"Alright, class, smiiiiile!"

"Smile!" she says, but little does she think that maybe, just maybe, some people might not have that ability anymore...

Actually, no. Who the heck am I to disagree with my class master!? I mean, everyone can smile, right? And they should even smile, it's a damn photo, you're supposed to smile!

Actually, wait! I can't believe I didn't introduce myself yet... Geez, I git a bit too caught up in this so-called "little story"... Anyways, I'm Samantha May. I'm 16 years old and I live in Halifax, Canada. There aren't many things I can tell you about me... I'm pretty shy and an introvert, I don't really have friends, people usually avoid me... Well, expect Alice Moore, my only friend in this whole world and the only person I can lean on...

I know Ali will never leave my side, even if everyone tries to tear us apart. They all think we don't match at all, and I cannot contradict them, her and I are coming from opposite worlds!

I never thought someone like Al would even want to share the same air with me! Ever since I know her, she's been the queen bee of our school, and I've always been the... Well, the quiet nerd. But one day, an idiot was bullying me and she saw it, but instead of encouraging him, she stood up for me... We became best friends ever since...

Anyway, I promise I'll tell you more about mine and Alice's story in the future, but now I want to get back to what I was saying because if I don't, nothing will make sense.

So, I know all these things I said so far have no meaning at all, but let's get back to the first paragraph where I said that some people may not have the ability to smile anymore. Do you remember that? Alright, now let me explain why I said that and what I meant. But, for my explanation, I will need to tell you a pretty long story, which starts even longer ago... About 17 years ago...

<< Rewind <<

~ London, U.K. - March 2002 ~

Nancy's point of view

(Nancy is Samantha's mother)

"Oh my God! No! I can't believe this and I don't want to either!" I scream completely terrorized by the image in front of me.

The longer I kept starring at that stupid test, the more I understood this is real. I... I am... No! I'm not going to say this.

"Ugh... How could such a thing happen!? And... Why?"

I stood there, on the bathroom floor, looking at those two lines for what seemed like hours, praying to wake up from this horrible nightmare, but as the clock kept ticking and the minutes passed, I slowly realized this is not a dream. This is the reality. The cruel reality. Taking a deep breath, I try to pick myself up, wipe my tears and think of something I could do about this, but nothing seems to work. My legs are numb and I can barely stand up, I just can't stop crying and none of the things I think of work at all...

A child wasn't such a bad thing in my opinion. I mean, I've always wanted one and I guess it's about damn time I get one! I'm freaking 34! I won't be able to give birth forever... Anyway, the reason all these tears that keep running on my cheeks aren't happy tears is him. Drake Lander - The only person I love, but also the only person I hate.

Drake has never wanted kids. He made sure I understood that anytime I mentioned this topic... But I just don't understand why... Maybe he's afraid a child will come between him and his success? Maybe he's afraid he'll lose all his money? Maybe it's a problem from his past? I don't know about that, he's never told me about this. I can only suppose, but now I don't have the time for that... It's about 4 o'clock, he'll come back home in a couple of hours and I just can't face him now...

"God, how could I be this stupid!? " I scream as loud as I can, starting to cry again and letting all my demons get out of me. But, actually, no! NO!! I'm not mad at me, I'm mad at... Him! Drake is the reason for all this bullshit! If he wouldn't be such a heartless creep and would want to have kids with the woman he loves, as he calls me, I wouldn't be here, sitting on a bathroom floor and crying for hours! I would be talking to him and enjoying every second! But he's the one who ruined everything, not me...

As I begin to feel strong again, I stand up and throw that idiot pregnancy test on the other side of the room and watch it break into a million pieces, with no regret at all.

I'm not going to be his pet forever. I want to live my own life and that's what I'm going to do! Drake and I have been together since I was 23, and I've always been his pet ever since! But now I'm done! I'm a grown-up woman and I need nobody to tell me what to do and how. From now on, I'm going to make decisions for myself and I decide to have this baby, no matter what that moron says!

If he doesn't want to help me raise this child, then so be it! I don't need him! I can have this baby on my own and I need nobody to help me or to advise me. And I don't need to hear his opinion about this either! He brought this over himself and I'm not tolerating this anymore! I made my decision and I'm not going back.

I know what to do and I don't regret anything. Maybe we were never meant to be, and when it's not meant to be, nothing works no matter how hard you try. I guess it was only a matter of time for me to realize that Drake and I were never good for each other, but I can't believe it took me so long... But now I know, and this is the end of us.

