1 Preface

Preface

"Come with me." She heard her dad's sound in the distance. She opened her eyes slowly. The light was too bright that she couldn't properly see anything. She saw a tall figure walking past the door and leaving the room. She slowly tilted her head to the right and saw the blurry face. "Dariya? Are you awake?" It was Edgar's sound, she recognized instantly. Dariya's heart ached again in disappointment. This is not what she was expecting. All her hopes died down. She kept her eyes closed but tears ran down her face, she couldn't help it. she felt liking dying inside with all the pain, all over her body. She stayed there pretending to be too tired to open her eyes as so many thoughts clouded her mind.

Edgar called everyone at home shouting that Dariya had opened her eyes. He was excited and happy.

"Shut up," she whispered.

"She is even speaking," he said all excited, screaming loud, calling out, . "Come fast."

When Dariya finally opened her eyes struggling, she saw all the familiar faces. Kiara, her brother Devon, Nara, Molly and her father Heiden standing next to Edgar. Edgar dimmed the lights and closed the curtains for Dariya to not strain her health. Realization hit hard again, to know that Lu Han wasn't there among them and it was nothing but her hallucination. Dariya tried to sit up but her abdomen hurt. Her whole body seemed to be aching from head to toe. Her head felt heavy because of the sedation. They informed the doctors. Their family doctor came with one nurse along with him. They did a check up and said she was fine.

Few days passed and Dariya attempted to walk with the help of Devon. He took her to the garden and sat there for a long time. He hugged her and apologized. Heiden and Kiara stood watching them from a distance. Nara restored her health. She stood holding Kiara's hands. Nara's father never called again after getting kicked out of the house by Heiden, ashamed and his pride, sabotaged.

But Dariya felt too hurt to come back to normal. She felt that there is a deep cut wound inside her that can't be healed. She didn't know what to do. She trembled and cried whenever she was alone. She didn't know how to handle her emotions. Kiara would console her. Nara would often come and sit with Dariya and talk about her cravings for food, trying to take her mind off the things.

"Draw a family portrait for me Dariya!." Nara would often request.

"Later" Dariya would say back. Dariya grew to be a lot more silent person, depressed, losing interest in almost everything.

Two months passed. There were no changes. She accepted the fact that it's over forever. She cursed herself. She took the book Brandon once gave her. She read through 'Lamia' and 'Isabella' again written by John Keats and sat there crying. Finally, she understood why she got close with Brandon. She smiled at the very thought for being such a fool. She didn't get to say goodbye. She regretted it.