Concealed

chapter 3. Annabel

It was about 6:30 pm.  In Annabel’s small, lovely and comfortable house.

Annabel was Lying across her bed in her small room, she found herself looking outside through the windows.
She was watching the sky, admiring how beautiful and free it looked.
Believing and concluding to herself, that the sky had never known or experienced any pain in the whole of its existence.

Annabel hated thinking about her past, it only made her sad and moody.  Her boss, Mrs Abigail, was strongly against her being moody, especially at work.
And her been sad and distracted at work today, made  Abigail dismiss her earlier than usual from the office.

Abigail has been a great mother to Annabel since her own mom died. Always encouraging her to stay strong for herself and Emily.
Annabel’s mom had worked for Abigail for a long time before her departure to the other world.
And after that, Abigail offered Annabel a job in her company.

Faint sounds of laughter coming from outside the house, tickled Annabel’s ears 
“Annabel, I am back”!
Annabel heard the voice of the only family she had left in the whole world announcing her arrival, with her voice dominating their small apartment.

Annabel, smiled to herself shaking her head as she came down from her bed and ran to open the door for her younger sister Emily.
When she got to the door she looked around but didn’t see anyone.

"Emily" she yelled out.
"Yes Annabel, I’m in the kitchen" Emily yelled back at her.

Annabel, still smiling to herself; went to the kitchen and found Emily microwaving the food she had prepared because she had returned much earlier.

She stood, folded her hands and then leaned on the wall.
“Hmm Foodie!
  Where, have you been?" Annabel asked.

Emily lifted her head up in shocked and looked at her sister surprisingly.

"Are you okay? (MAMA) don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already?”
MAMA, was the name Emily was used to in addressing Annabel; her mother had given her that as her pet name.

“Forget about what? Annabel asked Emily, given her a confused look.

“You don’t remember?,
But I told you, that we would be having our inter house competition next week, and we've got to practice. That’s what I went for”.
Can’t you still remember?
I remember informaing you before leaving this house this afternoon” Emily said looking at her sister intensively to be sure she was fine.

“Oh Emily, I am so sorry" she said using her  hand to cover her eyes.
"I just have too many things occupying my mind these days, that’s why. please forgive me.
So how was it”?
Annabel asked, trying to switch to another topic so Emily won’t ask her more questions about the things she said was occupying her mind.

“Boring” Emily replied.

“Why”? Ann asked with concern.
“Don’t worry, I will tell you everything that happened” Emily said, with her eyes fixed on the plate.

“Alright I am waiting right here for you. I can’t wait to hear the gist”

Emily was a beautiful girl, at sixteen she already has dozens of admirers.
But this was a great concern to Annabel.
She was working hard, to provide for her.
She didn't want Emily  having excuses to misbehave in any way.

Emily caught Annabel staring at her, and then Annabel pretended to be looking somewhere else.

When Emily was done, Annabel allowed her walked  into the living room  first, and then she followed her behind...