Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Life has always been so heavy lately. Every day passes quickly just like riding a bus on the central avenue.

“Today I was scolded by one of my boss and it is irritating because I don’t really know the reason, maybe old age is approaching,” Alexa muttered to herself. She needs to go home as soon as possible to take care of her mother that has suffered from dementia. Dementia that has slowly eaten her mother’s core memory of her and couldn’t even recognize her own daughter. Alexa felt a little bit of pity and longing within the deepest part of her heart. She is always bothered by her own existence. She has also forgot about her father who left them and made her mother like this because of all the things that bothered her. She thought of what it might have like to have a father by your side. Someone who takes care of everything else. She couldn’t continue thinking because the bus where she sit unto tightly had already stop in front of their street and she still needs to walk a few blocks to get home.

She arrived exactly at 7 in the evening, she holds a small paper bag for her mother’s medicine. She called out to her mom, “Mother, I am home,” she said but no one answered. She hurriedly look for her in every corner of the house. Until she saw her lying on the kitchen floor. She immediately called for an ambulance and rush her to the hospital.

“It is a good thing that you have rush her right away to the hospital, her dementia has gotten worst and now she is suffering from a possible head injury that may worsen her illness.” The doctor said while still checking my mother for other possible problems that may contribute to my mother’s illness. Alexa sat on the chair beside her mother and tries to think of a happy memory to merely forget every single bad thing that has happened today. Her mother seems so peaceful lying in the hospital bed, she thought to herself. She stood up and walk to the aisle of the hospital hoping some kind of dumb sheer luck may hit her. She notices the front patio of the hospital and tries to look to it. She walked until the bars of the patio hit her. She saw how beautiful the world is and how she should not quit in life. She came back to her mother who is now awake and sitting from the bed.

“Mom you should not sit yet,” she said, “you are still weak.” Her mother didn’t listen to her and just stared blankly out the window. Alexa sigh, a cold and hopeless sigh. She moved beside her mother and she grabs her arms to support it from lying down. She makes her lie down and she tuck her in, after a few minutes her mother falls asleep and she does too.

She wakes up hearing a woman talk. As she opens her eyes, she sees her mom talking to herself. “You left me alone, alone to raise this child on my own,” her mother said while crying.

She shuts her eyes again and pretend to sleep silently. She woke up when the nurse came in and said “your mother is ready to be discharge.” She nods lightly and immediately arranged all their belongings.

They got home almost past midnight and she is very tired from all the things she have done. Alexa glances past her window and saw stars hanging from the night sky. She smiles briefly before lying down on her bed and getting a goodnight’s rest.

It is another normal morning for Alexa. She cleans the house, prepare some breakfast and decides to go to work today. “Mom, I’m going to be late for work. The food is already at the table, you may now eat,” Alexa said as she run straight to the door. She ride a bus on her way to work.

Alexa works at Belle Florist in London, England. She have help arranged and decorate flowers for several occasions like anniversary or birthdays. The day was going smoothly until her ex-lover showed up.

“Well hello there Alexa, I see you are working in one of London’s significant flower shops,” Harold said while standing on the door way. “Well good day to you to sire!” Alexa greeted back. Harold swiftly walks around, his dark eyes looking at the colorful tulips. He has broad shoulders, slim hands and curly hair that some of it falls in front of his eyes. Alexa couldn’t bother looking at the handsome gentleman inside her store. “Is there anything you like Harold?” she asked. He just looks at her and smirk. After a few minutes of gazing through the flowers, Harold left the shop. Alexa couldn’t help but say, “What a jerk.”

She was almost done for the day when her boss called her. “Alexa, I know that you suffering from little things in your home but I do really need to fire you,” her boss said. “But why?” she asked, “I have been doing my job very well, I can’t seem to find a reason for you to fire me,” she added.

“Well how about this, I know Harold is your ex-boyfriend.” Her boss replied.

“What does it have to with my job then?” she exclaimed.

“Harold is my boyfriend now. I can’t work with someone who is the ex-lover of my handsome fiancée.” Her boss said while swaying her chair.

“That is so unfair!” she shouted.

“Well life is unfair, darling. You can’t always have what you want and lastly I see how you look at my fiancée, you are drooling Alexa. Such nasty thing to see.” Her boss laughs at her.

With no other choice, Alexa didn’t bother arguing with her boss anymore. She quickly pack her things and leave the place. She called a cab and tell the driver her home address. While on her way home, she couldn’t help crying because of how unfair things has been for her. She felt like this is not her life. This is not the story carved for her. When she was a little girl, she always thinks that she is meant for something great. Something important because that is what her mother told her but now she is jobless with her mother’s illness getting worst. She couldn’t help but weep throughout the way.

Until the driver of the cab confronted her. “Missy, this is a cab not a weeping station,” the driver muttered. She glances at him and saw his hazel eyes. She got mesmerized by how handsome the driver is. She didn’t notice him before riding because she is busy pouring her heart out. “Oh maybe you shouldn’t pay attention if someone is crying,” she argued. “But you are in fact in my cab, so that makes you my responsibility,” he said while examining Alexa. She just let out a laugh and concentrate on every building that passed.

“You know I got a good place for you where you can release all the tensions you are enduring right now,” he said.

Alexa didn’t pay attention to what the driver is saying. Until they arrive at the place.

“This is isn’t my house,” Alexa said as she stood up.

“I know but I really felt you might need this,” the driver claimed.

Alexa stopped crying as she focused on what is in front of her. It is so beautiful and nostalgic, she thought.

