The Sacrifice

Chapter 1: Arriving at 221B Baker Street

*Ashley’s POV*

The sky was cloudy but soon was preparing to become the normal sunny dusk that Texas experiences quite often. I stand, waiting at my terminal’s parking lot for my parents to finish unloading my bags and cursing as they do from the car. My outer appearance was that of a calm and excited young woman but my insides felt hot and dry like the deserts of West Texas.  Okay, I lied, I was nervous and about to travel to London for the first time because all my family that lives out of the country usually visits us here in America but this was for school, my protection and my sanity. 

I being to play with my soft honey brown hair only to see that it once had been in a ponytail was now in a braid thanks to my preteen niece that came along to say her goodbyes to her loving and sweet aunt. I will admit, I did not look like some of my family because of my hair was a light shade of honey blonde and my eyes were a beautiful shade of hazel that reminded me of mixing paints as a child but the big thing was my height. I was shorter than most of my family members but I do not really mind it because I know that I am beautiful.

“Aunt Ash, do you really have to go all the way to England to study for school?” asks the sweet and loving little girl whose hair looked like mine but her eyes were a soft blue, like the ocean. She was about as tall as I am but I am only 5’7 and she will be taller than I will ever be. She received the height from her father, who is almost 6 foot. When I turned to look at her, I flinch in pain but quickly ignore the pain in my side and stomach, not to expose myself and to make myself seem fine.

She was next to my younger sister, Harlow, who was sucking on a sucker and texting someone named Sam she has been talking to for a while and listening to Sleeping with Sirens. Harlow was slightly taller than be despite the fact she was almost 18 months younger than I am. Her blonde hair with a teal-blue strip by her ear and ocean blue eyes made her the envy of my female friends and the heart-stopper of my male friends. Today, she decided to wear a pair of holey jeans and her favorite Paramore shirt that our mother hates but she was 18 and could do as she wishes. “Harlow, will you turn down that God-awful music, it is annoying and rude.” My mother voices as she grabs my carry-on bag from by my suitcase. She earns an eye roll and a “sure” from her. She and I maybe different but she has something I wish I could have, more freedom.

“Yes Kayla, I have to go for school plus, I want to see what John and Sherlock have been up to lately.” I respond with a fake smile to hide my fear from my family. My parents scoffed at the names of John and Sherlock, a consulting detective and an army doctor that finally married just shortly before I started at Stanford University 3 years ago. They dislike that my John, a cousin of my mothers who was an army doctor, was married to a man. My stepfather keeps telling me that John could have had anyone he wanted after being medically discharged from the army but decided to move into a flat with the Consulting Detective that is now his husband. Whenever they do talk about them though, they call them Watson and Holmes.

I will admit, I was shocked to learn that John came to us about 7 years ago and admitted that he was in love with Sherlock. All my family had different ways of expressing their shock. Some were appalled such as my grandmother and my parents; some were confused such as the younger kids and my older sisters, Jenny and Cassie (Harlow was so shocked that she took out her headsets and even dropped her IPod, a shocker for us) but I, I truly was happy and ran to hug them. I remember that day thoroughly because my parents called them a horrible name and I jumped up and yelled back, reminding them that love does not care if they are of different race, age or gender for all that matters is love. That is the day my parents realized that I was not a spineless girl anymore; I had now rebelled. I still shudder about the rest of my past that I try to block it.

“You know what Matthew; I am sick and tired of how you talk about them like they are just an abomination! I get it, you hate them but because John is my mother's cousin, you refuse to admit it aloud. I am happy for them and frankly, so should you! In addition to this Matthew, I know you do not like them but I cannot afford rent on my own and besides, I want to see them despite the fact that they are married to each other. If you can’t be nice then don’t expect a goodbye from me then!” I declare as I grab my two luggage bags and my carry-on as Kayla follows, leaving my parents looking shocked and Harlow expression that of “Finally, she has a backbone” before getting in the car, still texting. They are shocked because I am usually reserved and quiet but the day I announced my plans to study abroad in England was just the beginning while living with Sherlock and John from now until I was finished with my Master’s Degree was just the icing on the cake.