Chapter 27: chapter 27

My twentieth birthday. The start of nightmares in my life. Everything turned upside down that day. I woke up happy and excited that morning. The day was already well planned. We would celebrate my birthday and Liam's success as a doctor during the day and I would have a night out with Rodas. I was also planning to introduce him officially to my parents. Even though I was adopted, that family never gave me a chance to feel any less than their own child. I thought only a few lucky ones get to experience that and I was one of them. Mom and Dad took a day off from their work that day. We first went to Liam's institute to watch him receive his best-performing award and then we went to the water park, had lunch and then took long walks at the beach, watching the sunset.I could have been the happiest person on earth that day if the following event which snatched away everything from Liam and me didn't happen. The sun dipped low on the horizon when we got home. Me and Liam got out in the driveway, taking out most of the shopping things. Mom didn't get out and was with Dad when he drive the car into the garage. As I was walking toward the house, someone ran past me, knocking on all the things I was carrying. I cursed thinking it was some random careless guy again before picking up the fallen things from the ground but then all of a sudden a sharp sound of a gunshot reverberated through the air, slicing through the silent neighbour like a dagger. My heart jolted in my chest and the time seemed to stand still. My hands froze mid-air and they trembled when Liam cried out in horror. My eyes widened, darting from one side to the other desperately searching for answers. Every fibre of my being screamed at me to turn around but my body refused to obey. Liam's cries continued. He was screaming for Mom and Dad. I knew at that moment. I knew what happened. It took me a lot of time to turn around. When I did, I got paralyzed by terror. My breath caught in my throat. Cold sweat trickled down my eyebrow.Liam darted to me and pulled me into his arms. The world around me blurred into a dizzying whirlwind and I found myself losing consciousness.When I woke up again, I was in Liam's arms. "Elora... Mom and Dad- they..." He choked on his tears, looking behind me. I followed his gaze and a scream left my mouth. So loud that my throat hurt. I crawled away from Liam and to Mom and Dad who were lying lifeless just a metre away on the ground, covered in blood. "M-Mom... Hey, Dad!" I shook their body desperately but of course, they didn't open their eyes. I desperately tried to take out my phone from my pocket but I was trembling all over, my mind went blank. I couldn't breathe."911..." I mumbled to myself looking at my phone screen but I couldn't bring myself to press those numbers. I was scared. I was so scared. Moments later, Rodas came running, a gun in his hand. He threw the weapon on the ground and quickly kneeled before me."Eloraa!!" "R-Rodas... What happened?" I clung to him but he didn't have any answer to give me. He just pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!" He whispered to me again and again. But I didn't understand why he was sorry. I couldn't process anything at all. It happened in a flash of lightning. I wanted it to sleep away like a nightmare. I was admitted to the hospital. Rodas told me his men as well as the police are looking for the culprit. "Where's Liam?" I asked. "Outside!" I rushed to the hallway and found him sitting on a chair, hugging himself close. I threw my arms around him but Liam broke himself free. I backed away, seeing the look in his eyes. It was hatred. "Liam..." I mumbled."I told you it was dangerous..." He shouted, flinching me.His words confused me."Liam, what do you mean?" "I told you he was dangerous..." He said pointing at Rodas behind me.  "Yet you still got involved with him," I shook my head and tried to hold him but he was harsh. Rodas stepped forward and pulled me away from him."This is no time for this," he told Liam.Liam laughed bitterly, throwing his hands in the air. "See... Can you say Mom and Dad's death is not related to you?" He shouted in Rodas's face."You got involved with this thug. Now, see what happened to Mom and Dad. Of course, you won't feel anything. You're adopted after all," those were the most cruel words that came out of Liam's mouth. They cut me like daggers. Rodas was about to do something but I grabbed his arms, preventing him from making any move. "Liam please, Don't be like this..." I pleaded. "I know you're hurting but please let's not be like this"He pointed his finger at me. "Don't ever show your face to me again!" He walked away without looking back.I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. Rodas's hand wrapped around me."It's ok... Liam didn't mean it. He is going through a lot" I mumbled to myself."Elora..." Rodas softly called my name and wiped my tears-soaked face."He didn't mean-" I broke into tears again. It hurt more than anything else. Liam meant it when he told me not to show my face in front of him again. He blamed me for our parent's death. He thought someone related to Rodas shot Mom and Dad but Rodas had no idea. He was there to get me when the incident happened and he was trying his best to look into it. Liam wasn't ready to understand. He didn't let me see Mom and Dad for the last time, nor did he let me attend the funeral. I started living with Rodas from that on. As time passed, I lost all contact with Liam. It was the toughest phase of my life. I couldn't eat and sleep properly. I constantly had panic attacks and outbursts. Rodas had to handle me all the time.At some point, I even thought that I was being a burden to him but he made sure I do not think like that again. He bought me a piano and arranged a room with books where I could spend my time playing Piano and reading books whenever I feel down. Jeremy spent most of his time with me when Rodas was absent. He cheered me up, talking about the things that we like. I found out that we had a mutual taste in many things. He became like a best friend to me.Weeks later, the suspect who killed Mom and Dad was caught by Rodas's men. Turned out it was a high school boy who stole his family's pistol and went out shooting people. Rodas asked me if I wanted him dead but I told him to hand that person to the police.  I wondered if Liam regretted accusing me like that after hearing the news but I let him be and didn't try to reach for him again. I knew it wouldn't have been the same as before. It was better for us to live away from each other.