prologue-Adeline and Ethan

Paris, France, January 1st 2011

It was the dead of night and all was calm and quiet in Adeline’s room. Shadows bounced from her furniture as the blinds softly blew from the breeze that flowed steadily and soundlessly, through the window. All that could be heard was her soft breathing and the crackle of her bed covers as she turned this way and that in her sleep. The door cracked open then it was widened to reveal Bastian, her father. He looked at her with rounded, sad eyes and one tear managed to drop and fall to the carpet.
“Au revoir ma chérie“He said, lovingly caressing her cheek
She moaned quietly then turned towards her father, he slipped out before she could reply and closed the door and he regretted the fact that he was leaving her for a long time, but then he remembered, it was for the good of her future.

Edinburgh, Scotland same date

Ethan slept soundly against his ragged pillow not making any sound, the traffic was loud and the sky rained as hard as it could but never reached Ethan’s head because of the little overhead shelter he’d helped his father make. His dad was talking to his friend as Ethan was oblivious to what was happening.
“We have to go now John” his friend hissed
“I know I’ll be just one second”
John ran to his son and shook him awake, Ethan responded by yawning and rubbing his eyes.
“Dad it’s not even light” he said tiredly
“I know but I need to tell you goodbye, I have a letter here for you and it’s vital you open this when you’re seventeen okay” his dad said steadily
“Why don’t you just give it to me when I’m seventeen, you’re not going to be gone that long” he replied
“I wish I wasn’t Ethan, I really do”
His dad gave him one last goodbye hug and with that he ran with his friend round a corner disappearing into the gloom, Ethan didn’t have any chance of following and realised this just after he ran to the end of the alley. He looked down to the letter and held it to his chest before retiring back to his bed, crying himself to sleep...