Chapter 1: Unexpected Turns

They say that life is what happens to us when we are busy planning.

We think that we have planned something and it'll go that way. But destiny plays its cards the way it wants. And we find ourselves at a place we never thought. For example, it may throw us in a pit full of hungry lions or suddenly raises us from being an ordinary shepherd to become a king. This is what life is, full of miracles. I wouldn't have believed in one if it had not happened with me. Life showed me what it really was when I found everything. And when that everything was snatched away from my hands. I lost all that mattered to me in one day.

But soon it showed me that it wasn't the end. It was just a new beginning.

So this is my story. The story of my miracle.

....

Eight years ago

" Mama!," I called out hoping that she'd hurry up. Just then I heard the doorbell ring, knowing that I'll have to wait for more. I groaned, feeling frustrated. My mother had assured me that she'll give me my clothes as soon as I call her, but guess what it never happened. "I should have just taken the clothes myself." If it wasn't for my mother rushing me into the bathroom to get ready as someone was coming. Who is this someone? "Ugghhh."

I stood there waiting for her, impatiently pacing in the bathroom. It had almost been ten minutes.

Hearing a knock on the bathroom door. I furiously opened the door thinking that I was my mom. But to my dismay, it wasn't. There stood a tall lean figure having broad shoulders looking up I saw his beautiful brown eyes. I froze seeing the person in front of me. Only in my undergarments, I stood there shocked at what just happened.

Someone cleared his throat bringing me back, out of my trance. " Ahem, I'm sorry." When I heard him apologize, I quickly backed away from the door and slamming it shut. I walked backward hitting the bathroom wall still recovering from the shock, gaining my conscience back I groaned

"Oh no!" I facepalmed as tears started to trail down my cheeks.

"What did I just do! I shouldn't have opened the door in the first place," I cried muffling on my own words. "Who is he? A stranger? Who has seen me half-naked," tears rolled down my face making my nose almost block and eyes sting, due to hot tears trailing down my cheeks. "Why did he even come here?" I felt anger coursing through my veins because of this brown-eyed boy who should've stayed far far away from me. My

anger took over me. He should have turned immediately, seeing me in my exposed state.

But you also didn't shut the door. You were gawking at him.

"Ohh! No no no you can't blame yourself. It's his mistake."

Thank God I keep spare underwear or else this would have been worse.

Thinking that mom didn't come up till now and I couldn't bear to stay in this place any longer. I slowly and steading walked towards the door and with that same speed, I moved the doorknob.

Peeping my head out with my eyes closed to see if he was still here or not. I opened my eyes slightly to see an empty corridor. Deciding that it won't be wise to shout out to my mom for clothes I should just grab the towel.

As 'the' guest will be downstairs. I looked for a towel and luckily found a robe, wearing it, securing the straps around my waist. I hesitantly got out of the bathroom. No one will be able to see me. I just have to walk as fast as I can. Open the door and get into the room. Without thinking again I walked hastily towards my room at the end of the hall. Reaching my room, breathlessly, I shut the door.

....

Present

The constant beeping of alarm woke me up, not wanting to get out of my comfortable bed. I took my hands out from underneath the covers to stop this feeling of my head being continuously hammered. Ugghhh this is so irritating. Why did I even set an alarm? Finally finding my phone on the side table. I switched off the annoying alarm.

Everything just seemed so peaceful. The calm and eerie silence making me feel relaxed.

Starting to drift off to a peaceful slumber. I remembered something. Ohh no, not again Elly. How could you? Today is the very day that I'll be graduating. As an architect.

It was my dream to be an architect. The way the building stood tall in all their glory. The way its structure was built, made me curious and excited all the more whenever I gazed at them. I just hoped that one day I'll be able to design one of them.

And especially designing Home, a place that holds peace in the very word and that is what I feel about designing them. This thought makes me smile every time I think about it. I just want to make something so beautiful one day that people could be able to call those four walls their home.

Realizing it was time for me to get ready. I got out of the bed walking towards my closet I opened it and sat down on the floor. I admired my graduation gown and cap. On seeing my treasure box, under a pile of clothes I took it out and opened it. It was a wooden box carved with beautiful designs on top of it.

There was a picture of my me and my sister, along with some of my precious little things including some letters I had written, my autograph book and some papers smudged with my writings.

There was a picture of my mom stuck on the inner side of the box. I had kept it there so it doesn't mix up with the other things because this was my most precious treasure. This was my treasure box, having everything I treasured the most.

Turning my head towards my bedside table I gazed at my family photograph. Mom, dad, Rae, and I, mom looked so beautiful smiling brightly at the camera, Rae as usual showing off her toothy grin and dad smiling proudly holding both of his daughters. My head laying on his shoulder, I was happy, smiling at the camera. I looked at them again, all three of them looking at me, giving me strength.

A lone tear rolled down my right cheek, I didn't know whether I was feeling happy or sad. Everything changed since Mom died. Dad, Rae, and I home did feel home anymore but I knew one thing for sure. Things were going to change completely. This feeling of being abandoned will end. I cannot keep on thinking that way. I have to pull myself together.

After all, everything that matters is what you give importance to.

Saying this I wiped off the tears and put the box back in its place safely. After getting up, I took out the gown and cap placing it on my mattress, I walked out of the room to the bathroom door and stood for a moment. Let's get started. Saying this I turned the doorknob.