Light Within

First Step

"You are going to be late".

             Katherine opened her eyes, searched for her father's voice in her room. Eddie Black cleaned his only daughter table, as it full with coffee cups and crumpled papers. He walked over the window and pulled the curtain wide as the sunlight pierced at Katherine's eyes. Katherine shielded her eyes with her only trusted, softest pillow that her late mom made just for her, "Dad, it burns". Eddie continued to clean, throwing all the junks from his daughter's room while ignoring her nagging. He kept doing it until he found a piece of paper, half-crumpled one, full of doodles. Doddles of clothes, almost like a robe, mage robe and staff, white, long sharp staff. He amazed, but she was his wife's daughter. Elena Black, who is also known as an artist, created almost half of the design for a game's clothes. Katherine must have got it from her. "Honey, you are going to be late for school", Eddie told her as he stopped the alarm from her frog-like clock. Still sleepy from the late-night stay, Katherine forced her eyes to open and stretched her body until a pop sound heard. She was never ready to go to school. She never liked that school either. "Dad, can I skip school today, please?" Katherine asked her dad. It sounded more for appealing to her, to be the truth. Eddie sat on the comfy computer chair and turned it to face Katherine, "And why is that?". Katherine avoided her father eyes and replied: "Because I have a fever?". Eddie raised his eyebrow, waiting for a valid answer, as Katherine continued, "Like Monday blues fever?". Now, Eddie crossed her hands over on his chest. "Okay, I tell the truth. I don't want to go to that school. That's all".  Katherine pulled her legs near her chest, pouted like a five-year-old child who did not want to go to the clinic for a checkup. She would do anything to skip that school, RaxiFer Elite School. A school, elite school for elite children who have nothing better to do except to brag about their wealth. To be exact, their parent's wealth. Katherine surely hated all of her schoolmates' that kept bragging about how expensive their clothes today. Or, who are they wearing today or how many sets of the brand they have in their grand wardrobe. Although their family can also afford that, she did not have much time to speak out loud about it. She does not like about their attitude, self-centred and arrogant. She wishes she could be with her best gal friend's school, where it was more delicate and peaceful. Yeah, Claire. She misses her best friend.

            Claire has a beautiful golden, wavy blonde hair which suits her blue eyes. While Katherine, she has brown eyes, with dull black hair. That is why Katherine prefers her hair short. She does not want to look ridiculously like an old witch, ready to hex people. Claire is a fashion expert. She always knows what to wear, which suit the trend, while Katherine, oversized hoodie all day long. Claire has always been a sweetheart for Katherine.  She also had been kind to Katherine when they were five years old. Claire stood up for Katherine when the bullies always make fun of her because Katherine had no mother. Katherine has always been a target for the bullies, as she is timid and antisocial. She never thought that someone like Claire, winner of junior beauty pageant would help her. When Katherine only knows to cry when bullies picked her up, Claire beat them with Barbie doll, only to protect her. That was the beginning of their pure, yet sweet friendship. "You should stand up for yourself more, Kat", Claire reminded her, with a mummy-like pose. Katherine only knew to smile when Claire always played with her but deep down; she wanted to meet her mum. She did not like the bullies to pick on her again.  "Mummy, I miss you...."

            Eddie, realizing that his daughter was daydreaming, snapped his finger. "Honey, you have to go to school. You don't want mommy to be upset, don't you?" Eddie tried to rational with Katherine. While Katherine still thinking about Claire, she mumbled without she realized: "Dad, hows mom died again?". Eddie froze for a minute. His expression changed from calm to sad. Deep down, he also did not know why, and he does want to know it too. Elena's death was too sudden that Eddie and 3- months-old Katherine did not expect about it. Katherine never knew about his mother physically. All that she knew was from pictures that her dad was hanging on the wall. Her mother has silky hair, unlike her. Her mother has the brightest smile, unlike her, cause Katherine never likes to smile. Her mother is a social butterfly, who always been there for her friends, unlike her, a social awkwardness. "Katherine, we promised not to mention this again", Eddie reminded her, softly. He knew she missed her. No, he knew that she wanted to feel the love of the mother. Katherine grew up without a mother to talk to her. She never has a mother that can spoil her. "Sorry", Katherine apologized in a whisper.

            Eddie looked at her, "No, I am sorry. You have your right to ask, but I can't answer it". Eddie rubbed the back of his neck, "You see, Elena had to go to her office, saying she had urgent things to do". Eddie paused. And he continued, "And then, it happened. The car accident, but no witness around and no body was found there.” Still disbelief, but that has happened, and that is all that Eddie knew. No sight of Elena after, almost 17 years, as this year, Katherine turns 17. Elena is gone as she had vanished from Almind City. The last word from Eddie had made the room gone silence. Katherine pulled away from her blanket and grabbed her black, leather bag, ready to leave, "I'm off". Before Eddie had a chance to ask Katherine for breakfast, Katherine already took her water bottle and a pack of waffle on her table. "I'm going to be late right? So, I will be eating on my way", Katherine rushed to her working table and then left her room. She did not want to look at her father face because his eyes are watery. All of this happened because of her question. She felt terrible. Now, the only matter left is to go to school and face yet another horrible day.

"Well, here for another round of hell".