Chapter Seventeen

Picking a book from his newly furnished and stocked shelf, Alex grabbed his backpack and prepared to step out of his room. He walked and switched off the lights, mentally marvelling on how the room now looked and commending himself for a job well done. The previous night was an exhausting one and as he remembered how he initially struggled with getting the wallpaper in place, it reminded him of just how hard he tried to get the memories of the day out of his mind.

Brushing the thoughts away, he gave his new wallpaper a final pat and stepped out. Immediately shutting the door behind him, he walked through the hallways and quickened his steps on getting to the edge of the stairs.

He had gotten used to skipping the stairs heading to the down floor every morning to meet his aunt and cousin. They were always seated and it seemed like waiting for him had become a routine for them- his aunt, waiting with smiles and his cousin waiting with a new mischievous look on his face.

He was finall