"Oh, darling!"

Aunty Christy cooed, embracing her tightly and pressing a light kiss on her neck, "I'm going to miss you so much."


Aurora pulled back giving her a funny look, "You know the only I stayed this long is because I got stabbed, right?"

Her aunt winked, pinching her cheek playfully, "But in turn, I got to spend time with my favourite niece in the world."

"I'm your only niece, Aunt Christy."


The woman waved her off and she chuckled, shaking her head in a fond manner. Aurora spotted Chandler returning from the luggage check-in, he waved a hand in the air when he saw that she had sighted in.

"So your luggage has been safely transported and here is your ticket," She gratefully accepted it with a smile, "That's all you need, yeah?"


"Yep," Aurora answered and he grinned, slinging an arm over her shoulder and pulling her in for a side hug.

"I'm going to miss you so much, kiddo!"

Aunty Christy looked up from where she'd been fussing over her daughter's hair, "I told her that too!"

They both exchanged a smile, one that made Aurora want to throw up from how lovey dovey it looked. She shook her head again, squirming away from Chandler's bear hug.

"I better go now, don't wanna miss my flight," She waved the ticket and smiled wryly. The truth was, she didn't want to go back home and be reminded of how shitty her life was.

Aurora's stay in Pennsylvania was nothing but bliss. Her aunt and Chandler were two funny and nice people, there wasn't a single dull moment with them. She had even begun building a slow relationship with her bratty cousin, Elizabeth. A part of her wished this was her everyday life but that was only fantasy. This was her reality and she had to face it.

"I would love to come back here for Christmas," She said then and they both smiled, "I enjoyed my time with you."

Her aunt nodded, something that looked like tears started to spring in her eyes. Chandler wrapped an arm around her, squeezing gently. With one last smile in their direction, she moved to walk when a force slammed against her midsection, almost knocking her down.

"Elizabeth!" Aunty Christy chided loudly.

Aurora looked down to see her cousin blinking up at her with large grey eyes. Her throat bobbed and she sighed, running her fingers through the girl's salt and pepper locks,

"I'm going to dearly miss you, Lizzy."

Her small button nose scrunched, "I told you to stop calling me that."

"And I told you that I won't stop until you give me his name."

They shared a conniving smile and for a moment, warmth bloomed in her chest. Elizabeth released her then, stepping back,

"You promise you'll be here for Christmas?"

She grinned, crouching and sticking out her pinky finger, "I pinky swear."

Elizabeth smiled brightly, hooking her finger too and they pressed their thumbs together. The elated look in her eyes melted Aurora's tough exterior and she couldn't help it. Her arms went around the little girl and she hugged her tightly. The scent of strawberry and something sweet tickling her nostrils.

They stayed like that for a few seconds before she pulled away, patting Elizabeth's shoulder,

"Goodbye, Lizzie," This time, she turned and walked away without looking back.


The flight took a staggering seven hours and by the time she arrived at the airport in Toronto, she was near read to topple over to the ground. Luckily, we driver, Calvin, was already waiting to pick her up. The drive back home was spent in total silence and she appreciated it since her eyes had begun drooping shut.

She spotted their house and sighed at how it hadn't changed. It still looked picturesque on the hill and for some reason, it made her shudder.

She was back, Aurora realized then. Back home.

Rosa was the first person at the door, singing a welcome home song in Spanish. Aurora didn't want to damper the excited woman's mood, so she played along, jumping and singing. She was surprised to see that the staff had even baked a cake in her honor and she forced herself to take a bite or two.

When she asked about her parents, Rosa had informed her that her father had gone on a business trip and should be back by weekend while her mother had a house opening to attend.

Nobody could bother about her return. So much for having caring parents.

After the whole welcome party which she managed, surprisingly enough, to pull through. Aurora finally made it to her bed.

Well, if there was anything she missed in this place then it was her bed. Her eyes flickered to her purse and she grabbed it, pulling the zipper open and bringing out her phone.

She hadn't turned it on ever since the day she woke up. What she was so afraid of seeing, she didn't know. However, a part of her wanted to be oblivious of what was happening in the world.

Aurora took in a deep breath and long pressed the power button. It buzzed and the screen lighted instantly, she tried to ignore the thumping of her heart beat as the phone slowly booted back to life.

Her wallpaper came up then, it was a silly picture of her, Natasha and Mason when they had gotten not-so-drunk during the last new year's eve. A small laugh escaped her lungs at the memory and she blew out another breath.

Her phone began vibrating again, influx of messages blinking on her screen. Most of them was from Natasha, there were audio notes from Mason even James had left a ton of texts for her, no doubt cursing her out.

But none of those things caught her attention, it was Matt's message that made a small smile pull on her lips. He had sent eleven texts so far and the amount caused butterflies to swirl in her stomach.

Had Matt been thinking about her too? Was he worried sick?

She made to tap on the message when a new one arrived. Ryan's name displayed boldy on the screen, she frowned but opened his instead.

Her eyes rolled at the content however, the corners of her lips still tugged upwards and she clenched the phone in her hands.

R: Still can't get last night out of my head. Wanna recreate the memory?

She debated on what to reply him, chewing contemplatively on her bottom lip. A few minutes passed and she still didn't know what to say. Aurora let out a silent scream that was overtaken by a long yawn.

Her vision already blurring slowly, the grip on her phone began to loosen and she let out another tired yawn. Aurora didn't even realize when sleep won the battle allowing her to succumb into the welcoming darkness.