Jasper was one of the nicest people I have ever met. It honestly confuses me to no end why her family didn't seem affected at all when she left. It was almost as if she never even existed to them. In fact, there was times where they never remembered her. It hurts, and I really do wish that Jasper was still here. Maybe one day I'll find her again. I do have a few things to remember her by, though. She kept a journal before she left, and she also had this cool watch. I'm not really sure where it's from, since the writing on it is illegible, but I think it's pretty cool. Although it does has some tendencies to do weird things, like light up, and make weird noises.....

And this is where my story starts.

My name is Estrid. I'm nineteen years old, and my life is okay. I mean, it's not great, but I know other people have it worse. I have a loving boyfriend, that I've been with for six years. He is loving most of the time, although sometimes if I'm not doing exactly what he wants, he tends to get a bit....physical. I've put up with it for six years though, so I'm honestly mostly use to it. The bruises don't hurt much anymore. I also have a job I've always wanted, and I even have my own apartment.

But anyways, so my life has been pretty okay, until a few months back, when a lady with blond, tight curls started following me after work each day. I honestly have no idea why. But she disappears each day after I go into my apartment. I have tried to tell the police, but she's never there when they are. I even told my parents about it, but since they've never seen her, they told me I must be hallucinating.

So, since no one believes me, I've been trying to figure this out myself.

It hasn't been the slightest bit easy, but I didn't expect it to be at all.

~

"Estrid!" My insensitive boss yelled.

I sighed and got up from my chair, and walked down towards his office.

"Yes?" I asked, trying to remain completely calm, since this was the fifth time today that my boss had called me down to his office.

He looked completely furious, as he held up a piece of paper.

"Do you not realize that you have two deadlines that are exactly two days late?" He nearly yelled, making sure that everyone could here.

I sighed, putting a hand through my hair, fixing a part of the braid in the back of my hair.

"I meant to get them done, but you see-" before I could finish, he stopped me.

"That is the third time this month that this has happened, Estrid. I can't keep having you doing this." He stated, stern, yet lowering his voice.

"I know, I know, but I promise it won't happen again! It's just- I haven't had the time. I tried to finish it up at home, but I just couldn't get it done...things happened. I just have a lot to deal with at this point, but I promise you, I'll get everything done in regular time. Please.." I pleaded, not caring how I sounded.

It was completely true that things were going on in my life.

I had been trying to finish the work one night, and my boyfriend got angry with me, and let's just say it didn't end very pretty. I still had a black eye, but I covered it with at least four pounds of makeup. And it didn't help that the whole situation with the stalker was still happening. If anything, it made me completely paranoid, and I could barely work.

"I'm sorry, Estrid. You're fired."

I immediately broke into tears, not caring if there were people staring.

"But, please... I promise I'll try harder, please..." I pleaded once again.

He just shook his head, pointing at the door, not even having enough courage to look me in the eyes.

I sprinted out of the door, and out of the separate office doors.

This hadn't just been some stupid job, this was my dream job. In fact, the exact place I wanted to work. I had moved all the way from my home in Britain just to take this job, and now I let it slip out of of my grasp.

I walked down the sidewalk, as I let tears roll down my cheeks.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the stalker.

I didn't care to catch a better look, since that was the last thing I wanted to think about.

I couldn't help but notice that she was getting closer, and soon enough she had ended up walking beside me.

"Um, can I help you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She simply shook her head, and continued to walk, until she basically disappeared from my sight.