13th of February (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter V

Enjoy :)

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Dear Diary,

I never really maintained a journal, but with everything going on, I think I'll start now.

A lot has happened after my parents died. My life has changed drastically since then, and I don't think it'll ever be the same again.

Because both Shery and I are still minors, all the property, including the house, was handed over to some distant relative of ours living in some other country. I'm pretty sure she didn't even know us. On the bright side though, she's nice and sends us monthly allowances. It's not much, but it's more than enough for us, we don't have that much use for money.

Apparently we'll get our shares when we turn 18, but till then, we have to stay at this foster house. I don't like this place one bit, but what can I do about it? Nothing. More than me not liking it, I don't think Sherin deserves this.

Anyways, just two more years for me, then I can get out of here, get a job with how much I've been able to study till now, get Sherin out of ere and give her a much better life. And yeah, I forgot to mention, they made me drop out of school, since they couldn't afford to pay for my education, and said that I was lucky to have been able to almost finish high school. Sherin is just turning nine, so they have this home schooling kind of thing at this foster place with proper teachers for the little kids where she goes to study. Except, it doesn't feel like home.

The main reason I began writing this though, is because even though I couldn't study any further than high school, I love writing. And I think I know enough English to become a journalist or writer or something. And I want to improve and practice my writing here. With this, I'm sure I can make enough for the two of us till Sherin is old enough to get her shares and a job.

"James!" came a little shout from his door, snapping him out of his train of thoughts. "Yeah Sherin? Did you want something?" he asked, putting his book down and walking to the door, ruffling Sherin's hair. "I wanna play with you!" said Sherin, eagerly looking at James. "Why, what happened to your other friends?" asked James, crouching so that he was at Sherin's eye level.

"Oh...They were saying mean stuff. They said that they were here because they're parents did not want them and hated them, and they said that we are here because Mom and Dad didn't want us anymore." Sherin said, slowly beginning to cry. "No no no sweetie, Mom and Dad loved - uh - love us. They just can't come see us now." James said, pulling hulling her into a comforting hug. "They're.... I know they're dead, James. They're not going to come back. I saw it...the other day." Sherin hesitantly mumbled into her brother's shoulder, not wanting to hurt him by bringing up their parents' deaths. James, on the other hand, stiffened up. He always tried not to think about his parents, but this felt like someone was tearing open his raw wounds.

Choking back his tears, James cleared his throat and stood up, holding Sherin's little hand. "Sherin, do you want to see something beautiful?" he asked, in reply to which Sherin looked up at him and only nodded. "C'mon. Wipe your tears first and let's go."

James led Sherin to a little vent in the roof in an abandoned part of the corridors on the third floor. He slowly pulled up a ladder that was lying in a corner, and propped it up against the opening. Sherin watched in silence, and suddenly seeming to remember that they were in a part of the building she had never seen, asked "Are we allowed here?". James said nothing, but just motioned for her to go up. Still feeling a little unsure, Sherin began climbing, feeling a little bolder when James began climbing after her.

Sherin didn't know what she expected to see when she was actually up there, but she certainly didn't expect what she saw. James came up right after her and led her to a corner hidden behind the branches of the trees growing next to the building where three little stools were placed. The two of them sat on one each in a comfortable silence and silently gazed at the beautiful bright stars, some shining steadily and some twinkling behind the clouds along with the moon. After some time, "Sherin, do you see those two stars there? Those two bright ones? Always remember this. I will do my best to always be there for you, but if you ever feel lonely, and somehow I'm not around, Mom and Dad are right there. They'll always be looking out for you from there. They'll always be there for you. Maybe not right next to you, but we'll always be there for you, the three of us. Okay Shery? You never walk alone." James huskily whispered out, the crack in his voice evident despite his attempts to mask it.

"You won't leave me too, will you?" Sherin softly asked, fear evident in her voice. "I'll try, sweetie, I'll do my best." James said. He wasn't sure of anything anymore. "Promise?" Sherin asked, sticking out her little finger. "I promise" said James, wrapping his large pinky around Sherin's tiny one.

But the minute he saw the walls of this little rooftop, four floors above the ground, guilt wracked his conscience as he thought of the moment when he had selfishly climbed them when he first found this place, Sherin being the only thought that stopped him from jumping and made him step back down instead, bitter tears running down his face.

"I'll protect you, Sherin. I promise. I'll give you the better life you deserve." he whispered, holding his now sleeping sister carefully.

If only he could have kept his promise.... If only he'd have known what was going to happen.....

If only......

Unedited.

I'm sorry, I've been gone for like three weeks. Thanks for reading!

Edit: Omfg I came back to this chapter for some reference and cringed so hard reading this I really need to edit it🤢🤮