The camera stared back at me and I tried to smile as prettily as I could. I always tried to look my best because of how important this picture was. My mom hurried over and carefully fixed my outfit and hair until everything was perfect. It had to be perfect for the person who'd receive this picture. My father. Though I've never met him, he always asked for a picture of me on my birthday. Ever since the day I was born, my mom hired a professional photographer to take the picture.

"This one is really good." The photographer commented when he showed the picture he'd just taken.

My mom neared the screen to take in all the small details. I wasn't a perfectionist, I was quite the opposite: I procrastinated a lot and was too lazy to put in any effort into my appearance. But this was the only picture my father would have of me for an entire year. I wanted him to think that I was the most beautiful girl on the planet. I wanted him to finally come home, but he couldn't.

My father was an untouchable man, as my mom had put it. He had a certain position that made him very respected and feared, but he also lived in constant danger. That's why he sent my mom and me to live in the United Kingdom. We couldn't be together because of the dangers that came with the life he lived. My mom never explained what kind of life he lived but it was easy for me to guess that he did criminal things.

Despite that knowledge, I still wanted him to think the best of me. I wanted him to think that I was the perfect daughter. I wanted him to love me so much that he would visit me once. That was my biggest wish: to finally meet my father. My mom didn't even have pictures because any connection to him could lead to danger.

"This one will do." My mom finally nodded.

We've been in this studio for the past three hours. I could tell that the photographer was getting annoyed but my mom took this very seriously. She was hopelessly in love with my father and did everything to please him. I know how much it hurt her to live so far away from him.

I got up from my seat and grabbed my purse. I was wearing a navy blue dress that made my blue eyes pop out. Though the picture was only a profile shot, my mom insisted that I also wore heels. I linked my arms with my mom and dragged her along. We've been up since six in the morning to get ready and I wasn't allowed to eat anything, because bloating was a woman's biggest enemy according to my mom.

That's a load of bullshit if you ask me. Bloating is completely normal but my mom's ideas on beauty were quite conservative. She believed that a girl had to have long, straight hair and smooth, unblemished skin. She bought me so much skincare, which I really don't mind, but I'm a teenager. Pimples are normal for my age, but she always acts as if the world is ending when a bump pops up on my skin.

"You've starved me for almost an entire day, it is your duty as my mother to now feed me!" I told her as we exited the studio.

We lived in central London. Today was a nice day, the sun was shining and it was warm outside. I felt the sun shining on my skin and I smiled brightly. I was excited to eat my stomach full and celebrate my birthday with my friends tomorrow. We would go visit museums and eat at our favourite spots. That's the ideal day for me.

"Since you've been so good today, I'll treat you to sushi!" My mom chuckled.

I grinned widely and jumped up from excitement. Sushi was the only food my mom and I could agree about. It wasn't too unhealthy for her and I absolutely adored it. We jumped into a taxi and went to my favourite place.

Once inside we took our usual spot and my mom let me order whatever I wanted. She didn't even try to stop me when I ordered too much. It made me feel a bit uneasy. No matter the occasion, my mom was always strict about eating too much. One time she found my candy stash and grounded me for two months. It was completely overdone and I learned to stash all my candy in my school locker.

"What is it? What aren't you telling me?" I asked as I filled up our cups with water.

She scratched the nape of her neck with a shy smile. My mom was never like this. She seemed a bit edgy and it concerned me. I watched her as she rearranged every item on our table. Why was she so nervous? Was the picture not good?

"Mom."

She looked up at me with her big brown eyes. My mom and I did not look alike. She had blond hair with big brown eyes. While I had light brown hair and bright blue eyes, which both came from my father. I also had his high cheekbones and pink lips. The only thing my mom and I shared in common was our small nose and eyebrows.

"I- I should've told you sooner, but I didn't want to upset you too much before the picture."

"What's wrong?"

She took a deep breath and grabbed my hands.

"Your father has decided to move us again, only this time, it'll be closer to where he's staying."

My jaw dropped in shock. We were moving? We were moving closer to my father?

"Where?" I asked breathlessly.

"Manhattan."

