Chapter One

Tasha's POV

"No, no,no! This can't be happening." I sobbed as I held my head while sitting on my bed. I couldn't comprehend what Mr Blackwood, our family friend and lawyer, just told me. My sweet Nana Mrs Shelby Grey is gone. It's just me, Asher, my ten-year-old brother and Mrs Esther. Nana had been in the hospital suffering from renal failure for the past two months. Everytime we went to visit, it seemed she was getting worse and now she's gone.

"Sis" I glanced up to see Asher by my door, a worried expression on his face. I had been so busy crying I hadn't realised he was there.

"Sis, what's wrong? Why are you crying? He said as he walked towards me and sat on the bed. I wiped my tears and held his hand.

"I'll be fine Ash. Something came up and it's saddening"

"What is it? Please tell me" he pleaded. His hazel eyes looked worried and I instantly felt bad. I can't imagine telling how he'll react when he hears the news but it'll be better if he hears it from me than from someone else.

"I promise to tell you when you're back from school okay? For now, let's prepare you for school" I stood and held his hands as we went to our small dining area.

"Sis, aren't you going to school?"

"No I'm not, I have to take care of some things at home" I answered him.

"Oh I get it. Don't be sad, okay? Everything will be fine" he smiled warmly at me.

I looked at him in amazement. With his curly auburn hair and warm smile, he really looked like my Dad while he had my mom's eyes. He's really growing up and would soon in two years be reaching my shoulders.

"Everything will be fine" I repeated and held his hand as we walked to the dining.

I remember many times Nana had said we should not draw unnecessary attention and I never really understood because I felt that our simple looking four bedroom bungalow with white washed fence is nothing to draw attention but never questioned her as she won't do anything that's not for our good.

I wondered if Grandpa would have been less strict than Nana. I had asked countless times about him but Nana had a way of closing that topic. I remember seeing her cry one certain time in her room as she clutched a picture frame and wishing whoever was on it had been here and decided to not ask her.

I remember Nana coming to my room whenever I cried awake from nightmares I had some times. "You'll understand when you're of age" she'd say. I snapped out of my train of thoughts as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Mrs. Esther, our housekeeper for long, smiling sadly at me.

"Breakfast is ready dear, eat up" I nodded and helped myself with some pancakes and bacon. As we were eating, Asher started whining about how Mondays are stressful and he wouldn't want to go to school.

"You have to study Ash so we'll make Mom and Dad proud. Remember Nana always said studies is a must priority"

"You're right. Studying is a priority" he continued eating.

I finished eating and stood up to leave, I turned to Asher.

"Hurry up and finish your breakfast so you'll go take your bath and then Mrs Esther will help you prepare for school so you don't miss the bus". I said

"Okay sis. Love you" he smiled with his hazel eyes twinkling as he hugged me.

I smiled back but it didn't reach my eyes. I hugged him back and ruffled his auburn hair.

"Love you too"

I walked to my room to shower. I removed my pyjamas and entered the bathroom and put on the shower. As the water hit my back, I sighed. The hot water helped soothe my muscles as it cascaded down my back, I washed my hair with my vanilla-coconut scented shampoo and my body with peach scented body wash.

After I was done, I blow-dried my hair and searched for what I'll wear to stay home and after a while, I settled on a baggy dark grey sweatpants, a big black t-shirt with a white rose in the front. I went to my vanity mirror to fix my curly honey brown hair and put it in a loose ponytail and took my phone from the desk.

I went to the living room and didn't see Asher meaning he must have gone to school already. I made my way to the dining table to grab an apple when I heard the home phone ring and rushed to pick it before it would go to voicemail.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe, it's Carmen. I called your line but you didn't pick it up so I decided to call the home line" she said.

"I'm sorry about that. It must be in silent mode, I'll remove it". I answered monotonously.

"No problem. Why are you sounding down? Are you okay? Is something wrong?"

"Nana is gone. She died this morning"

"Oh my, I'm so sorry to hear that hun. Why don't you stay home today?"

"I will. I have to help prepare for the funeral, I'll be in school probably by the end of the week or next" I replied.

"Alright then. Please take care, I love you okay?"

"Love you too. Thanks" I dropped the call. I walked back to the living room and sat on the sofa looking at the picture of my mom on her graduation and Nana smiling and I couldn't help but sigh. I felt the sofa dip down, I looked to my right to see Nanny Esther looking at the picture also.

"You do look like her, you know?" She told me with a nostalgic smile.

"Hmm I can see"

"I know the news of your Nana is still a lot to handle but we'll push through. We'll get through this" she said, smiling widely. I nodded though I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about her wide smile. She and Nana were very close that you'll mistake them for sisters but this is unusual considering the issue at hand is weird.

"Smile okay? You now ugly in the space of an hour already" she said as she pinched my cheeks.

Okay now this is really weird. I mean she's joking like nothing happened. I shrugged off the feeling because she may be doing this to just lighten up my mood so I won't put much thinking than necessary.

"Your parents would be happy to see you grow up but unfortunately not" she said shrugging.

I cringed at that statement and made to stand up when she held my hand and started apologising. I wanted to get away from her grip but I figured she didn't mean any harm. I may be overthinking.

"It's alright. I'll just be in my room". I removed my hand from hers, went to pick the apple and my phone then headed to my room.

"I'm so sorry once again for that dear".

"Hmmm" I entered my room and released my breath I didn't know I was holding.

I laid on my bed and looked at the ceiling with glow in the dark stars cut on it. I smiled as I looked at the hand drawings I made with Nana some time back on my walls. We drew fishes in a river, some birds and a clear blue sky with a little rainbow. Surprisingly, Nana was a good artist and that was when I picked interest in learning from her. A lot of memories with her came rushing through and I decided to draw.

I picked up my canvas, art supplies and set it up. I opened my window and after the surge of breeze that came in, the chirping of birds and the quietness, I decided to set it up by the window.

I stared at the canvas for a while and decided to let my hands direct the painting. After drawing for a while, I found myself drawing an empty land, I really didn't know why I was drawing this but continued anyways. I mixed some colours and drew more and by the time I was done, the painting didn't look familiar but it felt familiar and it was kinda freaky that it brought me calmness while drawing it. It was a meadow with flowers and stream. The sun was high up in the sky and it was drawing me in so I just hurriedly finished it up.

I left the painting to dry as I decided to watch some YouTube shorts. Thereafter, I tried to give Mr Blackwood a call to know how and when the funeral will take place. He didn't pick, so I decided to go to his office that's two blocks from ours. I took out my black Crocs from my shoes rack, slid my phone in my pocket, grabbed my headphone and my small side bag and left my room.

As I walked to the living room, I didn't see Mrs Esther but I saw a note written by her,

"I went to do some grocery shopping and I'll pick Asher on my way back. We'll be back soon, Mrs Esther."

I left a note of mine telling where I went. I stepped out of the house and headed down the street, I kicked some stones as I walked and it wasn't long before I reached his office building.

For all I know, Mr Blackwood has been a family friend and lawyer for years. He knew my Dad and would tell me about their days in high school. Although he was a busy man, he tried to visit once a while and would talk lengthy with Nana.

I walked into the building and approached the receptionist and asked if Mr Blackwood was in. She told me he went to meet a client and won't be back to the office. I thanked her and left the building. I was slightly disappointed that I couldn't meet him.

I plugged in my headphones as I walked home. I made a quick detour to a park and went to sit in the secluded area I found some time back when me, Carmen, Nana and Asher visited the park, it had benches facing the lake and a short trail leading to the other side of town. I sat on one of the benches as I watched a mother ducks with her ducklings. I laid my head back, it wasn't long before I slept off.