Top Secret ✔

Chapter 28 || Liz's Story

Yesterday was the National Mourning Day for all the victims of flight MH17. I felt really sad, especially when I read the papers today and saw all the grieving relatives. All I can say is to be strong. But that's hypocritical of me since I cried because of it... :'(

And I've forgotten to tell you this, but I've scrapped the idea for the alternate ending. I felt like it was too cliché and even though I normally write clichés, this was one I didn't want to step into. But don't fret, the bonus chapter will still be there, but it would be of their lives after everything has happened. I'm leaving it at that. Feel free to think about it as much as you want. (:

Love ya!

Chapter 28 || Liz's Story

      "Hey," Liz greeted.

I looked up from my camera to see her standing outside my door. "Hi. Come in." I stacked a couple of pictures neatly on one side of my bed and patted at the empty side for her to sit on.

"What are you doing?" she casually asked as she sat down.

"I'm working on my portfolio." I told her. "Colton found out this thing where I could send in a portfolio to universities and hopefully get a scholarship."

"Can I see it?" she asked.

I blinked, wondering why she was acting funny in front of me but nodded. "Sure," I handed her the photos.

She looked at each picture carefully. In there, there were pictures of mum looking happier, of Colton and I which was taken during Penang and of the funeral.

There was even one where Colton and I had been smiling at each other without realising that our picture was being taken. After finding out that a tourist had taken it, I had asked her for the picture which she happily gave to me.

"I like this one," she smiled while pointing towards the said picture.

"I like it a lot too." I smiled softly back, thinking about how much Colton had helped me in this period of time.

Colton was out talking to Ray about him quiting and all. Apparently, Colton still had a contract with the recording company which had another month before it expires. But they hadn't told the company about Colton quiting though, so they needed to have a meeting with the party.

"This is really good!" Liz grinned.

"Thanks. I'm hoping that it is good enough," I told her sincerely before stacking the photographs back neatly together again.

Liz's eyes lingered on the top photograph which was the last picture we had taken together as a family. "I miss her," she used her index finger to caress my mum's cheek in the picture.

"I miss her too," I said softly. It was true, there was never a day that had gone by where I didn't think about her.

But then again, how could I?

It was barely a week since the funeral, barely a week since I had last kissed my mum goodbye.

"She's proud of you, you know," Liz suddenly spoke. "She told me a lot about you when I had been gone. I could see it in her eyes and her voice. She's proud of you."

With those words, a fresh batch of warm tears started falling down onto my cheeks. "Really?"

"Really," she nodded while smiling. "Come here, you crybaby!" she pulled me to her and wrapped her bony arms around me.

I sniffed and stared at her arm, before seeing something which caught my eye. "What is that?" I asked.

She looked to see what I was looking at and immediately covered her arms. "Nothing."