Twelve

The 19, because I was born on September 19th ...

He picked this number because of me.

I was his lucky charm ...

In addition to his passion, he also managed to complete his law degree with top grades, he only had his second state examination ahead of him and then he wanted to join our parents' office.

Coleman & Coleman should finally get their junior partner ...

I look into the clouds that spread like cotton candy below us.

Tormented, I close my eyes as the memories of the worst day of my life come back.

I don't want to think about it now ... I just can't.

On the almost 13 hour flight to London I try not to think too much, basically I just have the option to let everything come to me ...

Fortunately for me, I overslept most of the flight and so I don't have the opportunity to think.

When I land in London it is cold and gray and I drag my bags across the airport to catch my connecting plane to Dublin.

I am happy when my connection machine finally takes to the skies, so in 1 1/2 hours I will have Irish ground under my feet for the first time in my life.

Involuntarily, but I'm really trying to see this as the chance it probably is for me.

Who knows, maybe I would graduate from law school someday. After all, I'm in the 10th semester, actually I could have finished a long time ago, but I still have the beginning and 2 full semesters ahead of me because I haven't concentrated enough on it. So, in the best case scenario, I still have almost 1 ½ years to go ...

Just because I want to become a lawyer doesn't mean that I have to join my parents' office or even take over.

I land in Dublin in the early afternoon and pull my coat closer around me as I step outside.

It's raining and it's really cold ... it suits my mood perfectly.

I join the stream of people and after what feels like an eternity I reach the baggage carousel. I watch all the people around me and notice the looks that the younger men give me in particular. Sometimes I'm tired of it, because everyone can see the beautiful facade, but no one manages to look behind it and recognize who I really am.

After all, my bags are the last to do their lonely rounds.

“Excuse me, Miss, are these your bags?” An airport employee speaks to me and I nod slightly. "Wait, I'll get you a baggage cart and help you." He offers me immediately and less than 5 minutes later I step out of the arrival area into the great hall.

"Ana?" A woman, a lot younger than my mum, but unmistakably the same gray-blue eyes comes up to me.

"Aunt Grace." I reply without much joy in my voice.

She pulls me into her arms "It's so nice that you're here."

"Voluntary is something else." I reply and press my lips together.

She looks at me carefully for a moment and then nods tentatively.

"I'll take you to your apartment." She says after what feels like an eternity and I follow her out of necessity.

She loads my bags into her SUV and I stare out the window on the drive to my new home.

Dublin has as much in common with LA as a dog with a cat ...

We park in front of a three-story building and I'm afraid I'll live here, my assumption is confirmed when Grace gets out and I do the same with a sigh. We get my bags and enter the building.

So this is a student dorm ...

I almost think my mum exaggerated the term apartment.

"Dex let his relationships play, you'll get your study plan on Thursday." We enter the small elevator and go up to the third floor.

"Say thank you to Dexter." I press out.

Once at the top, I hit someone pretty roughly.

"My God, are you not careful? I can hardly be overlooked with my bags. ”I hiss.

"I'm afraid you are." An amused, dark voice replies and I look up into two fawn eyes, which, to my amazement, do not look at me but stare into space.

"I'm really sorry." Grace immediately apologizes and hands him his stick, which fell from his hand when we crashed.

He is blind?

Seriously?

How does he study please?

I shake my head and Grace gives me a punishing look.

"I'm sorry." I mumble and he laughs.

"No, you don't, but it's okay." With that he gets into the elevator and Grace leads me to the last door on the left side of the long hallway.

“Please Ana, I know all about Heather. Take it as an opportunity. ”She looks at me pleadingly and I see so much of my mum in her.

She opens the door and hands me the keys.

“There are rules here in the house that you too have to adhere to. For every floor there is a shared bathroom with a list, sign in or sign off. ”Another, let's put it this way, threat follows immediately.

At least that's how it sounds to my ears.

The room doesn't have much to offer. A bed, luckily only one, a two-door wardrobe and a desk under the window with a chair.

"I hope you settle in, you will be assigned someone on Thursday who will explain the university, the curriculum and everything around it, and on Friday you will have your first lectures. Tomorrow you are free, I think you will need a few more things. I discussed with your mum that you would get 750 euros a month in pocket money. If you can't get there, you have to contact your parents. You have commercial and corporate law at Dex and I urge you to behave. If you miss a lecture you sit on the next plane back to the States, you only have this one chance, don't risk it lightly… ”she puts the bag she was carrying on the bed.

Wow, another threat.

How old am I?

12?

“I'll just quickly get a few things out of the car. I don't think you packed sheets and towels, do you? ”She looks at me and I shake my head slightly.