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Chapter 5 - What their deaths left me

Harper

I found out that day that my parents were involved in white-collar crime: tax fraud, money laundering, bribery, corruption. And if that wasn't bad enough, when they tried to flee the country, the helicopter they were in crashed.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched the news on television. The helicopter carrying my parents had been headed to a nearby country when it suddenly crashed in a remote mountainous region. The cause of the crash was still under investigation, but the anchor speculated that the unusual bad weather might have been a factor. I stared at the grainy footage of the helicopter wreckage, my mind struggling to accept the reality of the situation. My parents, the people I had always looked up to, were suddenly gone, their lives cut short in a tragic accident.

A wave of grief washed over me, threatening to drown me in its depths. I felt lost, alone, and utterly devastated. My world had been turned upside down, and I didn't know how to pick up the pieces.

The news report continued, detailing the lives of those who had perished in the crash. I listened numbly, my mind still processing the shock of my parents' deaths. The names, the faces, the stories - it all seemed so surreal, like something out of a nightmare.

When the news report ended, my uncle turned off the television, and the silence surrounded us like a suffocating blanket. I sat in the dark, tears streaming down my face, unable to comprehend the depth of my loss. Even though my uncle, aunt and cousin were there, I knew things weren't going to be okay.

I thought a lot about it: if I had followed my parents' orders, I would have died too. That thought clouded my mind and I couldn't go to school for the rest of the year. I used to lock myself in my room and cry. Those were very dark days. At times I even thought I should have been on that helicopter so I wouldn't have felt so much pain. It was the pain of the loss of my parents combined with the feeling of betrayal because part of our wealth had been derived from crime. I never thought they would do this!

My aunt and uncle, along with Sarah, became my haven during this time of grief. They were unconditionally supportive of me and showed me what love and patience were for someone who was in so much pain. I was also aware of my uncle's suffering because of his belief of my father as a hero. His betrayal hurt my uncle deeply.

I secretly began to drink and take drugs. When I drank or took some sedatives, I was able to sleep without having any nightmares. But before I knew it, I had lost control of my own life, and these substances were doing me a lot of harm. In the beginning, Sarah tried to help me without telling her parents, because we were both afraid that they would reprimand me. However, my addiction had reached a point where I seemed quite lost in life, so Sarah eventually informed her parents, who got me into therapy.

Those were the most terrible days! I missed almost a year of school, so I still haven't graduated. I lost the friendship of people from the rich high school where I studied, after all, they already looked at me with suspicion when my parents' crimes were exposed. I felt like drowning in a sea of sorrow and despair. I didn't know how to go on. I felt like my whole world was shattered.

I knew I needed help, so I started seeing a psychiatrist and going to therapy. It wasn't easy to face all those feelings, but it was essential for me to start healing.

Over time, I had the feeling that I was on the way back to my old self. I made some wonderful friends during my treatment. These included some of Sarah's friends who had gone to college with her. They were more mature, less judgmental, and they came from all kinds of social backgrounds. I began to feel like I finally belonged.

For the next three years, I dedicated myself to maintaining my sobriety and was rewarded by getting accepted to a prestigious fashion college. Meanwhile, using innovative marketing strategies and his network of industry connections, my uncle poured his heart and soul into reviving the company. However, despite his tireless efforts, reviving the company proved challenging and required unwavering determination and patience.

To help ease the financial burden on our family, Sarah and I both began working part-time. Sarah found joy in working at a local kindergarten, nurturing the imaginations and developing young minds with her innate warmth and boundless energy. Meanwhile, I gained a unique perspective on history and design through my first job at Dusty's, a quaint antique shop that exposed me to a world of forgotten treasures.

While neither of us made enough money to live on our own, our combined income covered our basic needs, allowing us to buy textbooks, clothes, movie tickets, and snacks without placing an undue burden on my uncle. Additionally, Sarah's car, fueled by our combined resources, helped us get around and go on adventures.

While I was pretty sure Sarah needed a new car, she loved her 1967 Volkswagen Beetle. It was a classic model with a rounded body and a bright yellow paint job. The car was well maintained, with a clean interior and shiny exterior. It was a reliable vehicle that could handle even the most challenging terrain. She took great care of it, as if it were her baby: she washed it regularly and kept it in good condition. The car was a symbol of her independence and joy of life.

The future looked promising for my uncle, who secured some investments, and for Sarah, who got engaged to a wealthy and handsome man who loved her deeply.

They loved each other so suddenly! I don't have a very good memory of the night of their meeting, because I was very drunk, in a relapse that I had. She was radiant the day he came to ask her out, for Uncle Leonard! Who does that anymore? It was like we went back a couple of decades! Sara quickly fell in love with him. But who wouldn't fall in love?

I must admit that I have fallen in love with the looks and the character of Alex as well. But because he was going to marry my cousin, I kept my passion for him to myself.

Whenever he came to our house, I could feel my heart racing every time he gave me a look. It was as if an invisible force was pulling me toward him. I felt awful thinking about Alex that way. He was my cousin's fiancé, and I wasn't supposed to have these feelings. I tried to distract myself by going out with other people, but nothing worked. The image of Alex was always in my mind. I felt traitorous, like I was about to commit a terrible crime. I was torn apart by Sarah's happiness with Alex. But I silenced my passion for Alex, Sarah's happiness came first.

And just when everything appeared to be going well, our family's destiny took a grim and painful turn.

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