Chapter 10

The night takes over the summer day.

A dark blanket with shiny stars covering the world, leaving no traces of sunshine.

Mom cuts a big slice of cake and gives it to me.

"Thanks Mom." I say as I take the plate.

" Your welcome, Ash." She replies, cutting a slice for herself.

" I'm so proud of you, your dreams are finally coming true." She says, a hint of prime in her eyes.

I don't know what to say to that so I nod.

Then, out of nowhere, Mom whispers something that almost made me drop

my plate.

"You remind me of your father."

That sentence lingers in the silence, giving me time to soak it in.

Mom never talks about Dad, no matter how much I beg her, she always says:

"It's best if you didn't know."

I don't always comprehend what she means by that.

He was my father, wasn't he?

I deserved to know his history!

But, this time Mom just said something I never thought she'd say.

This moment is too fragile to break, I have to ask her cautiously.

"What do you mean?" I ask, my voice shaky.

Mom looks at me, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"He was just like you, with big dreams, that he was never able to finish." Mom's voice cracks.

I bite my lips, I was still astonished that this was the first thing I've ever knew about my father, a secret that I've never knew about, revealed.

It's even more quiet then before, the silence tightening around us, like a thick aurora.

I look into my mom's eyes.

They seem close yet distant.

She's probably thinking about Dad.

Her eyes always go like that when she thinks about him.

I know better not to disturb her in this moment.

I finish eating my cake in the heavy silence, the sound of a fork scraping on a plate existent.

I glance at Mom's plate which was full of strawberry cake.

As I was about to get up, Mom spoke again, startling me.

"Everyone is gone. Everyone."

Everyone.

The word echo's in my head.

Except for Owen.

Then suddenly the the guy who was in front

of the meeting room with me, flashes in my mind.

The eyes.

They were familiar.

Was that Owen.

I realize I'm holding my breath, and I quickly gasp for breath.

Mom suddenly Panics.

"Ash?!" She shouts.

I look at her reassuringly.

"I'm fine." I reply, my voice horsed.

She nods to my answer, and gets up from the red velvet couch.

I take a deep breath.

That isn't Owen, I think.

I'm probably tired.

I hopelessly try to convince myself,not knowing if it was true or not.