Kayla Rivers knew what she wanted to do with her life. She had everything planned out. She was going to be taking over her mother's resturant soon. Yes she still missed her dad, but art always made her feel a little bit closer to him. Everything was...
***Author's Note: Ijust started this story so updated will be a bit slow. If you want something to read in the mean time, check out my book Reach. Thanks for the support😘***
Kayla's POV
Kayla and Anthony were sitting in her backyard. Every day after school he came over to play with her. Anthony had been one of Kayla's first friends in Kindergarten.
The two were waiting for Kayla's mom to bring out their snack.
"K-Bear, do you think that we will always be friends?"
"We better be, otherwise I will punch you in the throat. Now pinky promise that you will never stop being my friend Antoni."
They locked their pinkies together and looked each other in the eyes. At the same time they both said, "Pinky Promise."
Kayla woke up to the sound of her alarm going off. She grabbed her phone and turned it off. She got up from the bed and went to the kitchen. Coffee was always the first step to her morning routine.
While the coffee brewed, she made her way to the bathroom. She did her morning bathroom routine, and she came out feeling a bit better. When she got to the kitchen, the coffee was already brewed.
She took a sip to make sure that it hadn't gone cold yet. Nope, it was the perfect temperature. She went outside to her patio and watched as the sun began to rise.
The sunrise was her favorite part of her morning. She loved the hues that were present in the sky, just as the sun came out of hiding. It was something she longed to capture in a painting.
Enough lounging around, it's time to start getting ready. She walked back to her bedroom and pulled out a new blouse. There were blue and white stripes running vertically across it. She paired it with a pair of distressed jeans and nude heels.
She checked the time again, and noticed that she was 10 minutes behind schedule. Her mother was going to skin her alive. She hopped in her car and sped towards the restaurant.
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She pulled up at the restaurant and walked inside. Her mother was standing at the counter watching the clock.
"Tell me Kayla, do you want to own this business? I can always pass it down to one of your siblings. One who actually wants it and will realize that it is important to show up on time."
"I'm sorry Mom. I woke up early, but I got a bit distracted."
"You were watching the sunrise again weren't you?" she asked as she shook her head.
"Your Dad always watched the sunrise. He could never miss it. He stood outside with his easel and paintbrush, as if he could use the brush to pull the sunset from the sky and right onto his canvas."
My father was an artist. He was one of the greatest ever known. His name was Elijah Montrell Rivers. His art was a big part of our life growing up. He made sure to instill honesty, friendship, and bravery into each of his children. He made sure that you remembered, that a promise was sacred and should never be broken, unless it would cause someone to get hurt.
I truly missed my dad.
"It's not your fault Kayla." My mother knew exactly where my thoughts were going. She squeezed my hand, and walked towards her back office.
I put my apron on and made my way to the kitchen. The last memory of my father began to overwhelm my sense. I was no longer at the restaurant, I was transported back to that time in my bedroom.
"Kayla, where are you," he yelled out into the smoke.
"I'm here Daddy," I yelled terrified for my life. I was trapped beneath my bed.
I was fast asleep and then I heard a loud noise. I decided to get underneath my bed.
Soon yelling and screaming could be heard and my room began to fill with smoke.
I looked over and saw the space heater. It was touching a burning sheet. My bed was burning me with me underneath it.
Niyah had tried to get me out. I was almost out from under the bed when we heard a groan. The base of my bed fell right onto my leg; I was trapped.
I screamed as the flames began to lick my leg. I didn't even feel the toy unicorn as it pierced my skin. Niyah kept trying to get me out, but it was no use. She refused to leave me.
Soon my father came barreling through the door. He made Niyah get out of the room, and my mother brought her outside.
"Hey baby girl, Daddy is her. I promise you will be ok."
Just knowing that my daddy was right there calmed me down a bit. I knew that he would never let anything hurt me.
He told me to get ready, he would lift the beam and he wanted me to pull myself from under the bed.
When he lifted the beam I squirmed from under the bed. He lifted me up so that I was standing, and we began to move.
"Kayla!"
"Kayla!"
I was finally brought back to the present. Niyah was looking at me as if she knew where my thoughts had gone.
"Kay, are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," I said as I squeezed her hand.
She pulled me into a hug and began to talk about her latest dessert. It was a good thing that Mom gave me that apron.
Niyah's latest dessert was wonderful. It tastes like heaven on a spoon.
"What is this?"
She laughed, "Have you never had Chocolate Lasagna, before babes?"
"This is delicious Niyah."
"Of course it is, I made it."
"Your arrogance knows no bounds."
"None at all," she said as I walked over to the next station.