I woke up in the backseat of my car, my back aching, my body felt so stiff even sitting seemed impossible. I stretched as much as I could, and while sitting up, I was greeted by the sun shining directly into my eyes. When my eyes finally got used to the brightness, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was so shocked I had to get out of the car immediately.

The ocean was right in front of me. Fresh air filled my lungs as I took a few deep breaths. It felt amazing, especially after being in a car for 12 hours. I abandoned everything right there and jumped the fence and walked towards the beach, and sat down on the sand. I watched as the waves crashed onto the beach. The sun's reflection made it look like it was filled with tiny sparkling diamonds; the view was unbelievable.

I had always loved the ocean; I felt like it was a part of me. Mom told me that she could not get me out of our pool when I was a kid. I could spend the entire day there.

It was so early that I didn't see a soul. It was peaceful; I watched as the wind gently made the water dance. I took off my shoes and hoodie and placed them on the sand. I couldn't just stand around. I needed to feel the water; I felt so drawn to it. I looked down at my arms. They were so filled with bruises that even looking at them hurt. Focusing my gaze back on the ocean, I started walking towards it until I felt a gentle wave tickle my feet. As I walked deeper, the water crept up my legs, slowly wrapping me in a cold hug. My body had goosebumps going around, but I didn't mind it.

Eventually, the water rose past my waist, and my shorts and the bottom of my t-shirt had disappeared into the blue water. I kept my eyes on the horizon and leaned back, and began to float. The sky was as blue as the ocean, with fluffy clouds covering it. My mind felt empty as I floated; nothing felt real.

I closed my eyes and listened to the ocean sing. I moved my arms slowly as if I was caressing the water. When out of nowhere, the cold grip tightened around me, and my entire body went cold. A wave crashed onto me and pushed me under the surface.

I opened my eyes and looked up at the tiny bubbles emerging towards the surface. The light shone through them. Everything about this felt so unreal, like a fantasy. I felt like I could stay here forever, but soon I started running out of air and had to get to the surface. I turned to look back at the beach; I should get back before people started showing up. I thought to myself.

When I returned to the car, I opened one of the bags and luckily found a towel. While drying myself and changing into dry clothes, I picked up the address that mom had given me and looked around. I had no idea where I was, but it was nearby, according to the car's GPS.

When I got done changing, I locked the doors, picked up my bag, and started walking towards the sidewalk, glancing one last time at the spot I was at, and the feeling I had, made me smile. I wonder if I'll be able to experience that again.

Not far from the parking lot, there were many houses. I walked for a while, and finally, I was standing in front of a house that matched the address.

"Who the hell lives here?" I thought to myself.

I looked for a mailbox and saw one that read, "Whitlock" I stopped and stared at it in confusion. This person had the same last name as I.

Looking back at the actual house itself, it was a big dark oakwood house. It looked more like a summer cottage than a house. I took a second to gather up myself before walking up to the door, and with my hands shaking, I knocked.

A tall, tanned woman opened the door. She had long white hair and deep chestnut eyes. She was wearing a morning robe and holding a cup of coffee. She looked tired, though. It was 10 AM, so I don't blame her. The moment she laid her eyes on me, it was like she had seen a ghost. The tired look on her face disappeared, and she almost dropped her blush pink mug.

"Alison?" the woman asked quietly, almost whispering.

"Um, Alison is my mother; my name is Rose," I answered nervously.

"Oh, I see..." She paused and then quickly moved aside.

"How rude of me. Please come inside. Would you like some coffee or tea?" the woman asked while gesturing for me to sit down on the couch.

"Coffee would be great, thank you," I said while looking around the room.

She had some pictures on the walls, some art, and some that looked familiar. Colorful paintings of the ocean, if I'm not mistaken, are probably by Jim Warren. The wallpaper was grey, but it complemented all the colors of the painting as well as the furniture. Most of her furniture looked vintage and had intense solid colors. The aura was very cozy and welcoming. This place felt familiar, but I don't know why.

Who was this woman, and why would mom send me here? And why do we have the same last name? My head was so filled with unanswered questions.

She came back about five minutes later, holding a wooden tray that had a coffee pot, milk, sugar, and a blush pink colored coffee mug on it. She placed the tray down on the coffee table. The table had carved flowers on it, and it looked handmade. She sat down on a Victorian-style chair next to the couch and took her mug from the table. I picked up the mug with both hands to hide the shaking

"So..." the woman paused for a second to take a sip of her coffee and proceeded to ask, "Where's Alison?" She said, looking me up and down with a troubled look.

"Um, there were some problems at home, and mom gave me your address. She told me to come here, and before I could ask more questions... I had to leave." I said, noticing the shaking now in my voice.

"By problems, do you mean your father?" The lady insisted.

"How did you know that?" and who exactly are you?" I asked, confused by her knowledge of the situation.

