Theory of Happiness

Chapter 2

Flashback

Eight years ago

The sun was shining brightly. Its soft light was falling delicately on the young girl's pale skin. Her long black hair was braided, making her look as a very dark copy of Pippi Longstocking.

The sun continued to shine, now lightening the whole purple-green room. If anyone came inside in that moment, he would have thought that it was the end of the spring, not the beginning of autumn.

The wooden door squeaked and the girl's father, Dorian Cooper, quietly made his way to his daughter's bed and gently shook her tiny shoulder.

''Elizabeth, wake up.'' he quickly told her and exited the room. 

The girl, Elizabeth Cooper, slowly opened her eyes and yawned. She faintly looked around her room and sighed. 

"Good morning to you too, dad." she whispered and jumped out of her bed.

She got ready and ran down the stairs.

She was greeted by her mother, Rachael Cooper, who was making breakfast in the small kitchen.

"Good morning, mum."

"Morning, Elizabeth. Are you excited for the first day of school?"

"Yeah, I can't wait! What's for breakfast, it smells awesome." Elizabeth smiled.

"Pancakes and lemon tea. Here." the mother said and gave her the plate and cup.

"Thanks, mum."

Rachael went up the stairs and disappeared from sight.

Elizabeth began eating and, as usually, she lost in thoughts.

'Finally, I will go to school and eventually find many new friends. We can play games, gossip, listen to music and even have sleepovers. Oh, it'll be awesome...."

Meanwhile, on the other side of Dublin, another young girl was just about to finish with her breakfast. Danaia Thomas' long, wavy hair was messy, even though she brushed it just about 20 minutes ago.

Her mother, Kara Thomas, was doing her make up on the living room's table, next to Danaia. They were discussing the first day of school. The girl was really excited about meeting all the new people, as well as reuniting with her friends from kinder garden.

The young girl was growing more nervous when her father came and said he was ready to go. She went up the stairs to get her things. Five minutes later, she returned, holding her backpack in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other.

Her pastel yellow dress and shoes, made her look like a sunflower.

"Good luck, Naia." waved her mother and renewed her activity.

The girl sat down in her father's car and smiled. She was ready to have the best day in her life, with her father, for the whole day, before he returned to his home in Germany. But he promised her the whole day, and Danaia was glad.

She closed her eyes and made a wish: "Help me find a person I can really trust, a person who can be my family."

~20 minutes later, at school~

"Dad! You promised!" The girl yelled, obviously disappointed.

"Sorry, sweetie. It is really urgent. You won't get it. Well, I gotta go. Have a nice time!" Her father, William Thomas, said, glancing down at his watch. He kissed her on both cheeks and once again picked up the phone.