The Kiss that Sparked it All

McNeil Howard felt someone burning holes in the back of his head So he followed the gaze and paused just a tad.

The girl was about the same age as his daughter Patricia and radiated a familiar aura, which caught his attention. He was a bit out of it, as if some past events or a certain someone from his past came to mind. But he didn’t linger on the girl and headed straight toward the door instead.

Ellinor dropped her gaze from the man. Her mixed emotions finally settled down

McNeil Howard had once hurt her mother, driving her into a comer and forcing her to leave home with young Ellinor. That’s why old Mr. Bagley couldn’t stand his guts. She had no memones of her biological father, not even a vague shadow of him resided in her memory. A man this heartless must have never taken care of her when she was a child. So there was nothing for her to remember.

“Marlinie!”

Ellinor was still mulling over these thoughts when suddenly an old pair of hands grabbed hers tightly.

She jumped, looking up to see an elderly lady.

The old lady looked at her worriedly, “Marlinie, why are you coming home so late from school? Where have you been?”

taken aback, “I think you got the

herself, “Marlinie, you can’t keep coming home this late. It worries me and your father”

call the name Marlinie, he stopped in his tracks, turning to look back. The old lady was talking to

the wrong person. I’m

angry with me! Be a good girl, stop hanging out with that boy from the

Ellinor both fell silent.

words, Ellinor figured out she was the

she was her

her

“Grandma, you’ve mistaken her

saying excitedly.

she really isn’t Marlinie.”