Warmth

chapter 4: leaving

" you sure you want to do this? " her stepmom asked, making her smile at the sweet woman whose only mistake was falling in love with a man who was now incapable of loving.

" Ingrid, I'm 100% sure of this, I wouldn't do something my dad could kill me for if I wasn't sure " Astrid placated her stepmom before dragging her luggage down the stairs trying her best not to grab Gretta's attention, but even if Gretta found out, she would already be in the suburbs of America before her dad can race back to Denmark.

she smiled at Asta who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, the twelve year old girl had her hands on her waist and her nose in the air, she pretended to hate Astrid for stealing all their father's love, but a child would still be a child and one born from a woman as sweet as Ingrid could certainly mean no harm, even if she wanted to.

"I will not miss you! " Asta pronounced proudly, pretending to be nonchalant while in actualty, her eyes were Watering.

"sure, whatever floats your boat " Astrid laughed before pulling Asta into a tight hug "it's only three months "

" I'm not a child, okay, you don't fool me " Asta sniffled hugging Astrid like her life depended on it " if you come back, it's just so that dad wouldn't die of depression, and by the way, I'm just hugging you so that you don't cry alone later " Asta mumbled, her voice braking with the intensity of her tears.

" I agree, I agree, the great Asta is too beautiful to care about a pauper like me " she laughed trying to hold back her own tears before Ingrid parted them, ushering her to the car where her childhood driver and mother's personal butler, Anton, was waiting to drive her for what felt like it was going to be the last time.

" mistress " the butler called out weakly, he had promised her mother to take care of her till the day he died and now, he wouldn't even be able to fulfill his madam's dying wish.

"it's OK, Anton, why is every one acting like I'm on my way to the jaws of death, you taught me well Anton, I'll survive, plus I'm a rich young mistress you know " she joked, trying to ease up the atmosphere while Anton put her small luggage in the trunk.

"your father is going to have all our heads before the sun set " Anton sighed as he watched Gretta who hid in a distance typing furiously on her phone.

"oops,I almost forgot to hide from that busybody " Astrid winced before getting into the car quickly " help me sneak some glue into her hand sanitizer for me, will you?"

"miss Carlota would be more than happy to do that once she comes visiting, trust me " Anton smiled while Astrid burst into laughter. that sounded like something Carlota would do with no qualms at all.

She didn't know if Anton did it purposely but they ended up driving by most of the places she had memories in; the first ever branch of her Mum's Jewelry store where she carved out her first jade with her mum's help, the small shop she always went to with her mother in the night when they had midnight ramen cravings, the mall her mum always took her to to get dolls cause it let's them make their own dolls then pay for the equipment, the apartment her move lived in before marrying her dad, her mum would always go there whenever she had a fight with her dad until one day, she snuck into her mum's luggage to go with her out of fear of being abandoned and ever since then, her mum always took her along.

if only her mum had taken her along this time...

she wiped a tear off her face as she turned away from the window, she bit down on her bottom lip as she tried to restrain her tears while being careful not to make a sound.

this country brought a whole lot of happiness to her, but it also brought a great deal of sadness.

and finally, it was time to leave it all behind.

she unlocked her phone, a picture of her, her mum and her dad along with Carlota and Mikkel at her eight year old birthday, just a few weeks before her mum left came to life on it's screen.

she was going to miss it all.

immideately she reached the airport, she could see Mikkel waving from afar, with a thick scarf covering half his face and a head warmer pulled over his head, it was pretty hard to recognise him but she was sure that even if he turned to Ashes, she would still recognise him. Before she could realise what was happeneing, she was almost knocked out by Carlota's bear hug.

"I know I said I'll let you go, but can you not go, pleeaaassseee!" Carlota whined with tears flowing out of her eyes like water out of a broken dam.

Once Carlota had calmed down enough not to flood the whole airport, they walked hand in hand to where Mikkel was standing.

"we're gonna miss you " Mikell sighed pulling her into a hug and swinging her from side to side while trying his best not to let his tears fall.

"it's okay, I will be back... I promise "Astrid consoled, tapping his back rhythmically.

"don't make promises you can't keep " he sighed, releasing her from his hug while Carlota dragged her luggage as they walked her into the airport once she had bid good bye to Anton who looked like if he wasn't a man, he would've cried a river.

but he still did cry a pond.

Once her flight was called, she waved them goodbye, trying her best to be strong as she walked down the terminal.

her father needed this, her dad needed to move on and she was gonna make sure he had done just that before she moves back. Ingrid deserved a fair chance at vying for his love, and Asta.... Asta needed a fair chance at being loved and none of that would happen if she stayed.

Once she was in the plane, her tears fell like water, she couldn't help but sob into her elbow while trying her best not to book the first flight back. sometimes she wondered how life would've been if back then her father chose her mum and not her. who knows, they would've had another child, living happily. and her dad..

her dad would finally forgive her.

when the accident happened and her mum left, her dad wanted to choose her mum, that bit she knew, but her mum wouldn't let happen. ever since, her dad would stay far away from home, far away from her, and if he ever came back, he'd stay in his study smashing pictures of her mum against the wall then sobbing out all the betrayal he felt.

when she was little, she always wondered why he'd do that since it was obvious he loved her mum so much. Once she grew up, she finally understood.

he loved her mum but he hated her just the same.

he loved her cause he couldn't help it, but he hated her for one reason that always tore at Astrid whenever she thought of it.

he hated her mum for choosing her over him.

thinking of that, she wiped her tears resolutely.

they all needed this.

she was leaving..

and that's that.