To Myself I Turned

Chapter 1

“Hey where are you going?” It’s Millie, my ever annoying best friend, who’s walking beside me while sporting her new 5 inches Yves Saint Laurent pumps.

“Don’t know” I answered, not in the mood to babble stuff. Actually, I don’t know where I am headed as well. I just keep on walking through the busy streets of New York where people are too busy to care if my face looks like I’m about to murder a cow or whatever four legged creature that you wouldn’t dare to encounter at the Empire State.

“Ugh! Liv! Wait a second, my feet, they’re hurting…” I stopped and turned to face Millie only to see her removing the fancy pair of Saint Laurent off her feet. I cringed as she tried to flex her left foot. I never have a heart on these types of shoes. I’ve been wearing my converse ever since I was child because it’s more comfortable rather than those dangerous high heels.

“You alright? Make sure that you have a pair of flats next time that you’re going to follow me every time that I’m going to make a grand exit at any random occasion.” I replied nonchalantly.

“Bitch” she muttered as I turn my back on her and start marching home.

My name is Olivia Burgess, people who knows me – or I may say people who truly know me – call me Liv. I live by myself because my Dad is one of the stockholders of a well-known information technology company and is assigned to work overseas. He’s like the New Yorkers, ever busy as a buzzing bee. I’m currently studying in a music school who offers comprehensive piano lessons in town. Yes, I am a pianist. It’s Mom who taught me how to play this beautiful instrument and I’ve been playing since I was 4. I played Debussy on my first recital when I was 7 and mom told me that one day I will become one of the best pianists in the world. Unfortunately, the same person who had been my inspiration to take my playing seriously so that I can be like Chopin and Liszt someday, left me. My parents’ relationship was on the rocks, like marrying each other was the biggest mistake that they did in their lives and that was why they divorced when I was 9. She left me without saying a word. She left me without a letter saying that she will leave and she will see me soon. No, she didn’t do any of that. She abandoned me.

 

 

This morning

 

My alarm clock is ringing so I put my head under the pillow and pull on my duvet. This is why I hate school. I’m not a morning person and getting up as early as 7 A.M. is killing the living shit out of me. I lazily go out of my glorious bed and get in the bathroom. I strip off my blue flannel pyjamas and step into the shower and the warm water gush on my skin. While I am enjoying my bath, I heard a ringing tone coming from my bedroom. After three seconds or less my cell phone stopped from ringing. Guess that's just my Dad, who has been calling to check on me, sweet. He's been a worry-wart every now and then.

After I took a shower, I headed downstairs stopping in the kitchen to grab some granola bars on the counter. I get two and walk out of my house. Just before I keep the door on the latch, someone call my name.

"Olivia!" I turn around to see Greg waving a hand at me.

Greg Simmons is my uncle, mom’s brother. He’s just living nearby so he checks on me daily as well making sure I’m not doing anything that could cause disgrace in our family.  Basically, he acts like my Dad most of the time and I’m thankful that he treats me like his own daughter though he has a wife and son named Lucas who’s an army deployed in Afghanistan.