I run out of the bathroom straight to our bedroom. I open the closet door and pick up a huge suitcase, then I start throwing clothes in it, then I pack up everything else I need along with my passport and head to the front door. Once I get there, I take a deep breath and look at my watch.

"5 pm. I have one more hour to leave until he gets here." I say before placing my hand on the doorknob. But as I start pulling it, all of a sudden, I stop.

I don't love Drake anymore and I indeed want to have nothing to do with him no more, but I just can't help thinking of how many memories I have since I moved here with him, and also all the memories I have since I met him... Our first kiss, our first date, the first time he told me he loved me... Our first everything together...

Taking a very deep breath, I clear all these thoughts from my head until I do something I'll regret, pull the doorknob and leave this house for good. I'm going to start a new life and raise my little baby without him, somewhere I know he'll never find me: Halifax, here I come!

After a while, I finally get to the airport.

"Shit, I'm late! Ugh, why did I decide to wear high heels today!?" I tell myself while running like crazy, trying to find the right gate.

After a couple of minutes, I find the gate and run faster to it as I hear the receptionist saying that my plane is leaving soon.

"Yes! I'm he--"

"Ahh!!!"

I didn't even realize what happened. The only thing I know is that I may have bumped into someone, but I fell... Hard. Ouch, my poor head...

As I got up from the floor and started picking up the things that fell out of my handbag, I hear a charming voice telling me:

"Oh God, I'm so sorry, miss! Let me help you." The man says as he bends on his knees next to me and picks up some of my things.

"It's no problem, don't worry, I'm alright. What abou--"

We both became speechless the moment we fixed our gaze on each other. He's just so beautiful - His hazel eyes glow in the sunlight, his brown, shiny hair seemed so soft and nice, his voice is so calm and lovely, I just can't help but keep starring at him.

"The last call for the plane for Halifax!"

We both gasp as we hear the receptionist say those words, waking up from our daydream or whatever that was. He helps me pack up my bag and I tell him shyly:

"Umm... I guess I should go now... This is my flight."

"Wait, are you heading to Halifax, too!?" He says as his eyes lighten up.

"Y-yes, I am..." I say shyly, rubbing my neck.

"Come on then, let's go!" He gets up from the floor and gives me his hand to help me stand.

"Yeah, I guess we should or we'll miss it..." I giggle and head to the plane.

And that's how my journey started.

Me and Jonah (that was his name) met. We eventually found out that our seats are next to each other and we used this coincidence to get to know each other, as we were both getting more and more mesmerized and charmed by one another.

We kept talking about everything until we eventually fell asleep in each other's arms and for the first time in so long, I felt warm. I felt like this was not the end. I felt... Safe and welcomed.

I learned so many things about Jonah during our conversation! He was about my age (which was 35, I know I'm a bit old...), he was the boss of a well-known company me and my employees have always envied (yes, I did have my company, but it was not mine alone. Me and Drake have started it a long time ago, but now I left it all behind, and I was planning to find a new opportunity here in Halifax). Jonah is also divorced (he told me he caught his wife cheating on him a few years ago, and that's why he decided to leave her) and has no children. There are way more things I could tell you about him and I'd do that, but some things should remain secret...

He's been so nice to me and I've never felt like this before, not even with Drake. Jonah is different from any man I ever met and I like him a lot, but even if everything seems like I'm going to live my best life from now on, believe me, it's not true... At all.

~ Halifax, Canada - December 2002~

Nancy's POV

Apparently, even if I thought Halifax won't be good for me, I found so many opportunities here! Everything went so well between me and Jonah and we started dating not long ago. I love him so much and so does he. Even if he knew that I Sammie wasn't his daughter, that fact didn't stop him from loving us both a whole lot! Talking about Sam, she's the most precious baby I've ever seen! This may be because she's mine, but I don't care at all! I met her only a month ago and Jonah and I have been the happiest ever since! Jonah and I have been working a lot lately, too, because we've been preparing a start-up for our new company! I'm just so happy right now, I've never thought moving to Halifax would be such a good choice! But now that I know, I wouldn't change this for the world!

~ Paris, France - July 2006 ~

Nancy's POV

My life has been amazing since I met Jonah and became even better when I gave birth to my little Samantha! I love them both so much and I can't wait for what's next! Even if Jonah has never had any children, he did so well in helping me raise Sammie so far! He's always been so loving and caring with both of us, something Drake could never do... But it's better if I stop thinking about him and enjoy my little vacation with my baby and the love of my life.

