As far as she knows, Addie is your average, run-of-the-mill (albeit, slightly cynical) college sophomore. Sure, she may have spent her whole life in foster care, but she's doing her best to move up in the world. She's getting there.
But then Auden shows up with his striking sea-green eyes, ridiculously infatuating dimple, and this strange ability to incite a complete mental shut-down in Addie's muddled brain. Immediately, she feels a connection with this total stranger and, on top of that, finds herself wholly trusting of him too. She can't explain it. It doesn't feel normal.
It feels more than that, it feels natural.
And then he explains why.
Experience Addie's journey as she searches for her true self, recaptures stolen memories, and delves into a foreign, magical world that she once called home.
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Excerpt:
He brings an old box down from the top shelf and moves to lay it on the bed. Before he opens it, he glances at me and takes a deep breath. "This is a collection of items I brought with me from Sol-the things that I thought would help jog your memory the most."
I move eagerly to the bed, curious of what treasures from my past the box holds. As he pulls off the lid, I notice a photograph right away. Gorgeous teal eyes stare back at me and, despite the fact that the face in the picture belongs to a kid of no more than eleven or twelve, I can instantly recognize him as Auden. He has a huge, laughing smile on his face. A girl of a similar age appears next to him in the photograph. Her eyes are closed and she is in the process of pressing a kiss to his cheek. Her arms are around his neck and, despite their young age, it is obvious that she absolutely adores the boy before her.
Even without seeing her whole face, I can tell that the girl is me.
It's changes in our lives that bring something new,
It's in those dark hard times that we grow,
It's in the unexpected that we find true treasures hidden.
But our fears always hold us back because we are not always open to face either of those facts in our lives.
She is forced to face all three of them due to circumstances.
She is thinking her life is over.
However is it over?
This is Samantha Addams, daughter of a former American diplomat now ambassador of an American embassy in a foreign country.
What is she meeting within facing the most feared facts of life?
"stop resisting Samantha. You want this I can tell," Raising my head.
I look up to stare into those capturing ocean-like eyes that are trying to offer what I think I want but at the same time, I don't think I do.
"I don't know Kai," I say in my small voice trying hard to not stutter with my words.
I feel one of his fingers under my chin raising my head to look up at him and I find myself drowning in his ocean-like eyes
"You do know sweetheart." He says looking straight into my eyes while grinning down at me.
I find myself again not being able to pull away from staring at his lips and when he catches where my attention is, he smirks.
I turn my gaze away quickly when I am caught staring but that makes him chuckle.
I turn my head to the side but I feel the tips of his lips lingering beside my cheek, all the way to my ear. His hot breath on my skin brings goosebumps on my skin while the hairs on my skin stand.
"I know you hate this place princess and I also know that you don't want to make good memories here but try me sweetheart, and I will make you feel like you are back home in America."