Forever After

o n e

I pull my long, brownish blonde hair up into a messy bun and quickly swipe a little mascara over my lashes. I stare at my reflection for a moment, going over all the features that make me look so similar to my mom. Correction. Made me look like my mom. 

We shared the same not pale, but not dark complexion, honey colored eyes, and a sprinkle of freckles across the top of our cheeks and nose. Mom. I miss her so much, its been about 9 months and it's still a sore topic between dad and I.

After all, that's the reason we moved to Mazania, new country, new start. My dad and I decided to get away from everything that reminded us of her. Sometimes I feel like it pains him to see me, almost as if he thinks I'm her. 

Anyways, he wanted me to start fresh somewhere new after I graduated high school 4 months back. 

But that's the thing, I'm just an 18 year old girl with no idea what she is going to do with her life. Nothing. Zip. Nada.

What I do know is that we need money. We never had much, but I didn't care... I had everything I could ever dream of. A few good friends, a dad, a mom, a boyfri-

Okay that's enough of that. I quickly snapped out of the little daze I was in and realized tears were forming at the corner of my eyes. I quickly blinked them away, grabbed my purse and rushed into the kitchen.

"Bye dad. I'm just going out for a bit," I said while kissing his cheek.

"See ya Emmy," he responded looking worn out and tired.

With that I ran out the front door of our beaten up little rental home and thought about how he called me Emmy. I thought he claimed I was too old for that in 4th grade. I assume he trying to do anything he can to go back to a time where we were all happy...

My name is actually Emma Harrington and my dad is Andrew. I'm an only child, which I never minded. I once again got lost in thought thinking about my mom, Claire.

15 minutes later I made it to Milo's Diner, my favorite spot in town. Even though we had been here a solid 2 weeks, I made friends with the 60 year old owner named... you guessed it, Milo.

"The usual I assume?" he says with a smile as soon as I walk through the door. 

"Of course," I reply with a wide grin.

"Triple chocolate shake coming right up!"

As Milo brings the shake over he asks, "What's up kiddo?"

"Just trying to figure out how to get a job," I reply wearily.

"You know I offered you one here at least 5 times..."

"I know but you don't officially have any openings and I don't want you to give money away to me when you really didn't have to."

"That's no excuse I would love to have you here!" he replied honestly.

I sighed deeply and took a long drink of my milkshake when a man whose hair was visibly graying, but styled oddly professionally and who was dressed incredibly formally came and sat in the seat next to me. Startled, I started choking on my milkshake as he held his hand out for me to shake.

"I'm very sorry dear if I scared you but I couldn't help over hear your conversation. I hear you are looking for a job?" the mysterious man said looking kind of bored to be completely honest.

"Ummmm ya I guess I said that..." I replied nervously after I stopped choking.

"Well I am here visiting some family at the moment. But I work at the Royal Palace in Angelonia as the Office Assistant for the Walker's and hear there are some openings for maids currently. There are only about 5 spots so I wou-"