HIGHWAY

27

Bare feet, I walked on the grass which felt fresh as ever making soft sounds as my feet took one step after the other. The huge T that I took from the wardrobe which Janne gave to me, clung to my skin as the wind blew in my direction making me close my eyes and feel the freshness dive into my soul. Peacefully, I sat on the grass crossing my legs to watch the sunrise. That was how I use to spend my summer.

A stray tear found its way down my cheek as I refuse to wipe it away. I did that a lot, too many times when I had to pretend to be okay in front of my parents, in front of Stacy and Hana, when inside I was crying every second, every moment.

Today after so long, I finally got a chance to feel free. I felt freedom; I felt like those birds I use to watch from my window, taking a flight from their homes to a new adventure not promising whether they'd return back home or no. I felt... I got what I wanted.

I didn't want to hold back, right now I just wanted it all to go away.

As my thoughts lingered back to Vienna.

Vienna, my elder sister, the one and only friend I ever had. We were inseparable, we were kids with no understanding but feeling deeper than words and better defined with no medium but love. She loved me and I loved her even more. She was my role model, she was something like I wanted to be, she was my hero, she was my badass heroine who fought for me, she took care of me, she guarded me from bad kids and gave me company when I felt alone.

We were kids, we were so young, or at least that was how I used to think. I was the one who was too young, I was barely 1 years old when I spoke the words sister, I was 2 when I learnt she was my sister, I was 3 when I learnt we shared a bond, I was 4 when I found mother's love in her care, I was 5 when I found a bodyguard in her, I was 6 when I found a friend in her, I was 7 when I realized I was the one who was a kind she was elder and I was 8 when I found her fighting with my parents for the first time. The issue was something I never got to know or understand, I only knew my dad was shouting on her and she was shouting back. My mother found her diary which she used to write and narrate me stories from. That diary held her soul, her deepest secret, her goals, her desires, her wishes, her dream to become a writer. With the way she was crying on my birthday, I never saw it before. Upon that they were shouting on her.

I still remember somethings.

"You are not supposed to keep such distractions, Vienna. You should focus on Law." My dad said in a threatening voice. "What would people say when they will hear, daughter of London's renowned lawyer is a mere writer with no living? How disgraceful would it be!"

"Dad," The tears kept running but her voice didn't seem even close to lose its control. It was clear and loud just a little choaked "I have a dream and I will persue it. I do not care what you think. I will not live a life of a coward. I will not pursue something I don't want to."

"Vienna," My mom shouted. I flinched but Vienna stood strong meeting her gaze. "This is not the way to talk to your dad, to us. We raised you to be something good, have a name, have a life but not a disgrace to your family. You have let us down."

She cocked her head to a side "You think you know everything, mom? Dad, aren't you hiding something?"

Dad looked at her like in his mind he was jabbing a knife through her heart something he couldn't do in that room.

My mom turned to face dad "what is it?"

He looked at her with his confident look, the look he used in court "Nothing. She is just messing with you. Vienna, don't change the topic. Your attitude will not be tolerated."

"oh is it?" she took a daring step towards him. I covered my mouth when I was about to yell for her to back down "I know about your dirty deeds dad. Don't think I don't know anything the reason why you want me to take law? After you.. who else is going to save the arse of-"