Chapter1
It was spring again. Cherry blossoms bloom along bustling streets, their pink petals adorning the side walks. The color of bright green trees contrasts those of the colorful flowers in parks. People stroll in typical spring clothes; a sleeveless top and jeans or a pretty flower-colored dress. The sidewalk café hums with chatter as people soak up the warm sunshine.
This would have been the perfect spring for Ava. She would have spent the days with her friends taking a walk or just enjoying the warm sun. They could go for ice cream or go to the movies. There were so many things to do during spring.
She wore her sneakers and pulled her bike off of the sidewalk. Pretty pink petals had fallen on it. She picked them one by one.
“Will I be lucky today or unlucky” she says as she picks the flowers from the black seat of her bike that was starting to ache her butt because they were old and shrunken already.
She picked up the last petal with her dainty fingers as her lips parted and whispered the word lucky.
She didn’t think much of it because she never believed in luck, she believed in hard work as grandma always taught her.
She puts the boxes of cake gently in the basket of her bike and mounts it. Pedaling away, not too slowly, but not too fast either.
The scent of freshly baked vanilla and chocolate cakes filled her nostrils.
“Hard work” she murmured to herself as she tried to steady her pedaling pace.
Every night, after a day filled with deliveries, she wondered what hard work had gotten her or her grandparents. They have owned this family bakery for a decade now, and they still couldn’t afford a fancy vacation.
She would often tell grandma as they whisked the butter and eggs every morning.
“If I ever see a way to get rich quickly, I’d take it as long as it isn’t illegal”
Grandma would often smile, revealing a set of white teeth. “You’ll understand why hard work can be so fulfilling someday.”
That’s how the conversation went most days. Today was no different.
Ava arrived at the office. The big glass door stood like a giant in front of her face. She parks her bike on the sidewalk and the security men let her in with a smile. They knew her now.
The one on the right, probably in his thirties, was definitely from Texas. He had the looks, the accent and most especially the charisma. Ava would often stop by for a few laughs every day after making deliveries.
The man on the left was an African American. He had dark skin, fuzzy hair and the typical African American accent. He had a more serious face, but he was nice. Sometimes grandma would pack a few cupcakes for them. Today was one of those days. She handed them the box with a smile and stepped inside the office.
The ambiance here was starting to feel familiar. They had been ordering different types of cakes and scones for a month now. Ava always wondered why but decided it was none of her business. As long as they paid, it was good enough.
The walls were painted a deep blue. The ceiling was so far away she often wondered how the light bulbs were installed. Workers sitting in their cubicles are always focused and clicking away at keyboards. They made a clattering sound Ava found irritating. She walked up to the receptionist. A smile was plastered on her white face as usual. Her face, though, was pinker than normal. It must be all the spring air.
“Good morning”
“Right this way”, the receptionist said, pointing to the break room. Ava dropped the cupcakes on the large mahogany table. The break room looked good enough to be used for a fancy dinner. Ava wondered what it would be like to work there, to wear a crisp suit and her hair done nicely, clicking away at keyboards and having breaks for cake and coffee. She doubted she could work there. She studied Chemistry in college and still hadn’t gotten a job.
She wouldn’t lose hope though. She would keep working hard like grandma said. They would soon expand their bakery. She stepped outside and took a moment to feel the warm sun on her skin. This is why she loved spring. Everything about it was perfect.
She was on her way to having the perfect day. She could just feel it. She pulled her bike from the sidewalk and mounted it after waving the friendly guards goodbye. She pedaled away slowly, picking up her pace. The streets had become busier. There were always a lot of tourists in New York City during spring.
Ava pedaled away slowly, enjoying the view of the bright green trees and bright flowers. The sound of children laughing as they went to school filled her heart with warmth. It made her remember her own days in middle school. She had little worries then and her parents were still alive. They weren’t rich, but they never made her feel like she lacked anything. Then one fateful day in winter, everything changed. She remembered coming home from school in a hurry. Leaving her classmates behind. It was one of the few days her parents got off from work. They had promised to build a snowman with her and then watch movies in the evening. It would be a memorable day. It was a memorable day.
Little Ava opened the door to their little home just beside the supermarket in a small neighborhood. The house was quiet. Her parents weren’t home, they probably went to run an errand. She decided to take a quick nap.
It was dark when she opened her eyes. She rubbed her eyes to shake off the sleep. Her parents still weren’t back. It was unusual.
“Ava, Ava, Ava”
The sound rang in her ears, jolting her to reality. It was too late. She tried to dodge the incoming car that had lost control.
“Oh no” she heard a woman scream.
It was the last thing she heard. Everything went black.
