Silently Falling

Chapter 3

Rose

It was 2 am at night as I laid awake in my bed with tiny drops of sweat on my forehead. I had this annoying habit that I couldn't fall asleep easily like normal people do. It would like take a lot of effort and dedication and probably even a sacrifice to the gods for me to fall asleep quickly. On top of this, if I had things going on in my head it would take hours for me to fall asleep, which was exactly what was happening right now.

Earlier, Aaron had dropped me home after I spent some time and had dinner with aunt Daisy and him. Reaching home, I felt exhausted but nevertheless after freshening up, sat down to spend some time with my parents in the living room.

Slowly I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes as I slid off my bed, my feet touching the cool wooden floor. Knowing sleep wouldn't find me anytime soon, I slipped on my room slippers and started walking towards the backside of my dimly lit room. As soon as I opened the door which leads towards the balcony, I could feel the cool breeze of the night caress my face as I faced the quiet city before me. I slowly closed my eyes and took a deep breath which calmed down my nerves. Then, I sat down on a chair and gazed up at the beautiful night sky as flashbacks of different good and bad memories started to play in my mind.

Today in a couple of hours I was going to leave Sydney behind and move to Melbourne, where my grandma and my cousins lived. I couldn't help but feel excited yet nervous at the same time.

I pulled my knees closer to my chest and wrapped my arms around them as I had started to feel a bit chilly outside. Deciding it was best if I could get a get some sleep as I was finally drowsy, I stood up and went inside after taking one last look at the beautiful night sky.

***

"Rose honey, it's time to wake up." I heard my mother's voice calling me as she pulled open the curtains of my room. Rays of sunshine immediately poured into my room and I had to shield my eyes from the light.

"Mom" I groaned. "Don't wake me up like this, my head hurts."

Mom scoffed and turned towards me, "Well your head hurts because you were up late and I don't think I need to tell you whose fault that is."

I frowned and she continued, "Okay now stop complaining and come down to have breakfast, you have a flight to catch in a few hours."

With that, she left my room closing the door behind her and I sleepily got up and dragged myself towards the bathroom to freshen up.

After a few minutes, I headed downstairs towards the kitchen and found Dad sitting on the dining table looking rather grumpy while my Mom was making pancakes for everyone. Mom looked fresh and energetic even in the morning while Dad wasn't a morning person at all which I think he had passed down to me as well.

"Good morning Dad" I reached out and hugged dad.

"Good morning my princess," he replied smiling as I pulled away.

"If you guys have finished with your father-daughter show of affection, help yourselves to breakfast, will you?" My mom called from the island and I got up and walked towards the cupboard to take out plates for the three of us.

We ate in comfortable silence and my mind slowly drifted away to its own world. After a while, dad broke the silence, "Rose?"

"Yes, dad?"

"Aaron called earlier to say that Daisy won't be able to see you off as something urgent came up, but he'll be here in an hour to accompany you to the airport."

I simply nodded and went back to finishing my breakfast as I glanced at the beautiful silver bracelet on my wrist. Aunt Daisy had gifted the bracelet to me as a small parting gift when she told me yesterday that she has some important work that needed to be attended to and couldn't see me off at the airport.