3. My Safe Haven

                                    

                                          
That evening around four o'clock, we boarded a plane to New York so I assumed that was where Arnold's home was. I was extremely astounded to see a private jet waiting for us at the airport. I didn't realize that my soon-to-be father was mega rich. I'm pretty sure my jaw was on the ground the whole time Arnold showed me around that monstrosity called a jet. 
                          
It was jet black on the outside and the interiors were done in black with gold accents. After we had settled down in our pure leather seats, the plane took off. Shortly after, Arnold started making small conversation by asking me all sorts of questions. 
                          
"Charlotte?"
                          
"Yes," I replied. 
                          
"What's your favorite colour?"
                          
"Black and red," I said. 
                          
I was immediately transported back to my salad days when I used to love everything with colours. My favorite colour was purple but I liked every bright colour. It's strange how your little insignificant choices in life are related to the deepest, darkest parts of your heart. 
                          
I vividly remember the time when me and my mum started to live at my step-father's house, she had asked me what color I would like my room to be in, I had excitedly told her that I wanted everything purple and many other colors too to make it look like a damn field full of every kind of flower but after she died, my colorful heart became a black, swirling tornado and ate up the brightness of my life. It wasn't a heart anymore, just a shadow of something good which lived in the past. 
                          
'Little twelve years old Charlotte was so naive and pathetic,' I taunted at my old self. 
                          
Now, I only wear black and red to remind myself every day that this cruel world doesn't deserve my brightness, my cheerful attitude because it snatched my mamma away from me and I will avenge her-
                          
"Charlotte, are you alright? Your hands and face are turning pale. Oh God, Your eyes eyes are so red!! What happened dear?" 
                          
I blinked up at him, slowly recovering from my daze. I loosened my vice-like grip on the armrest and gave him a small reassuring smile, 
                          
"It's nothing too serious. I'm just-- I'm terrified of flying. Maybe it's because I'm scared of heights?"
                          
I managed to squeeze out an excuse, not even convincing myself but he seemed to buy it.
                          
"Oh," He said, feeling quite relieved. 
                          
"Dear, do you want a drink? Orange juice perhaps? It will make you feel better."
                          
He continued, his kindness melting my heart.
                          
"Thanks. I guess I could have some of it."
                          
He nodded and ordered an air hostess to bring me a glass of orange juice. After I drank the juice and calmed myself down, I started feeling exhausted. The day's events caught up with me and I fell asleep on my seat with no care in the world. 
                          
It was a lengthy nine hour flight and I, at long last, woke up half an hour before our flight landed. We reached New York at night. 
                          
'Time to start a new life,' I thought to myself. 
                          
Arnold turned to me with a genuine smile and said, 
                          
"Welcome to New York dear. Welcome to a new life."
                          
I was still a bit afraid that maybe one day, my step father will come and find me and I won't be able to get rid of my past so easily since I was the one who still yearned to go back to that hell, but I couldn't let Arnold see my uneasiness so I hastily hid it with a somewhat nervous smile and said,