[WARNING: SELF HARM is in the following chapter! VIEWER DISCRETION is advised]
As much as Nora seemed cold, serious, or in other words unreadable, she was a very fragile girl. Maybe from seeing her parents fight often or the fact that she was sheltered, she felt that she needed to keep her guard up. To build a barrier, keeping herself untouchable. Although, no matter how much she felt 'untouchable' only a very few could see right through her.
They would be able to see through that beautiful blank face and truly see her pain. Her suffering, and her fears. Those bright eyes told a tale of her story. Those very few people would see how vulnerable she was. How terrified she really was.
...
"How long did it take you to grow your hair that long?"
Taking out her books from her locker and stuffing it in her backpack, Nora shut her locker to have Jennie leaning against the locker next to hers. "I'd say maybe a year. Why?" Pulling the backpack straps over her arms, Nora and Jennie make their way to the lobby of the school near the entrance.
"It looks really pretty, so I thought maybe I should grow my hair out too," Jennie says while holding the end of a strand examining it.
"No! I love your short hair! It's really cute and it looks neat because it meets perfectly on your shoulders. I envy your light brown hair, my black hair is too dull and not interesting unlike yours." Giving a pout towards Jennie, Jennie giggles, patting Nora's head before earning a soft chuckle in return.
"Well, I love your jet black hair it's unique! You don't really run into such a platinum hair color that often around here." Nodding her head Nora agrees. "You are right, you can thank my mom for that."
Laughing all the way through the hallways to the entrance out to the parking lot, both exchange farewells before hugging each other and parting ways. "Bye Jenn! See you tomorrow!"
Giggling Jennie waves back, "Bye Nora! Miss you already!" Chuckling at her friend's behavior, Nora continues to wave until she turns around crazing her eyes over the crowd of parents looking for her own.
Having a frown form on her lips, disappointment crosses her soft features.
"Ha. Never thought you'd be disappointed not seeing your parents pick you up. Must've forgotten about you."
Completely taken aback, Nora spins before saying, "My dad would never forget about me." Taking a step closer almost challenging the boy in front of her she continues, "they are probably just late, that is all." Feeling the anger course threw her veins Nora tries to regain her control, and not have her anger take over.
Tae's smirk falters. "I wasn't saying it was and a bad thing, my parents forget about me most of the time, just wondering that's all." A bitter smile flashes on his soft lips.
"Oh, what do you mean?" Nora questions. She found it hard to believe the first son of the Park family was forgotten. Or would ever be forgotten. Him, as in Tae Park, forgotten? Now those pieces didn't fit together.
Chuckling Tae runs a hand through his brown hair. "It doesn't matter what I mean, why do you wanna know so badly?" Returning to his usual self, his signature smirk lingers on his lips. Truth be told he didn't want to remain on the subject of his family. But what puzzled him was that small piece of information that he gave her.
'-my parents forget about me most of the time...'
A strange look flickers in his eyes. An eternal battle only he had. Completely zoning out, Nora's words regain his attention. "I don't."
Blinking his eyes, he composes himself before tilting his head to the side. "Oh, then why did you ask?" Raising a brow at her, he grins.
Glaring at the boy in front of her, Nora feels her patience wearing. Having to deal with so many people today, and Tae being one of them certainly was starting to build up. She could feel her patience reaching its peak. Like many people, she also has a limit, but this time her limit was Tae. "It doesn't matter-"
"Miss McCann!"
Hearing her name, Nora turns towards the man. Relaxing, Nora regains her composure and continues to act her part as 'Miss Nora McCann'. Controlling her emotions she wears an emotionless expression before answering. "Hi, William."
Seeing the familiarity between the two Tae raises his eyebrow before turning on his heels heading towards the lobby. Leaving Nora behind, Tae returns to his friends before sparring one more glance at Nora. There was something that ticked him off. The fact that she could change his reactions, easily irritate him, or even get him to unconsciously open up was unsettling. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew that Nora was bad news. There was something in the back of his mind telling him to stay away from her. He wasn't completely sure, but one thing he was positive about was that he didn't like Nora. It drove him mad how much in these couple hours, she's managed to turn his world upside down. He hated it! All his life he's been in control, but ever since he was acquainted with Nora McCann he has felt she has been controlled. It didn't sit easily in his stomach. He wanted to puke up these unsettling feelings and forget it even existed.
'I don't care who you are Nora, but I promise you I don't play nice.' Plastering his handsome smirk on his lips, he vowed from that day on Nora McCann was his enemy.
...
"Sorry for being late, your parents couldn't pick you up today. Your mom is out-"
"Where is she?" Completely cutting off William, he sighs. "I believe she is out shopping with her friends Miss McCann."
"Oh. . . and what about my dad?" Looking up into his eyes, William smiles but his eyes do not meet his straight, white teeth. "The last I heard of him was this morning. He was in his study the last I remember, but I have been busy running errands most of the day, I have barely been home or given the chance to see him," he finishes truthfully.
'Sigh, It is a shame that this bright girl does not have the attention she deserves. Since the day she was born, her mother never considered her a top priority, but her father is doing much better in that task. But for Nickolaus balancing his pride and joy with his work wasn't always an easy task. She deserves so much more.' Pushing his thoughts away he guides Nora to their car.
"Miss McCann this way."
...
"Oh! William turn the volume up, I love this song!" Releasing a breathy chuckle William nods, "Yes Miss."
