Chapter 83: Chapter 83

Amelia's POV

Mom called me on the dorm reception landline often. That was the only link I had with my family. It was strange that not even once during the last few years did my dad call me once nor ask me to return home. Vacations came and went by but I didn't go home ever, not even on holidays. I either stayed back at the hostel and enrolled myself in short online fashion designing courses or stayed with Brittany at her house in Boston, Lincolnshire, UK. Leo came the first few times to take me home for the holidays, but I avoided him and refused to go home. He stopped coming after the first year realizing that I was more stubborn than the whole lot of them. Mom pleaded but I didn't want to see them.

After graduating high school, Brittany and I got ourselves admitted to the London College of Fashion. Mom helped me financially and I was grateful to her but swore to stand on my own two feet soon. I didn't want to be financially dependent upon anyone.

I was good at designing bridal dresses, so all my friends and their families asked me to design their wedding gowns and bridesmaids' dresses. I saved all the money I earned, spent on my education and other necessities, and stopped accepting money from mom altogether. I also worked part-time at a fashion house as a trainee designer during my free time in the evenings. The pay was meager but I could learn a lot and get substantial hands-on experience. I was financially independent like I always wanted to be.

I never contacted Nicky and Tristan because it seemed that they had forgotten me. Nicky never came to meet me when I was grounded and Tristan never made any attempt to contact me. Maybe they had forgotten me and moved on with their lives. I never mentioned their names on the occasions when my mom called me. So I had no information about them.

I wasn't interested in dating or relationships after my heartbreak with Tristan. My friends knew my story so they never forced me into anything. Every night I dreamt of Tristan and woke up in the middle of the night drenched in perspiration and tears. Brittany was always there with me to comfort me. During these past few years, we had grown inseparable and I didn't need anyone else with me. Although we left school, we shared a room at the college dormitory and she was like my real family. We went out together but sometimes she behaved strangely as if she was hiding something from me. Sometimes when we went out, I had the eerie feeling of being stalked! It was a strange feeling as if someone was watching me but then I shrugged it off as a hallucination Who would follow me? I knew no one here except Brittany.

My mom called me nearly every week, updating me about my family. Leo married 2 years back, and mom begged me to attend his wedding but I didn't. He had crushed my heart, my dreams, my life, and my love but moved on ahead with his own. I couldn't forgive him.

I didn't attend Brandon's wedding a year back, although he had called me up to personally invite me. I couldn't forgive them although I knew they have repented it many times thereafter but it was too late. I was just 16, they could have spoken to me and Tristan, spoken to his parents, but they didn't. Instead, they sent me away from my family and friends, far away to a boarding school in a strange city, to a different country altogether. If they had their peace of mind doing such an injustice to me, they didn't deserve my forgiveness.

I was glad that they were happy. Mom told me that Caleb was dating a girl and he was very serious about her. I never asked her about Tristan or Nicky and she never gave me any information about them. If Caleb was dating someone maybe Tristan was married by now!

My final year of college was very hectic. I had my work as a designer at the fashion house where I had joined as a trainee and got promoted last year. I had a project to submit. Research work to complete. Amidst all this, mom called me one afternoon informing me that dad was critically ill and his condition was very serious. He had a severe heart attack and was admitted to the hospital. He kept asking for me and I needed to meet him, maybe for the last time. This time I had no choice.

I boarded the next flight to New York with a heavy heart.

I reached home after 5 long years and mom hugged me, sobbing uncontrollably. "Amy, you've grown up into such a beautiful young lady. I'm so glad you've come home at last. I've missed you so much, dear," she said as I hugged her back, her voice was choked with emotions.

"I'm home now, mom. Thanks for everything," I said as a lone tear fell from my eye. If I connected with anyone in my family, it was with her.

Caleb came down from his room hearing our voices. He stopped in his tracks staring at me in disbelief. "Is that you, Amy? You have grown up," He said sadly.

I nodded at him and excused myself to go to my old room. I didn't want to make any useless conversations with him. I hated him.

"Be ready in ten minutes, Amy. We have to leave for the hospital." Mom called out from the kitchen.

"Yes, mom," I answered as I went up to my room to freshen up. My room was the same as I had left it five years ago. Everything was there but I couldn't find my old phone. What dad did with it I had no idea. Maybe I would ask mom. It had Tristan's number.