Chapter 1

If I ever walked out of your life, know it was for a good reason.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

14/07/2081

Elise's POV

Pots cluttering. Music playing in the background, probably coming from Parker's room. The kids playing loudly somewhere in the house, nobody really cared. Everybody being in their own world was the norm. Some dreaming about how to ace their job interviews, others how to please their boyfriends, while others worried about what we were all going to have to eat the next day. My son in-law was mumbling to no one somewhere in the living room about how much he hated his job over a cup of coffee . My daughter briskly moving around the kitchen was with her own doubts of her boss especially and was ready to retire if she had the chance. The local news was going on about how The Re-claimers wanted to take over the world and make it a better heaven on earth. A propaganda that everyone wished to believe hoping that this time around a new government would change the region. It was true faith that only lasted a while till the election date but the same lies everyday was what was killing the citizenry and our leaders were not ready to talk about that.

I looked at my daughter, Monica rushing around trying to get a perfect meal for everyone, she looked stressed but she was gorgeous and I wished I could help out but she never let me. She would always say to me, "Mama you've worked hard enough, it's time for you to rest" whenever she found me in the kitchen and I would argue about getting all lonely and cooking would be an up lifter but she would still smile and shake her head and that would be final. So then all I did was watch her as she cooked everyday and tried as much to relish those happy moments while they lasted.

My eldest granddaughter Priscilla walked into the kitchen as Monica told me her daily work-tales. She walked past and went straight for the fridge without saying a word to anyone.

Monica was equally appalled as I was at her daughter's strange attitude. So she said, "Why exactly am I to experience such behaviour in my house?"

Priscilla's back was to me but I could tell she had rolled her eyes for a split second before turning to her mother.

"What exactly did I do this time?" she asked, feigning surprise.

Monica's expression was unreadable. "We haven't seen you today, young lady but yet you walk in without saying a word to anyone like it doesn't matter to you."

"Mum, I'm honestly not in the mood for this."

"I'm not in the mood for this either but you chil..."

Priscilla walked out on her before she could finish her statement, leaving Monica fuming.

I looked at my daughter with motherly love as she cursed her way out of the kitchen. I knew she was headed out for Paul to complain about their daughter's upbringing. And I knew Paul was only going to pretend to listen and agree to every word his wife spoke. He never really cared, infact, he had problems of his own. More problems that needed his undivided attention than mere teenage problems. So he just sat there with bugged eyes ready to pop out of their sockets. He looked tired.

I knew that ever since Priscilla had hit her adoloscence, the bond between her and Monica loosened. Well, we all thought it was just a phase and that sooner or later she would come back to her senses but we were wrong. It got worse even at nineteen and her walking out rudely on her mother like that called for nothing but serious discipline and I knew better than that.

So I got up and did what a grandmother ought to do.

Even though this was a huge house, Priscilla's room wasn't far from the kitchen so I quickly made my way to her room and did what any angry mother would do, budge into their daughter's room without any sign of remorse.

Priscilla looked exasperatedly at the door ready to pour defamations on whoever dared enter without her approval. I returned a serious look in her favour and she softened a little when she realized it was only her old grandmother.

"So..." I walked around, emotionless. "Are you going to try to be rude to me as well?"

She unveiled herself out of her covers and gave me a look that I recognised and knew instantly what this whole drama going on was all about.

"I would never be rude to you, granny... You know that," she said in a monotone. A sad monotone.

All my energy to give her a powerful scolding instantly dissolved. I could see myself in her, a powerful reflection that made me fear for her life- a feeling that needed me to protect my granddaughter from what she was getting herself into or else she would end up like me. Regretting her life choices for the rest of her life.

So I stood single flat footed for a while, a feeling of agitation sipping in. I somehow needed to let her know before it was too late.

"Do you want to talk about it, sweetie?" So I said.

At first she looked at me doubtfully, probably at the change in topic because we both knew what I was here for initially then her expression turned sour as if she suddenly remembered something she didn't want to remember.

It was almost a matter of time before she confirmed my doubts.

I pulled a chair right across her so that I could have a closer look and a closer association with her then I waited.

Silence.

"Priss.."

A few tears had rolled down her face and she did try to hide it from me, but a sob escaped and gave her away.

My heart was torn.

"He.." sob, "He.." hiccup.

Oh no.

"He broke up with me, ugh."

Damn.

That's it, she finally broke down.