♥Enchanted Psyche♦ Chapter 2―Burning Reality.

         My brother and soon to be sister in-law will be moving off to New York in a few days, that is where he had moved after completing his business course at college, because he wanted to create his very own business empire. Dad was extremely pleased and thrilled for Shaffi and so was mum, but you know how mothers are like, they cling to their children for dear life and cry their - happy but sad to let go of their children - heart out. Mum was elated when she - and all of us, of course - was delighted to find out that brother had finally decided to get married with his college sweetheart, Kim McMahon. Shaffi has dark brown hair and deep our mum's light blue eyes, and in his late twenties - Kim is only a year and half younger.

         Mum and dad were so happy listening to their decisions and wishes, because my parents had always desired Kim to be their daughter in-law, since the first time Shaffi had started to date Kim. But unfortunately, when he had proposed a couple of years ago, it was to a soon thing to be happening in Kim's life. She had just received a contract of working as a model in one of the best, top modeling agency, and she didn't want to side-step - as she'd said something she'd been dreaming to do her whole life. Brother Shaffi was heartbroken. He vowed to himself that - even after our many protests for him never getting married - he'd never marry anyone because he would never be able to forget her; he was going to wait for her until she's ready.

         One day, at his business, Kim turned up at the same meeting. Shaffi told us that he when he was almost forgetting her, after waiting years for her and realizing that she will never return she arrives back into his life. As their business relationship grew, which then grew back to their years long worth of friendship and later on, they both realized that they still loved each other deeply and decided to evolve their relationship. So at last they a set a date to get married after a month of their mutual pronouncement of marriage and, after all, they already knew each other so much.

         I reached the landing as I was hastily slipping into my coat. When I at last reached the kitchen I glanced through the windows; amazingly the clouds are really threatening today. Not. It had been raining for the past four days and only with a few times of sunny weather.

         "Morning, dear," my mum greeted me.

         "Morning, mum," I replied, as was biting into the freshly made toast spread over with strawberry jam.

         Suddenly, mum burst into a fit of tears.

         "Oh, not again," I murmured under my breath. I dropped my toast onto its plate and went over to comfort mum. "Mum, please, stop crying," I said soothingly.

         "Yes, I know, Candy," mum said after inhaling a huge, shaky breath. "It's just that I'm so happy for my baby, and I'll miss him and Kim so much when they leave!" She burst into tears again and I hugged her.

         "Mum's crying again, little bug?" Shaffi asked, walking into the kitchen and ruffled my hair good-humouredly.

         "Hey!" I laughed.

         Mum grabbed him into a never-letting-go hug. "This is my tenth hug this morning," he smiled looking at me over his shoulder.

         I smiled back and headed out. "I have to go and collect my stuff-"

         "Take your breakfast as well, Candy," Lisa told me pointing at the bread.

         I shut her up by just stuffing the whole thing in her mouth. She frowned but in the next second she was laughing and spit it out into the bin. I chuckled, and opened the back door, which lead me outside onto the backstreet of the block.

         "Not so fast little bug," Shaffi said. He picked out an apple from the fridge and put it in her hand. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," he advised me.

         "Alright, bro, I know," I replied and bit into it. "Be right back!" I said to them and closed the door behind me.

         I heck, I couldn't believe I forgot to bring my umbrella with me, I thought to myself, and I'm too far off to go back. I'll just have to reach the wedding clothes shop before it rains again.  

         I opened the store's door; it clinked past the bell above as I entered. I looked around the hustling and bustling shop while walking towards the counter.

         "Good morning, how may I help you?" the girl serving behind the till asked me, welcoming me with a bright smile but her eyes showed nothing but boredom as she looked me up and down. Her badge with her name, Emma, glinted.

         "I have come to collect my bridesmaid dresses," I answered her.

         "Oh, yes, you were here about a couple of weeks ago, weren't you?"

         "That's right," I nodded.

         "Just a moment," Emma said nodding, "I shall be right back with your order." She went off into the back store, disappearing behind the white curtain, which always hid the room in there whenever the door behind it was open. The store room was just behind her, which was very convenient actually.

         I was tapping on the edge of the counter unconsciously; it was a force of habit.

         "Sorry it took so long," Sharon said returning from the back-store, flustered.

         "It's only been five minutes," I said, trying to be helpful.

         "Yeah?" she wondered. "Seemed longer - for a moment there I thought your order was misplaced! No, no - don't worry - then I remembered where they were. Anyway, here they are!" She showed me the dresses for proof. "These are them. Here - take 'em out for a proper look."

         I took them out of their packed packets and unfolded them out. They looked more beautiful than the last time I'd seen them in the catalogue. "They're perfect!" I said happily.

         "I still can't get over how beautiful they are. I bet you're so happy to be bridesmaid!"

         I nodded smiling. I paid her the rest of the money for the received dresses and packed them up again, in a nice, strong carrier bag carefully. I said goodbye and exited the shop onto the footpath. I walked away, heading back home with a smile on my face and a skip in my walk.

         When I reached at the bottom end of my block I stopped in my tracks and my serene smile disappeared. My house stood on the other side of this block; the bricks of the building were now looking like just a huge flame. My house was on fire and dark, smothering smoke puffed out into the clear air and sky. I could see a police car parked near my house and as one of them got out; he started talking to our neighbours who must've called them in the first place.

         I was in shock, I hated every minute of my vision that I was receiving and I bit the inside of my cheeks.

         How could this happen to my house? I thought unspeakably. My Family is in there ... Mum and dad, my brother and sisters are in the house! I forced my feet to advance up the slightly steep sloped footpath. At first I was walking really slowly, still staring at the newly arrived Ambulance and Fire-brigade, and then I was running as fast as I could.

                  "Wait ma'am - you can't go in there - it's dangerous!" someone shouted at me, but I kept on going.

         I slowed down near the Fire-brigade, which was parked across the road, as people gathered around in a semicircle gasping, pointing and whispering at my burning house. The Fire-fighters were rushing around the house pointing the large water-hoses at the flaming house, trying to put out the hot fire.       

         My next door neighbour, Mrs. Wyatt called to me. "Look at what's happening - I am so sorry, dear!"  

         "M - My..." I gasped, "My - family is in there!" I finally shouted, pointing at my house.