LOVING THE DARK

Chapter 1

Angelica Louise Bowman, 20s, and plain normal.

Good morning.  Welcome to my life.  Don't bother to check if there's any extraordinary things in here because you won't find it.  Trust me.  I check, that for the last 20 years, my life was going just okay.

One thing that separated me from getting a better cooler life is I moved a lot from country to country since the earliest I can remember.  Dad, he's a property agent.  The job always demands him more than a teenage girl could ask.  We've been going all the way from Philippiness, my homeland, to Canada, even Spain, and now I'm in the holy America.  Heck I didn't even remember how I got here.  Maybe because everytime Dad says 'we're moving out', it's like already the national anthem to me.

Second thing, thanks to the tourist life, I have zero friends.  I tried to make friends once in the Philippines and Abu Dhabi, because I was like so young.  But I learned.  Friends only remember you when you're that cool.  And I ain't any of those people.  So they forgot me.  Til I stopped trying.

"Angel, get down here honey, we need to hurry!"  Mom yelled.  Normal.

"2 minutes!"  I answered.

"You don't have 2 minutes, unfortunately...  Oh let's see.  You're writing again."

Mom.  She's amazing.  My Mom is a health consultant for children.  She usually works with nutritionists in hospital or some day-care houses.  This job I can tolerant, because she can always let go of her work anytime if I need her.  Yeah you compare it to Dad's.

"How could you...be in here in 30 seconds..."  I stuttered.

"Because we can't wait, honey.  Just get that thing out to the car.  Now."  She commanded with a serious tone.

"Okay okay."  I rushed to pack my whole book and pencil into my bag.

"Slowly..."  Mom helped me to walk.

"Good morning sweety."  Dad greeted me.

"Morning Daddio."  I giggled.

"Ready?"

"Uhm."  I nodded, not interested.  I hate hospital.

Dad drove us to this nearest hospital, like 5 blocks from our brand new house here in sunny Florida.  I kept my eyes on the street, looking at those big houses along the way, til I saw the white building.  White building again.  All day everyday, for the last 2 years.

"Good morning.  Appointment for Angelica Bowman please."  Mom talked to the nurse.

"Is it to...Professor Jared Bronson?"  The nurse asked back.

"Yes, Doctor Bronson."  She nodded.

"Okay.  Doctor is in his room.  Please take the elevator up to 7th floor, then give this to the nurse.  She'll take you to his room."  The nurse gave me some paper.

"Thank you."  I nodded.

I remained silent during our way up to the 7th floor.  Dad was already left to his office.  Yes yes, clients can't wait.  So I was only with Mom, checking up this horrible disease again, before she joined the health consultant team in this same hospital downstairs.  And I...will be...I don't know let's see.

"Angelica Bowman?  This way, please."  The other nurse in this floor called us.

"Thank you nurse."  Mom whispered.  "Good morning Professor Bronson."

"Good morning!  Oh hey lovely young lady.  And Mom, please just call me Jared."  The doctor gave us the warmest smile.

"Hello Doctor Jared."  I bowed my head politely.