I couldn't respond, I was too shocked. I knew that my father lived in New York, somewhere in the state.

"We're leaving tomorrow afternoon. He bought us a nice penthouse and you'll be able to go to one of the best schools-" I cut her off.

"Why are we moving closer? You said that it's dangerous. What changed?"

She smiled excitedly. I know this news must be so amazing for her. Perhaps she could see him again. I know how much they loved each other. But I was so confused. There was a reason why we stayed separate.

"We still can't meet him but he's secured a safe position in Brooklyn. In about a year, we'll finally get to live together."

My jaw dropped even further. A year from now, I'll be sixteen. I'll meet my father for the first time. Excitement rushed through my body, though I still felt a bit worried about it all. Yet, I pushed that aside at the thought of meeting my father. I've already waited fifteen years, a year won't make a difference.

"So we're moving tomorrow? Why didn't you tell me earlier? What about our stuff-"

"Don't you worry about a thing! Mom took care of everything!" She winked.

I nodded slowly. We would move away to a whole other continent. A whole other country... My friends! I was supposed to meet them tomorrow for my birthday.

"I have to talk to Tracy and Morgan", I muttered.

The waiter brought us our food and my mom squeezed my hand.

"You can do that later. First, eat, we have a lot to celebrate!"

In a year, I'll meet my father. Though leaving my best friends behind broke my heart, I couldn't decline this chance to meet my father. It was my biggest wish and I was so close to seeing it come true.

////////////////////////

Tracy and Morgan had been my best friends since primary school. Saying goodbye to them was one of the hardest things that I ever had to do. I was upset that my mom didn't tell me earlier, because I only had a few minutes to tell them goodbye. I hung out with them daily and now I'd only get to see them through a stupid screen.

"Let's promise to face time every day!" Tracy sobbed on my shoulder.

They ran over when I told them the news over the phone. I spent most of my birthday packing up my belongings, so we only had a few minutes before I needed to go to the airport. Right now we stood in front of my old home. My mom was impatiently waiting for me in the taxi. She kept calling for me to hurry up but I just couldn't let go.

"Please don't go." Morgan begged.

"I'm sorry!"

I didn't know what else I could say. I wished that I could just take them with me. I pulled them closer and tried to remember what it felt like to hug them. We hugged daily because we were very physical people, but I was so scared that I'd forget. I knew them so well and I feared that I'd forget about all those little details. Like how Morgan hiccups when she drinks soda or how Tracy always walks crookedly and would bump into us as we walked.

"Char, we need to go now!" My mom yelled angrily.

Their grip on me tightened but I took a step back. I took one final look at my friends. Morgan's fiery red hair was put up in a messy bun and her white skin was red from crying. Her big brown eyes were filled with tears and she bit down on her small lips to stop crying. Tracy wiped tears away from her green eyes and pushed her shirt, straight, black hair behind her ear.

"I'll call you as soon as I can." I promised.

They nodded. Tracy pulled Morgan in for a side hug. Morgan broke down again and I had to take a deep breath. Morgan was very sensitive and I knew that this was very hard on her. Tracy and I always try to protect her.

"I love you."

"I love you too." They said in sync.

I smiled sadly before hurrying into the car. My mom gave me a stern look as she told the taxi driver to hurry up. I gazed out of the window and looked at my best friends as they rapidly disappeared from my view.

////////////////////////

The penthouse was breathtaking. It was way too big for my mom and me, but she loved to live in luxury. The view was amazing. We had a view over Central Park and New York City was absolutely breathtaking at night. The lights were stunning and I was stuck against the gigantic windows. There was a balcony that had a few chairs and a table. I could already imagine myself sitting there while reading a book or just simply enjoying the view.

"Come, I'll show you your room!", mom tugged me along.

The penthouse had two floors: the ground one and the first one. My room was on the first floor. I climbed the stairs behind my mom and I smiled excitedly at my new room. It was wide and I had my en suite and walk-in closet. This place was amazing and I felt like this would be a good new start. I could see myself living in a city like New York City. My mom kissed my cheek softly and I laid my head on her shoulder. She was only an inch taller than me.

"It's finally starting."

If only I'd known what she truly meant by that.