Forged in the Flames

T

mistake those eyes for anyone else’s in the world. There’s only one person, one woman in the entire world I know with amber eyes and brown hair. What are the odds that I meet another? My suspicion is confirmed when I see the shock in those eyes and the involuntary step she takes back. She doesn’t even notice when her child… t

e other. It’s Nala tugging on her mother’s hand that breaks our eye lock. ‘Momma’ Nala says with a tiny

, and tears. ‘Hello Amber. How are you?’ She drops to her knees and smiles at her. ‘I’ve heard so much about you, strawberry Amber. I’m sorry I didn’t say hi to you earlier. I was a little....’ s

e Amber’s instead. ‘Say your goodbyes your Nala, Princess.’ I don’t break eye contact with Gwen or even take in the fact that both girls a

rls hug each other before I gently pull amber out of t

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eing civil. It’s been nearly ten years since our fallout and God knows I

funny because he’s doing well and has a daughter. Ethan has a child! And she’s as old as Nala. Did he

o meet him again

ice pulls me out of my thoughts.

fine

day was and you’ve been staring in

’m just tired darling. Momma’s had

ou two just kept staring at

t reall

ay so. Can I tu

sound as panicky as I feel but it seems I’m doing a terrible job because Nala is still star

her say some

ere’s nothing bad to say about

y is she upset anyway? I close my eyes and take a deep breath. ‘Nala, I’m fine. I had a long d

satisfy she didn't say

HA

or Ty’s office. I’m less than five m

and downing my third glass of whisky. My blood is raging, my heart is beating so hard, my chest feels threatened. M

Eight years later and I’m realising that my wounds have not healed. Eight years of hard work and self-dev

r whiskey or blood on the tiles.’ It’s only at that moment that

tly what happ

do and completely uneasy with al

a little. You can talk to me if you

do feel li

aughter. ‘Why did she have to show up? Why does her daughter have to be Amber's best friend? It would be unreasonable to ask her to st

y what happened. I pick up my glass and lean

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her room. This is going to be recorded a

asks me to tell her the story I’ve

herever. I’m listening. We can

a deep breat

5. I was only four at t

HA

r my father so her family had to move i

9

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from where we used to stay. I c

ee Mr. and Mrs. Grey first. Naturally, my parents went in alone while I sat on this massive chair outside the office. That was the first time I saw him, Ethan. He was a tall

could look out the window and see the gardens. I had fallen in love with the Grey Estate half awake. It was a

f all because the old Grey Housekeeper had fallen terminally ill. Secondly because my Momma liked working and felt useless moving all the way

was still wearing a scowl. He looked about eight years old or so. He was tall

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asked. But now she had a nice blue pinafore on over her white shirt. Her hair was done into two pigtails and she was playing under the sun so there were freckles scattered all over her face. The thing that caught my attention were her eyes. Her pupils were almost red and with her standing there, under the sun, they looked like t

ng my name on her lips and I don’t know why but it mad

daddy is the new man working f

going to be doing but I know it involves a lot of numbers. My daddy is good with num

let your student win a few rounds?’ I

in, how will you learn? Serve.’ She

t she was smart. I remember thinking she probably got it fr

lan

like it

ad lots o

s of friends too. New York is nice.

work. Momma says there won’t

go with me.

id you’re her boss’s son. In the book I read, the prince and

e plan to not play cards

e are not real. It’s just books. And I can pro

e.’ I

row’ pause ‘…if you want.

else to do for now. We’

.’ I let out the bre

as Nanny looking

I look at Gwen. We had lost tr

is looking for me too. I’ll come out to play

ka

hen Gwen. It was ni

back to playing by herself

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. The Grey’s garden is nice and as much as I liked my room, I didn’t want to be in the house alone so I lay back on the garden bench Ethan and I had been playing on and just listened. When I got tired, I walked around, touching and smelling flowers. Like any other four year old gi

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ned my parents and older

you Ethan?

w she wanted to. My mother was opposed to every sort of relationship between employers and employees except the relationship was

my supper. I liked playing with he

e minutes late to lessons meant five minutes extra and five minutes extra meant five minutes late meeti

My parents, the Grey's, were the owners of one the biggest chain businesses in the United States. We sti

I took extra classes during the weekends and holidays to make sure I maintained amazing grades. I was only allowed to relate with certain kids of the same social standing. I travelled to different countries for ‘exposure and experience’ and funny enough, I attended meetings with my parents from my fifth birthday. I was treated like t

bed for my nap before Nanny could bring it up. It was an hou

ng Ethan?’ I heard

ack without stopping

’ I wasn’t paying attention. I was too busy being excited

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e longer, watched television for a while, slept off on the couch, paid a visit to my Momma at the Grey house and yet it wasn’t evening. I

eated so I sat down and started stacking cards. After a while, I heard footsteps. The kind from a person who was running and I felt my heart skip. Then I

don’t know. I took it as the former and kept quiet until he had fully caught his breath. Today he was in bro

ou?’ he finally said as he

going to come anymore.’ I didn’t look at h

ve left before I got here. It’s not easy getting out of the hous

? But all this is still par

sion to leave the house to the ga

n but I decided to let him win so he wil

ad. ‘I ran out of the

a naughty

nows where

me here a

one who comes here the most. I come here eve

I’m h

laying with you. And yo

r him to see t

oes tha

s to me weirdly becaus

O

you stop

illy.’ I burst

the cards ‘I did.’ He sta

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but when I got there she was busy stacking cards. I w

ad on brown overall shorts on a yellow tee and pretty little sandals on her feet. Her hair was in what I had come to conclude was her customary ponytails. When I was sure that I had regained controlled breathing, I walked up to the bench an

ate and you would have left before I got her

ut all this is still part of y

sion to leave the house to the ga

permitt

e house.’ I couldn’t help but smile. It

hty thing to do?’

tilt my head to the side as I consi

me here a

he most. I come here every day. I l

I’m h

laying with you. And yo

oes tha

s to me weirdly becaus

more information. I was also relieved because I wasn’t sure I was ready to talk about it.

occurred to me that neither of us

like I was the dumbest person she had ever me

silly.’ She bur

was still laughing

nd did the victory dance a

ecided at that point to hold on to this

y be friends.’ I held out my hand for a handshake. She tilted

ay? Really?

Except you d

he took my hands and shook t

n. Let’s be fr

yes glowing. ‘Yes, let’s be f

I had every int