To Fall So Deep

Nina slowly walked down a dark hallway, the air tainted with a thick, black smoke. It was eerily quiet, nothing to be heard but her own beating heart. As she continued down the narrow hall, she stopped mid-track. There was a large, dark mass blocking the walkway. The surrounding darkness around the mass, made it hard to determine what it was from afar. Nina approached it, crouched down, and touched it. It was a body. With both hands, she turned it over. Nina gasped, both hands to her mouth, as she stumbled backwards.

"Mom?" Nina cried. She crawled back to the motionless body and shook it, "mom! Get up, let's get out of here!"

The body lied lifeless as Nina cried. Suddenly, a boisterous, thunder-like sound echoed in Nina's ears, shaking the walls around her. She turned her head, and her eyes widened with great intensity, as a large ball of fire launched towards Nina.

Nina's eyes opened in a flash, her heart beating at a rapid pace. She was sweating profusely, and her long dark hair was matted against her neck. A stream of sunshine snaked its way through the cracks of the window's curtains, blinding her. She sat up on her bed, grabbed the bottle of water on her night stand and took a big gulp. She inhaled deeply, and exhaled deeply, counting to ten in her head.

"Calm down Nina. Just a stupid nightmare," she whispered to herself, "breath in and out, come on."

It's been four months since the accident, and nightmares still plague Nina's sleep. Since her and Kathleen's release from the hospital, both girls were recommended therapy once a week. While Kathleen stopped after two months, Nina was forced to keep going. The nightmares, the isolation, the lack of eating, and the change of culture was a concern to Nina's health and well-being, and Doctor Isla Gavin made it a mission to cure Nina.

There was a knock on the door, before the knob turned and the door opened slightly. Kathleen stuck her head through the crack. She took one look at Nina and smiled. How Kathleen was able to be so positive despite everything was an inspiration to Nina.

"Good, you're awake! It's a really nice day outside. Tatay was wanted to go out for lunch, and then maybe out shopping?" Kathleen said. Nina looked at her sister; always beautiful, but on her left check just above her dimple, was a large scar that extended from her cheek to the temple of her head-- a constant reminder of that tragic day.

"Is Corrine going?" Nina asked. Kathleen sighed and walked into the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Yea," Kathleen said. Nina rolled her eyes. "It's supposed to be a family day. Come on. You haven't been outside all summer."

"I've been outside," Nina retorted.

"The backyard, or the front yard to get into the car to Doctor Gavin's office doesn't count," Kathleen said stated.

"I'm just not too keen on the idea of Corrine. I mean, being with dad again is one thing, but now I've got this skinny, British woman trying to serve me jam and crumpets, or tea, or biscuits, or a fucking manicure every hour,"

"She's just trying her best to help you out Ate. She's never had any kids, and now she's got two, and--"

Nina interrupted her sister before she could continue, "I'm not her kid. She's nowhere near being our mother, and she never will be."

"Corrine doesn't want to be our mom… she's actually really nice once you get to know her. She'll be your English teacher when we start school," Kathleen informed.

"Please don't talk about school," Nina groaned. Kathleen gave a light smile,

"Fine, I won't mention it for the rest of the summer. But can you please come out with us? Get some Ashford sun, eat a little… or a lot, and I don't know, just be present? I miss you,"

"I miss you too Ading," Nina smiled. She flipped the blanket off of her body and slid off the bed. Her body drowned in a large shirt; it was obvious of her weight loss. Not just from her thin structure, but from the bags under her eyes, the bruising on her legs, and the frailty in every step she took.

"So… does that mean you're coming?" Kathleen excitedly asked.

"Yes," Nina nodded, "I'll come out with you guys."

Kathleen squealed and threw her body to Nina's, hugging her. Nina hugger her sister back and let out a light laugh, Stay positive, she thought.

"Go ahead and clean up, and I'll see you downstairs," Kathleen said. She did a 'happy jump' of some sort before walking out the room, leaving Nina to get ready.

Ashford summer days were similar to Monterey County nights. No more than 75 degrees with sun, and although moving across the ocean to a new country wasn't Nina's first choice, she was at least content that she didn't have to give up some warm weather.

In a pair of black leggings, a white tank top, and an oversized cardigan, Nina was ready to go. She looked at herself in the mirror as she brushed her long, dark hair. Normally, she liked getting ready-- putting on makeup, doing something to her hair, even picking out a lipgloss for the day, but it's been ages since she last saw a bottle of mascara, let alone actually putting some on. She just didn't feel like it anymore.

Downstairs in the kitchen and living room area was Kathleen, animately talking to Corrine about a floral something, while their father, Leo typed away on his laptop at the table. This house was definitely a major upgrade to the small house in the ghetto where she and Kathleen previously lived with their mother. But despite this upper-middle-class living, Nina would give it all away just to have her mother back.

Nina appeared, and her presence was easily felt by everyone in the room. Kathleen smiled, and much to Nina's surprise, Corrine and her dad were pleased too.

"Anak, you're coming. I'm so happy," Leo smiled, giving his daughter a quick squeeze. Leo has been in England ever since he left the family 13 years ago, and has attained a light British accent whenever he would speak certain words.

Corrine stepped towards Nina, "today will be fun. The weather's swell, and we're going to a cute bistro in downtown Ashford. The food is absolutely fantastic!"