Yes, I said vacation. As a present for my birthday, Jonah took me and Sam to Disneyland! Isn't he the cutest?! Samantha was so happy when she heard that we're going there, and I'm happy as long as my baby's happy...

~ Madrid, Spain - April 2009 ~

Nancy's POV

(Nancy and Jonah have just got married)

I can't believe this! Everything that happened since I met Jonah seemed like a dream I never want to wake up from! He proposed to me a week ago and I couldn't stop smiling ever since! We were both so happy and couldn't wait to do this, so we decided to fly to Madrid and get married straight away. I just can't believe any of these! I've never imagined my life could be this amazing - having the love of my life and my beautiful daughter next to me forever! That's all I could ask for and way more!

~ Short paragraph from Jonah's POV~

Yes! I finally had the courage to ask her to marry me! After so many years I was still afraid she'll refuse me, but I was completely wrong! Seeing her scream "Yes!" as she started crying made my eyes wet too. I'll finally be able to call the love of my life my wife and I couldn't be happier with our little family.

Nancy's POV

Yeah, I know that everything I said makes you think that I have the best life I could ever ask for, but let me tell you the rest of the story...

~ Halifax, Canada - January 2012 ~

Samantha's POV

(Samantha is now 7 years old)

God, how I wish mommy and Jonah would go back to normal... So many things happened lately...

Because their business hasn't gone so well for a while now and we didn't have enough money to pay both our apartments, mommy sold our old one and we both moved in with Jonah, but I don't know what's wrong with them since then!

They've been so distant and sometimes they even yelled at each other! It breaks me to see them like this, but I don't think there is something I can do to solve this anymore... We still have money, but not as much as we used to have, what's the matter? What happened between them?

~ Meanwhile, in Nancy's room ~

Nancy's POV

(Nancy is now 42 years old)

God! How could I allow something like this to happen!? I was so stupid... That moron made me think he loves me and tricked me into marrying him, but there's no difference between him and that motherfucker Drake. They're both just the same... And I can't believe I've fallen for this shit again. Why do I only get idiots coming my way!?

Nancy's POV

Everything is falling apart! Jonah made me lose every single thing I had since I met him - my dignity, my freedom, my happiness... Even my poor baby... I'm always so tired and sad I can't even face her anymore, and it hurts me so much to see her beautiful face ruined by all this bullshit. I'm so sorry I dragged her into my messy life, maybe I should've got an abortion, but I loved her so much that I couldn't bear the thought of losing her before I even met her...

"That's... That's just my fault!"

As I let those words leave my mouth, I just can't hold all this shit inside me, and I start crying as I cover my face with my hands so nobody who'd enter in this room would see me like this... I'm ashamed of crying, I've always been. I consider crying a way to express weakness, and I don't want to be weak, but I just can't take this anymore... And I'm ashamed of this more than anything else. I lost control over my life and I have no idea how to gain it back.

"Come here right now, idiot!" Jonah yells from the kitchen.

I immediately stand up and wipe my tears as I hear him. I have to go and see what this motherfucker wants now before Sam hears him too. I don't want her to get involved in this mess. That's only about me and Jonah, my poor baby is not at fault at all. Everything that happened is because of me, and now I must bear the consequences.

I take a deep breath and pull the doorknob, heading to the kitchen, as I try as much as I can not cry.

"There you are, bitch!" I didn't even enter the kitchen before I heard him yelling at me.

"Can you be a little bit quieter, please? I don't want Samantha to hear us..." I bite back completely fed up with his shit.

"Do you think I give a single **** on your idiot daughter?" He says with his voice full of disgust and disdain.

"Don't talk about her like that! This shit in only between us. I'm the only one you hate, don't involve her in this!" I beg, yet I don't give up on my irritated tone.

"Haha... Alright. I didn't want you to come here 'cause I wanted to talk shit about Samantha, though. That was just a bonus..." He says as a disgusting grin appears on his face. ****, I so want to punch him now... His rudeness towards my little Sammie makes me want to kill him but God knows I can't...

I'm starting to get a little scared of what he's about to say next, due to his grin and the way he said that, though.

"Actually..." He lets this word escape his mouth, then he starts staring at me, and that makes me shiver. For a few moments, we just stay in complete silence, as I watch his face become more and more angry, until he breaks this silence, hitting the counter with his fist.

"I fucking told you to start cooking four hours ago, *****!"

"I... I..." I keep on babbling for a few moments. I had no idea what to say anymore. He scared the hell out of me and I was afraid he's going to hit me again...

"What? You what? I'm hungry! Do something useful for the first time in your life instead of slacking all day!"