The woman sighed and shook her head; "I don't know why I'm even surprised you don't know who I am. Considering your father kept you away from us."

"My name is Henrietta; Alison is my sister. But I haven't talked to her in years." She said with a despondent look.

"What? Mom has never mentioned having a sister?" I mumbled, confused by the statement.

"Well, you see, I told your mother how I felt about your father, and at that time, she was too blind to see how toxic the relationship was."

"So, you knew right from the start that he was bad news?"

"Yes, you could say that; I tried to tell her, but no use. She had been so smitten by your father and wouldn't listen to reason. A lot of us tried, but no use. Eventually, Alison cut all of us from her life. I assume your father's idea, but we were "allowed" to visit you and Alison once when you were born. I remember Alison telling me she was so happy with him, but her eyes told a different story. Ever since then, I've waited for this day. I just hoped Alison would have been with you." As she finished speaking, she seemed angry yet sad.

I felt a rock in my stomach. It didn't even cross my mind if mom was okay. I lowered my head and felt myself starting to tear up. Forcing myself to hold them back, Henrietta broke the silence;

"So, are you parked close? We should probably get your luggage right away."

"What?" I was taken aback by this; she was ready to offer me to stay here like that? Even though she had only seen me once when I was born.

"Your mother gave you my address, so she wants you to stay here. So there is no point in sitting here thinking, what if? Let's get you settled right away." Henrietta got up and placed her mug down on the table.

"I- thank you." I managed to say as I felt a warm, soft hand on my shoulder.

"No need to thank me. We're family, after all." She spoke with a soft voice and gave me a warm smile.

I smiled back and got up. We talked the whole walk back to my car, and Henrietta told me all about my mom and grandma.

We took my bags from the car upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms. The room had white walls, a bed, a dresser, a mirror, and a desk.

"I hope this is okay; I wasn't exactly expecting company." Henrietta chuckled.

We placed the bags next to the bed, and she left me alone to unpack.

I took a second to look at the room. When you first enter you notice all the big furniture but when you start to look around, you see all these tiny details. The dresser had similar carved roses and carnelians on it, just like the table in the living room, and the handles were hand-painted black. The desk, on the other hand, was light blue with gold detailing. Everything in this house didn't follow a style or a specific pattern like my house. It was filled with colors. I liked it, and it gave me a cozy feeling. There were framed pictures, but these were by different photographers I didn't recognize.

I put my clothes on the dresser, grabbed my makeup and other skincare products, and took them into the bathroom. After I was done, I sat on the bed and opened my bag. My phone hasn't been on since I left, just in case dad installed a tracking app on it. I looked to my side, and on the nightstand, there was a statue of Poseidon. It looked heavy enough. I picked it up and turned it in my hand. I think this will be just fine. I placed my phone on the nightstand and crushed it with the statue. “Thank you, Poseidon; you have helped me get a fresh start,” I said aloud as I placed the statue back on the nightstand. I threw the phone in the trashcan next to the desk, grabbed my bag, and went downstairs.

"Hey Henrietta, would it be okay if I walk around a little?" I asked while looking outside through the kitchen window.

"Of course!" Henrietta replied and smiled at me.

I smiled back while putting on my sneakers and stepped outside. The sun was now burning hot, and I was wearing all black. It was getting a bit uncomfortable for me, but I wasn’t comfortable enough to be in a t-shirt, so hoodie and joggers it is. I took off my shoes and socks and started walking toward the beach. People had begun flocking to the beach. A couple of kids were in the water playing while their parents watched from the beach. The house was right next to the beach. There was only a sidewalk and a fence between the house and the beach.

As I walked, I noticed further in the ocean I saw people surfing. Then something caught my eye, a giant cliff surrounded by trees. I was intrigued by it. It looked beautiful, remote, and a perfect place to be alone as I walked towards it. The screams of children became more intone, and so did the laughter of the boys who were surfing.

Walk to the top didn't take long, and once I reached the top, the view was breathtaking. You could see so far into the horizon. I walked to the edge and looked down; as the waves struck against the rocks, many thoughts ran through my mind; perhaps it would be best not to stand too close to the edge. With that in mind, I stepped back and saw a tree a bit further back and sat down under it. I took my cigarettes from my bag and realized I didn't take my lighter.

"Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me!" I yelled. Frustrated, I threw my bag to the ground, and my cigarettes flew out.

"Did you know that smoking is really bad for you?" A strange voice said behind me.

Confused, I looked up and saw a boy about my age staring at me, smiling. He had short messy brown hair. On his hands, up to his shoulders, were a trail of tattoos here and there. The right arm had more on it than the left one. But they created a nice balance.

"Well, it's hard to smoke without a lighter," I said sarcastically.

The boy reached into the pocket of his gray shorts and pulled out a lighter.

"Could I bum one?" He asked, holding out the lighter.