"Yes, Ate. And they have yummy macarons too!" Kathleen exclaimed.

"You've been there before?" Nina asked with a raised eyebrow. I guess Kathleen really has recovered, she thought.

"Uhm yea, two weeks ago. Corrine took me. And that's when I got this awesome floral kimono cardigan," Kathleen explained, spinning around to give a 360 view of her new clothing item.

"It's nice," Nina smiled.

"Well, let's get a move on then girls," Leo said, closing his laptop. Leo started towards the door, followed by Corrine and Kathleen, and then Nina.

Downtown Ashford, Kent was quaint, and picture perfect. With narrow streets, small shops, and restaurants, it was definitely a more intimate place to walk around, rather than to drive from store to store. It was obvious that Kathleen had been in this area, due to her chatter about almost every store on the street. The people however, were a different story. The Ashford locals who roamed the area exuded wealth. Well dressed, nice put together tresses, and even the attitude in which they walked had a certain class to it. The Dela Vera family was definitely one of the families at the bottom of the social chain, but was still 100 times better than where Nina and Kathleen were living in only 4 months ago.

The Dela Vera family entered a cute Italian bistro named Vitale's Place, where they waited to be seated.

"Mr. Dela Vera, Corrine, and Kathleen," a voice said. A hostess came around the corner. She gave Leo, Corrine, and Kathleen a hug before stopping at Nina. "And I take it, you're Nina?"

Nina nodded.

"I've heard great things about you from Kathleen," she claimed. Kathleen grinned, and gave Nina a wink. "Where would you all like to sit? It's beautiful day out, I would recommend the back patio?"

"That sounds great," Leo said.

"Splendid. Follow me, then," the hostess gestured with her arm, and the family followed her through the restaurant. "How's work Mr. Dela Vera? How's the company holding up?"

Leo sighed, "it's holding. The trial is in a month. We're up against a huge law firm from the city. It's going to be a tough fight, but I believe we can do it."

"You're a good man Mr. Dela Vera, the whole lot of ya are. No matter the outcome, I'm sure you'll still have loyal Ashford supporters," the hostess assured.

"Thank you so much. That means a lot to hear," Leo thanked.

The patio was beautiful. Old cobblestone floors, with rustic iron tables and chairs, and vines that grew upon the brick walls of the restaurant. The back patio was slightly empty with only two other families sitting on the opposite sides of the patio. The hostess sat them at their table.

"Isn't this place super cute?" Kathleen asked.

"Yea, it is nice," Nina sighed. Corrine smiled and squeezed Leo's hand.

"I think you'll like the food here Nina. They have several options. Meat, seafood, or vegan… if you need," Corrine informed.

"Nina, please tell me, how have you been feeling lately?" Leo asked.

"Better, but not quite," Nina shrugged.

"Do you feel more comfortable here in my home? In Ashford?"

"It's more fancier,"

"Are your therapy sessions helping?"

"I don't want to talk, please," Nina snapped. "I'm already outside, can't we just not discuss me?"

As Leo's mouth opened to speak, he was cut off by the presence of a petite girl with long brown locks, held up by a thick elastic. She also wore a very large red bow in her hair, a statement piece that reminded Nina of Joleen.

"Welcome everyone, I'm your waitress Elissia! Oh hi, Professor Dela Vera! What can I get started for you today? Any drinks?" Elissia was the epitome of happy. With every word she smiled, and with every smile, a dimple came out to play. Her happy-go-lucky tone was probably enough to cure cancer. It made Nina sick.

"Can I just get a glass of water?" Nina said, as she pushed her chair back. "I'm going to the… loo."

"Oh okay. In the restaurant, and to your left. Back corner," Elissia informed. Nina nodded and made her way to the restroom.

Nina weaved in between tables and chairs, her eye on the back corner. The restaurant was becoming more packed by the second, and more employees seemed to be coming out of the back and onto the main floor; cleaning tables, running food, or taking orders. Suddenly, there was a loud crash behind Nina. Startled, she turned around to see a boy about her age with brown hair crouching over a bin with shattered plates around him.

"Louis, again?" a voice chuckled. Nina turned her head towards the direction of the voice, which came from a busboy with a mane of black hair, and matching stubble.

Nina was still walking at this point, and was not paying attention when, BAM, she collided with another busboy. Almost falling on the ground, Nina's arm was quickly grabbed by the busboy and pulled up with ease. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes caught his green ones, and it was like sorcery what his gaze did to her.

"You okay, love?" he asked. His soft brown curly hair was pushed back by a black bandana, and when he smiled, a dimple popped on the side of his cheek.

"Uhm, yea, sorry, I ran into you," Nina said, pushing him away. She broke the gaze, and her cheeks felt flushed.

"You're not from around here," he said, but instead of answering, Nina was already walking away, and back to the patio. She hoped to avoid him the rest of her time at the restaurant, and swore to never come back.

But there was something about that boy that Nina couldn't shake off. Some kind of freaky intuitive feeling she couldn't let go of. Whether her gut was trying to tell her to stay away, or her heart whispering the truth, whatever it was, kept her uneasy, but oddly content. It was the first time in several months, that Nina suddenly felt something other than indifference; something that wasn't geared towards the death of her mother, or leaving California. It was some kind of feeling, an unknown one at most, that was elicited by the boy with the green eyes.

Notes