Breaking the Curse

CHAPTER ONE - NEW BEGINNINGS

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NICOLE

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I look down at the new ID in my hands and repeat my new name over and over in my head. I am Nicole Angela Johnson. Nicole Johnson. I'm grateful Rafael gave me a name so close to Nicola, one of the hardest things about changing your name is you don't recognize it at first when someone calls you. Surely just the sound of Nicole will have me turn my head, even if just for a moment I don't know who that is. And, Johnson is a pretty common last name, hopefully I can just blend into the crowd here, as if I had always belonged.

I place the ID in my pocket and fish out the other cards. A bankcard, credit card and Medicare card. I put the credit card in my pocket to pay for the taxi to wherever I'm going and slip the others back into the envelope. I pull out the keys. There's a Subaru car key and a couple of generic house keys, along with some kind of remote and a key ring with the letter N in silver hanging off them.

I can't help but smile at the key ring. It's such a small gesture from Rafael, but I appreciate it Nonetheless. I take my ID back out of my pocket and look at the address that's on it. That must be my new home. I give a quick scan of the documents in the envelope, a birth certificate, degree in nursing, nursing registration and a letter that's written in Rafael's handwriting.

Not wanting to cry in public I leave the letter in the envelope and place everything back in my bag, keeping the keys in my pocket. I walk out of the toilet stall, tugging my luggage behind me and make my way to the taxi rank.

It's quieter at this airport compared to Sydney, it feels more relaxed and calm. The driver of a waiting taxi places my luggage in the boot of the car and I slide inside. I give him the address I saw on my new driver's license and he pulls out of his parking space and drives out of the airport.

Perth is bigger than I imagined. Nowhere near as big as Sydney or Melbourne, it still seemed to hold a calmness that was all but forgotten in the other capital cities, but the roads were busy, the streets lined with cars and buildings. The business district quickly turned residential and I found myself looking at the pretty little houses that lined the streets as we made our way to my new home.

The taxi driver pulled into the driveway of a small suburban house and I paid the fare before stepping out. I was nervous as he grabbed my bags from the boot. Thanking him, I took my bags and walked up the short path to the front door. I placed the bags down and fished the keys out of my pocket as the taxi drove away. It was the second house key I tried that unlocked the door. I took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping into my new home.

Sunlight filled the room from the floor to ceiling window facing the front of the house. White sheets covered the furniture, protecting it from the accumulation of dust. I dragged my bags in and placed them just inside the door. Taking in my surroundings, I looked around the large open space that housed the lounge room, dining room and kitchen.

I walked further into the room and opened the first door on my left. The master bedroom stood before me, the furniture covered in sheets, a matching floor to ceiling window that would flood the room with the morning sun if I opened the curtains.

I walked around the room, my footsteps creaking the hardwood floors and pulled the curtains open. The sun was still high in the sky, letting light filter into the room. I took in the king sized bed, the bedside tables, and a storage box placed perfectly at the end. Two closed doors adorned the far wall and I walked over, pulling open the first one to find a walk in robe, tagged clothes hanging in plastic lined the walls. I knew instantly that this was Angelina's doing, her fashion and taste obvious in the choices. My heart panged as I thought of my beautiful mother, would I ever see her again?