"Wouldn't that make you a hypocrite considering what you just said? I asked sarcastically and grabbed it from his hand.

"Hey, I'm only acknowledging the downsides and trying to inform others. What I do is my own choice!" he said and shrugged.

I rolled my eyes and nodded at him to sit next to me. He picked up my bag and handed it to me before sitting down. I opened the pack and took a cigarette out, and offered one to him.

I pressed the little button and heard a loud click, and a flame appeared in front of my face. I could feel the heat emitting from it on my skin as I moved it closer to the end of the cigarette. I inhaled, and the end turned red. I felt smoke filling my lungs. I released my thumb, and the flame went out. Exhaling the smoke, I handed the lighter back to the boy. I heard another click and watched as he lit his cigarette.

"Thank you," I said and watched him put his lighter back into his pocket.

"No problem," the boy responded and gave me a big stupid smile.

"I don't recognize you, are you new in town or just passing through?" he asked while exhaling grey smoke.

"New in town," I responded while staring at the ocean.

"Ah, I see. Well, do you have a name?" He said, leaning back and looking into the sky.

"no." I kept my eyes on the horizon.

He slowly looks down at me; "No? well, that's odd. What am I going to call you then since we're basically friends?" The boy said with a smirk

This made me laugh a little.

"Rose," I said and extended my arm towards him.

"Ethan," he responded and shook my hand. "Nice to meet you, blueberry," he said and made dumb gestures with his hands as if he was tipping his hat to me.

“Blueberry?”

“Yeah, because your hair is so blue.”

What an idiot. I thought while rolling my eyes and chuckling.

"Likewise, fire boy," I said with a light laugh.

He grinned like an idiot and turned to face the ocean. I turned as well, and we both sat in silence, smoking and admiring the view in front of us. The ocean sparkled under the sun. The waves crashed onto the rocks below us, creating beautiful sounds accompanied by the singing of birds on top of us. We didn't speak, but it wasn't an awkward silence. We listened to the sounds and simply sat there enjoying the moment.

"So, it looks like I owe you a cigarette. Guess we have to see each other again, being friends and all." Ethan said while still clearly focused on the waves crashing.

"Seems that way," I chuckled.

"So, can I have your number?"

"I currently don't have a phone, but how about we just meet here again," I said, smiling.

"Oh, did you break it or something?" He asked with a confused look.

"Something like that... yeah," I replied quickly.

"Well, in that case, I guess we have to meet here again. how about tomorrow night?"

"Works for me."

"Fantastic, well, I have to head back. Thanks for the cigarette. I'll see you tomorrow!" he smiled and got up.

"Bye, blueberry!" he said as he started walking away while waving his hand.

"Bye, fire boy!" I shouted before he disappeared out of sight.

What an odd guy, I thought to myself.

I sat there awhile by myself before finally getting up and going back down. I noticed more people on the beach now. Little kids were playing in the water as their parents watched from the shore. Some girls were trying to get the attention of guys surfing further in the ocean while sunbathing. I walked past them to the house. When I got inside, Henrietta was making lunch.

"Hey," I said, closing the door behind me.

"Hey! how was the beach?" Henrietta asked while keeping her eyes focused on cutting tomatoes.

"It was okay." I decided not to mention the guy I had met yet since I wasn’t even sure he was worth mentioning.

"Hey Henrietta, I think I'm just going to go lay down for a few. Is that okay?"

"Of course! I'm just making some sandwiches for lunch, but I'll put one in the fridge for you." Henrietta said and gave me a big smile.

I thanked her and headed upstairs.

I changed into a pair of black shorts and a black top and crawled into my bed. Before I noticed it, I was fast asleep.

I woke up and saw it was getting dark outside. On the nightstand was an alarm clock, and it was almost 7 PM. Dammit, I cursed to myself. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I got up and walked downstairs and saw Henrietta sitting on the couch reading a book. As I got down, she turned her head and smiled.

"Hey, did you sleep well?" she said slightly, smiling.

"yeah..." I said as I scratched the back of my head.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep.”

"No need to apologize for that. I checked up on you to see if you were hungry, but you looked so peaceful sleeping. I didn't want to wake you up, so I put the chicken and rice in the fridge if you're hungry, or there’s the sandwich you pick." She said and pointed to the kitchen and got back to her book.

"Okay, thank you!" I said, but she was already sucked back into her book.

I got to the fridge and took out a plate with a wrap on it. I removed the wrap and put the food in the microwave. The thought of this made me think of mom. She would always make me a plate and put it in the fridge if I wasn't home for dinner. I was sent back to earth by the microwave's loud DING. I took the plate out and sat down at the dining table. The smell of chicken made my stomach growl, and I realized I hadn't eaten anything all day.

As I ate, all of a sudden, Henrietta lifted her head and said the last thing I expected to hear.

"I was thinking we should start the process for you to attend the school here tomorrow.”

"Wait, what?”