Vancouver 2004
“Miranda Lin! Breakfast!” Called Ariel Lin from the kitchen.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Miranda replied.
“Hurry up or you’re going to be late.”
“Ok, Ok! Jeez, why are you so impatient?” Asked Miranda as she ran into the kitchen.
“Because your counsellor won’t be happy if you’re late on the first day of school.” Replied Ariel. “You do want a good first day, don’t you?”
“Yeah, yeah.” said Miranda as she sat in a wobbly chair in the kitchen.
“Nervous?”
“Nah, this is what, my third new school in the last year? I’m use to it.” Miranda tried to sound brave.
“Sorry Mira, I know–” Ariel started after an uncomfortable silence.
“Stop apologizing Ari, I know you’re not trying to make my life difficult. It’s not your fault that we’re orphans with an abusive stepfather. I appreciate you trying to get us out of that life. Really.”
Ariel still looks unconvinced, “But you have to put up with–”
“I like switching schools. It’s always a new experience.” Miranda said while stuffing down the last bit of toast. “I’m done.”
“Oh right. Let’s go!” Ariel tried injecting a bit of enthusiasm into her voice. Inwardly she sighed. No matter what Mira says, Ariel felt guilty every time Miranda starts a new school, and that happens very often. I should stop depriving her of a normal childhood.
“Ari?” Mira waved her hand in front of Ariel’s face. “Stop zoning out and let’s go!”
“Oh right,” Ariel snapped out of it with a start. “Have I said you’re very mature for a 15 year old?”
“I’m not mature; you just think I’m mature because you’re so immature.”
Ariel rolled her eyes as she locked the door to her house and started walking to Mira’s school. Ariel and Miranda don’t actually live in a house. They lived in a small and dark basement of one. Having little money, it was all Ariel could afford.
“So what’s my life story this time Ari?” Miranda asked.
“I’ve kept it the same as the one we had in Calgary. I think we can still use it for a while.”
“Ah, so my name is Miranda Zhang, not Miranda Lin. I’m from Calgary; I’m orphaned with an older sister. I use to live with my grandma until she passed away 2 years ago. I like volleyball, watching TV, and cooking and I don’t like soccer, reading, or celery. Is that good? I’ve kept my interests the same. I figure they can’t help James track us down.”
“That’s good. Your interests can stay the same. Don’t lie too much though, stick as close to the truth as possible. As for James… well, we have Hu Ge to warn us, if James really gets close, we’ll leave right away. Don’t get too worried, our stepfather is a powerful man, but even he isn’t omnipotent, I doubt he’ll find us that easily.”
Miranda nodded. “I don’t want to go back to his house. He’s…”
“He’s violent, unpredictable, abusive and uncaring.” Ariel sighed, “I know Mira, that’s why I took you and left. You would have been stuck there until you’re 18 at least. And you know how powerful he is. He could easily control you like he controlled mom, and the last thing I want is for you to end up like her.”
For a second, the image of her mother, dirty, beaten up, with tears streaming down her face appeared in Miranda’s head. She pushed it out. I will not end up like mom. No matter what, I’ll be free of James’ clutches one day.
———————
After dropping Miranda off, Ariel took the bus to Vancouver University, or VU, which is a small university located on the east side of the city. She was due to start classes there next week, and Ariel is slightly nervous. This was her 3rd university in the last two years, even though Ariel is a semi genius, if it wasn’t for Hu Ge, her friend, she would never be able to transfer her credits between universities. It has been Ariel’s life long dream to become a lawyer, and getting into law school won’t be easy. Ariel owes Ge so much. If it wasn’t for him, Ariel would never be able to get away from James, her abusive stepfather. As powerful as James is, the Hu family is more powerful that him. Ariel befriended the Hu’s heir, Ge, when her parents were still alive. Ge knows everything, no, almost everything, about Ariel, and has helped her in every way he could. He was the one who alerted her every time James was about to find her. He was the one that arranged for Ariel to attend classes and transfer her credits from university to university all over Canada, sometimes with different names. He got them their fake ID’s, and provided much of their emotional support. Ariel owed Ge big time, and when she tries to thank him, he would always brush it off, saying “that’s what friends are for.” Ariel knew he was just saying that, Ge constantly goes above and beyond what he needed to do as a friend. The only thing Ariel refused from him was money. She didn’t want his money, everything else he did; she could chalk it up to favours done by a friend even when it seems far too much. Yet if she took his money, she’d feel way too indebted to him. She would feel like a puppet, and for that reason, she insisted on working, and dipping into the small fund of money left her by her father to support Mira and herself.
Ariel walked around the campus, trying to familiarize her self with the buildings for her classes. I am so glad VU is small, at least I won’t get lost easily. She paused. What if James finds me? Ariel pushed that thought out of her mind and continued walking. After walking around and talking to a few people, she decided to call it a day and go home. As she crossed the street on the pedestrian crosswalk to the nearest bus stop, a car suddenly turned on to the road she was on. The car charged at Ariel so quickly she barely had time to blink, let alone run away. Reflexively, she jumped as the driver of the car hit his brake.