“This is the Primrose Hill.” The driver said while pointing to trees up ahead.

“Wow,” she said.

They spent the whole afternoon there. Talking and listening to each other. Alexa felt glad over the driver and she felt too comfortable telling things to him. They plan to go home when the darkness is already eating the sun’s rays and the stars begins to show their beautiful lights.

“You know they said that once we die, we became stars,” the driver said.

“How so?” she reply.

“We became stars because we became the light to our beloved ones path. It is now our responsibility to light their way and become a symbol of hope for them.” He said while still looking at the stars.

“Well that’s bothersome, why can’t we just die peacefully. Why do we have to be responsible for their own paths?” Alexa said, angrily.

“You are one negative person,” he said calmly with sarcasm.

They both laugh at each other and decides to leave the place. The driver pulled in front of Alexa’s house.

“Thank you,” she said.

“It’s my job,” he replied

“By the way, I didn’t get your name and your number,” Alexa mentioned.

“You don’t need my name nor my number Ms. Jones. We will meet again, that time I will gladly introduce myself to you!” he shouted while driving farther away from Alexa’s house.

Alexa smiles on her way to their doorway. Inside she saw her mom laughing at the show in the television. “Alexa, come here my darling. The show just started.” Her mom said while pointing at the television. She sat down next to her mom and asked “did you eat already?” her mom nods. She hugs her mother tightly because it is only occasional that she remembers who she was. “I love you mom,” Alexa muttered while crying. “Oh my baby, I love you so much,” her mother replied.

Alexa went to bed and thinks about how to get a job. She surf the internet to find stable jobs to support her and her mother’s need. She lists down every company, store and organizations she thinks she can go to. She also prepared the requirements she need. Before sleeping she said “Now Alexa, all you need is a little bit of courage and luck tomorrow.” She fell asleep knowing that tomorrow is a new day and maybe, just maybe it can also be better. She knew that after every rain is a rainbow.

Alexa wakes up with a smile on her face and positive feeling growing inside her heart. She cleans the house and prepare the meal. Her mom couldn’t help but notice the changes in Alexa.

“You seem joyful today,” Her mother said while sipping her tea.

“It is definitely my day.” Alexa said. “I need to go now mother, I’m going to be late for my appointments.”

“Good luck my darling.” Her mother waved at her.

Alexa ride a cab again hoping to see the same driver yesterday but it is not him. She go to every company on her list and pass her papers. She sat down at one of the sunken garden near their village and eat waffles. She looks happy and grateful for all the things she experienced lately. She thought that without it she couldn’t have grown so much. She also thanked the kind driver who showed her how beautiful it is to exist. She finish her cup of orange juice as well as her waffles and continue her journey. She still has a few company left until she got inside of one of the most prestigious company in England. She quickly go for the receptionist and ask about the job vacancy and tell her to proceed at the 56^th floor where she can pass her requirements and also be interviewed immediately. She nods and proceed to the lift (elevator).

“Wow the buildings view her is astonishing,” she said as she glances below.

She got to the 56^th floor and proceed to the girl in front of the office. She asked about the job vacancy and the girl ask for her papers. She quickly gives it to her and instructed her to seat and wait till a woman calls her name.

A few minutes later, a woman called her name.

“Alexa Jones, please proceed to the interview session.” She said pointing inside the office.

She quickly stood up that she almost lost her balance but gained it anyway. She got inside the office and she is amaze by how neat and clean it was. It is also smelled like lotus flowers which she recognized because she works at a flower shop. She saw the big glass and the man who seems to be facing it. She inspects every details in the room. The awards, the books, the papers even the chairs. Then the man who has turned his back her talks.

“Ms. Jones, please sit down,” he said calmly

Alexa sat at the chair beside the table and she now inspects the details of the table. She saw his laptop but immediately looks at something else. Until the man talks again.

“It is a good thing for a person to have so much skills that she can apply for any job at all,” he added. “The thing is Ms. Jones you are the person we are looking for.”

The man who has turned his back now shows his face. Alexa, surprised didn’t talk for a few second. She just stared at the hazel eyes guy. Alexa couldn’t even form a sentence.

“Alexa, you can talk now,” Daniel said while smiling.

“You!” she shouted and Daniel laughs. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I’m the boss Alexa and you are hired.” He said while grinning.

She couldn’t believe what he said and neither the fact that the driver who drove her is the boss of one of the greatest companies in England.

“Alexa don’t be surprised, I am not a cab driver.” He talked while sitting down from standing too long.

“What?” she exclaimed.

“I am not a cab driver, you immediately hop inside my car and gave me your address. I couldn’t tell you because you are on the verge of crying. Then you really cried and now I can’t do anything but let you ride my car and take you home,” he continued. “But not until I saw you really pour out your heart. That I knew I have to do something.”

“But you said you are a cab driver right?” she asked.

“Well I kind of need to pretend so you don’t embarrassed yourself and cry more. I am sorry for not telling immediately.” He said while looking down.

Alexa embarrassed now at what she did. She could only let a laugh and Daniel laugh with her. She didn’t realize what she did and now this will haunt her for years. Alexa got out of the company and ready to head back home. Knowing she got a stable job at a good company. She will start next week by Monday. She also have some benefits like health card, allowance and many good stuffs that may help her mother and her also. She thinks that meeting that Daniel guy is a good omen that has brought her luck. She is now happily riding a bus and going home to her beloved mother. She is ready to share her funny experienced. She thought that the world isn’t so bad after all and the she is ready now for a new beginning of her story where she will now carved it on her own.