Beautiful Ashes

One month before school resumption

I sit at the desk in my room, editing the pictures I took earlier in the day. I had left the house earlier that day, hoping I would make it to sunrise. Despite the rush and me driving 70kmph, way past the speed limit, I almost missed the sunrise.

One morning, probably when I was sixteen, I had a fight with my dad about me not wanting to follow in his footsteps of becoming a surgeon, which ended up very badly. I stormed out of the house and was just walking, with no particular destination in mind, just letting my feet carry me wherever.

And that is how I found this place, I sat there, watching the sunrise and as it rose, I felt a soothing feeling, telling me everything was going to work out for the best. So over the years, for the past months, I made it part of my morning routine to walk here and witness the sunrise.

What is so spectacular about sunrise you wonder?

Well, it's different for everyone.

I find it spectacular in that, after every darkness, the sun rises. The fact it rises on its own after the dark is enough motivation to help me carry on my days.

This is like saying, no matter what you go through in life, there is always hope. For the longest of times, I had lost that hope, but watching the sunrise every day, brings a certain kind of soothing feeling that you can't help but find comfort in it.

It hasn't always been my dream to become a photographer, but there is something special about capturing a particular moment in time that brings joy to the soul. There is more to photography than meets the eyes. To be able to capture one emotion is a rare gift and I found that gift being behind the camera.

So, I get to do my favourite things every morning. Taking pictures as the sun rises and capturing the emotions on the faces of strangers as they experience the magic of sunrise.

I feel more like myself when I am seated at my desk, editing the pictures I've taken.

The knock from my door takes me off my focus and I groan in annoyance. I guess it's probably my mom who wants to bug me, telling me I should stop locking myself in my room., asking me to go out and socialize.

I was happy being alone.

I didn't respond to the door knock, hoping whoever it was would pick up on the sign that I wasn't in my room.

But they didn't"t.

"Open up Dev, your dad wants to speak with you" I hear my mom say from the other side of the door,

Ha! Called it. I knew she would be one knocking. Although it"s for another reason.

"Coming" I yelled from inside my room.

When did my dad return and what could he possibly want?

Since we don't"t see eye to eye, usually when he comes back I sleep at the small cabin by the sea I acquired last year with my savings, to avoid any misunderstandings. Although she pesters me about going out more, I love my mom and I know the fights between me and my dad gets to her.

Promising not to talk back when he says something I don't agree with is very difficult, which often leads to me and my dad throwing words at each other.

So if I had known he would be back today, I would have made arrangements to sleep in my cabin.

I walk down the stairs.

The house is way bigger to contain just the three of us.

Yes, I am an only child.

It's no lie that we are rich.

Sorry, extremely rich.

My mom is a hotshot lawyer and my dad is an entrepreneur and a surgeon. He owns a chain of hospitals in some countries I have no idea.

I am not very interested in his career for the simple fact that he forces me to follow in his footsteps.

Reasons for most, if not all our fights.

The way our house was built, from the stairs, you could see the main area which was empty and that is exactly where my dad decides to be dramatic because I see my mom trying to calm him down.

"You ask to see me, dad," I say once I was down the stairs, standing next to my mom.

"Yes, what are these results? I got a call from the headmaster of your school telling me your A/level results are out and you failed" he says, clear anger in his voice.

"Oh! The results are out? I had no idea" I feign oblivion, knowing fully well that it will get him upset. I see my mom from the corner of my eyes, giving me a warning look not to push his buttons.

I roll my eyes.

"You registered for five papers and only made it in two papers" he raises his voice.

I knew this was coming. Honestly, I was not in the mood. I did not feel like arguing with him this night.

"Can you not yell?" I ask quietly.

"Are you telling me what to do?" he asks back with disbelief in his voice.

"I'm not. All I"m saying is that you please lower your voice so we have a civil conversation" I say.

"Civil conversation you say, no college will accept you with this rubbish you call results. How do you expect to get into Yale with these results? Worst still if you want to become a surgeon. We have no choice but to buy you results, because, with this nonsense, you can say goodbye to being a surgeon" he says.

Again with this matter.

"For the last time, I don't want to become a surgeon. What part of that don"t you understand? I would rather repeat upper sixth than get into Yale," I yell storming out of the house.

"Then so be it. But don't come back crying and saying you made the wrong choice" I hear my dad yell back.

I walk straight for the door, ignoring my mom as she calls out for me.

I went round to the garage, taking my car keys from the holder by the door, I open my car and drive off the garage, only stopping so the gates open. I see my

I am not entirely sure where I was driving to, but right now I wanted to get as far away from here as possible. My dad can be infuriating, always thinking about himself.

Did what I want not matter?

I was his daughter for fucks sake, my happiness should matter to him, regardless of what I do for a living. Even if don't earn as much as they do, so long as I'm happy, shouldn't that be all that matters?

I was so lost in my thoughts, driving in the dark that I don't see the figure coming toward me.

All I hear is a sound, causing me to abruptly stop my car.

Shit! Did I just hit someone?