"I'm not slacking at all! I'm working my *** off every day with no one to help me, just to make you stop commenting about everything!" I finally give up and throw all my possible patience on the window as I yell back at him.

I couldn't hold everything in myself anymore. And the shit he has just said didn't help at all, but as soon as I stop, I wish I never said those things...

"Uh-huh... Very well then. I'm sorry..." He says in a calm tone, coming close to me.

"W-what?"

"I'm sorry I married such trash like you that can't do anything by herself. Do I need to remind you again that now you're under my roof and you can either do whatever I want, whenever I want, or you can start searching for a new home?" He starts yelling again as he slaps me.

After that, I simply froze. I didn't know what to say, what to do, I just... I couldn't do anything. The thought that my little Sam would be homeless killed me. Because I knew so damn well that he hates her, and he wouldn't allow her to stay here if I left. I didn't care about myself so much, but I never wanted Sammie to go through any of this and I never will...

After a few moments, I get back to reality as I feel his hands on my throat.

"Am I clear, bitch?" He says full of anger, as he tightens the space between his hands and my throat.

"Y-y-yes". I barely manage to say that using the last portion of air I had left.

"Good. Now do what I said!" He yells as he throws me on the floor.

"Ah!" I involuntarily gasp as my body meets the floor.

"That's what you get for 'standing up for yourself' stupid woman. Don't try to do that again with me, this was just a warning."

Jonah says as he turns around and leaves the kitchen, then a few moments later I hear the front door open and close back. Shit! He's going to get drunk again! Ugh, at least I hope he won't also use drugs this time...

~ Halifax, Canada - May 2019 ~

Samantha's POV

(Present time)

So, basically, that's my story. This is everything that has happened so far. And maybe you're wondering how do I know all of this? Well, Veronica, my grandma, used to tell me about these during my childhood, since I always asked my mom about how her and "dad" met, but she always refused to talk about that. Unfortunately, she died a few years ago... And I had no one to lean on anymore.

That, of course, until Alice and I met! As I promised, I'll tell you more about our past together when the time is right, but that time is not this time, so I'll have to keep this a mystery for a while, I hope you don't mind. Anyway, the only thing you need to know for now is that Ali is basically the last thing in this world that gives me hope, and I have literally no idea what I'd do or where I'd be now without her...

Skipping that though, unfortunately, the photoshoot for our school album is not over yet, and it's my turn. To sum everything up in one word, shit.

"Stop worrying, Sam! Everything will be alright." Her calm and friendly voice brings me back from the world of my vivid thoughts.

"Wait, was I thinking out loud again?" I sigh disappointed in myself as always...

"All this time, baby!" Alice starts laughing at me.

"Ouch... Why didn't you tell me something then, Al?" I bite back.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see where this leads..."

"See where this leads? It's not like you don't know the whole story already..." I roll my eyes at her cheap excuse.

"Yes, but you're a great story-teller."

I must admit, that comment made me blush and want to laugh at the same time, but I retained both these feelings.

"Whatever. Can I ask you something?" I try to change the subject a little.

"Sure."

"Can you kill me before it's my turn, please?" I say lightly slapping my face.

Alice rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest, as a sarcastic reaction to my request.

"Why are you so stressed after all? It's not like the photographer will eat you..."

"Ugh... Come here, ok?" Saying that she pulls me in a tight hug, then whispers in my ear - "It's going to be alright, I promise."

"But, actually, what are you afraid of, Samantha? Say it out loud, maybe that will help..."

"T-that I look like a monster. That everybody will hate me and will want to puke when they see my photo just because I can't even smile anymore?" I don't even get to finish my sentence, I'm already feeling the hot tears filling my eyes.

"Oh, dear, that's not true at all! You're so beautiful that sometimes it hurts to look at you, and nobody will ever hate you..."

"But..." I try to bring another argument to her comment, but she immediately stops me.

"No buts! You're going to wipe away your tears, build up your confidence, go there and have the best photo of the whole album!" Wow... She said that with such an inspirational tone as she pulled out of our hug, shaking me to give me a boost of luck and confidence.

"Oh, God... Are we really doing this, Alice?" I sigh again in a giggly tone.

"No, you're doing this! And you're going to do an amazing job, believe me!"

Yeah... Well, in that moment, I swear there was nothing in this world that I could want less to hear...

"Ugh, alright. Let's just get over with this..." Is the only thing I managed to get out of my mouth as Alice and I headed back to the main entrance where the photoshoot was taking place.