🎶"She always has a smile~
From morning to the night,
The perfect poster child
That was once in my life,
A doll made out of glass
All her friends that she's great~
But I can see through it all
That she's about to break, oh~!"🎶
(Moonlight)
Completely oblivious to the lyrics, Nora doesn't realize those specific lyrics are very much relatable to her situation. But William sighs only deepening his pity for the young girl. 'It is a shame that she is limited to so much access to the world. She deserves the entire world, for a pure soul like her's is hard to find.'
Having the words flow off her tongue oh so gently and hang peacefully in the air, Nora notices a small piece of crumpled paper near her shoes. Bending down to pick it up, she holds it in her hand before unraveling its crumpled state. Seeing the logo of the flower shop printed on it, she continues to smooth it out. Examining the printed context, she learns to understand the meaning of the flowers she was given earlier in the day.
It was common to have a piece of paper come along with flowers to understand the meaning of each beautiful flower, that each person received. 'Why didn't he give this to me? I would've wanted to know it's purpose and it's meaning behind it.'
It read; 'White Orchids are a very sentimental type of flower. They give the message of one's vulnerability and one's true emotions. They also express innocence and purity to the one that is receiving the flowers. But the most special thing about White Orchids is that they mean, 'sorry'. In other words, they are used to apologize. You would give these to whomever you are trying to tell sorry to. It is a simple but very expressing flower that not many use.'
Turning the paper in her hand, her brows furrow. Seeing a letter written in her father's handwriting she reads it.
'Pumpkin, where do I begin? You are the most special human being I hold dearly and proudly in my heart. When I first laid my eyes on you, tears welled in my eyes. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy. I loved you the moment I found out about you. I am well aware that I am being selfish at this moment, but I hope you understand pumpkin. I am sorry. I am sorry to the point where my heart aches. But I can't anymore. Things have been building upon my shoulders these past years, and I am not sure I can take it.'
Furrowing her brows further Nora continues reading, 'Your mother, the company, the press, it's all starting to finally hit me. I am sorry I brought you into this world that is too harsh for you pumpkin. You deserve the world and so much more, but I am sorry that I will not be able to be the one to give it to you. Honey, I love you. I always will. Do not question my love for you because it is unbreakable. I am sorry that I will be putting so much on you, but I love you. I know I might not be your knight in shining armor, or your superman, or you prince charming, but know you are the princess I wanted to protect, the hero that saved my days, and my pride and joy. Live your life to the fullest for me, I love you pumpkin.
-Dad'
Widened eyes, she re-reads the letter over and over, because she was too shocked. Feeling tears trickle down her face Nora clutches the paper in her hands tighter.
'But I can't anymore. . .'
'Honey I love you. . .'
'Live your life to the fullest for me, I love you pumpkin... .'
"What! No. No. No! This can't be happening. This cannot be happening!" As tears stream down her flushed cheeks, she feels the reality hit in.
"Miss what is wrong! Why are you screaming?" Quickly handing the piece of paper over to William, William reads the paper glancing up every few seconds to watch the road. With shocked eyes William is speechless.
Now he's been aware of Nickolaus's depression, but he was certainly not aware of it being this severe. He's been with the Park since even before Nora was brought into this world. He and Nickolaus have been friends since college. But never once did he think Nickolaus was suicidal!
"William drive! I don't care if you go over the speed limit, but get me home NOW!" Hearing the urgency in her voice he does not waste a minute.
"Of course Miss."
Speeding and avoiding cars for the next twenty miles, the air is stiff in the black car. Nora was only focused on her father.
When pulling up to the long driveway, William stops abruptly and the two jolt to a stop.
"Go inside now! I will call you mother!"
Not wasting a second Nora unbuckles herself and sprints into the family house searching for her father.
"Dad! Dad! Where are you! Playtimes over I just came home from school!" Running towards her dad's study, she burst through the door to see no one accompanied at the desk. Spinning on her heel she heads towards her parent's room. Again bursting through the door, she sees no one. Although she hears a faint sound of water running. Hope leaps in her heart as she runs towards the king bathroom.
With a smile on her lips, she slides open the door. "Da-"
Freezing, Nora's eye widen. Her eyes witness the most horrifying thing she could have never imagined. Her mouth falls open, and tears form in her wide eyes. Her legs grow weak, and she soon falls onto the marble ground. Slightly shaking, her horrified expression does not falter.
"Miss are you ok-" Running up from behind Nora, William follows her train of view and also turns shocked. "Oh my god. . ." Feeling sick to his stomach he turns around and throws up.
"Dad. . . you're ok right? This isn't funny!" Having her tears fall endlessly on her cheeks, in front of her is the most traumatizing experience any twelve-year-old would dread from the bottom of their hearts.
There in the jacuzzi lay Nickolaus McCann, nude with deep cuts covering his arms, legs, neck, and torso. With a large kitchen knife clutched in his hand and his eyes wide open, the blood-covered water pours out endlessly of the jacuzzi. Covering parts of the floor with stained water with his blood.
Dead. The man was nothing else but dead.
Throat running dry, the only words Nora could muster before fainting were, "DAD!!"
.
.
.
***
****If you know anyone that is suicidal please call for help. If you are not able to, help them in any way that you can! There are hotlines and programs to help people. If you are suicidal please know you are loved. Everything has a purpose and at the end of the day, you are one of the toughest people because you wake up and keep going. Please be strong if not for yourself then for those that love you. Depression does not end, it passes on to the next person! If you leave us, you pass it on to those you love. I love you.****
-euquoria
***