My dress flew behind me as I ran down the corridors of the mansion. I clutched my discovery tight in my tiny hands. I ran past Tilda, the maid, and Boer, the puppy. I was breathing hard, but my excitement outweighed my exhaustion. I slid across the tile floors in my sock feet, making it ten feet before friction got the best of me. I turned around the corner and pulled open the tall door, barely able to reach the door handle.
"Mama!" I called out excitedly, "Papa, look what I found!" My father was sitting in his armchair, reading a book about something that I couldn't pronounce. Mother was sitting on the couch across from him drawing in her notebook. When she heard me she looked up and shut her notebook. She placed it delicately on the table and looked at me gently. When my father heard me he didn't even look up from his book.
My mother held out her arms to me, "Show me what you found, Lucy." She smiled at me and I ran to her. I jumped onto her lap and plopped down on her skirts. I held out my hand to show her what I was holding.
"I found this in the vegetable garden," I said proudly. My mother gasped.
"It's beautiful, Lucy. Was it really in the garden?" she asked. I was holding a small pink flower. It was semi-crushed by my small fist.
I nodded, "Yeah, it was. I saw it and thought I would give it to you." My mother smiled and took it from my hand, touching its soft petals.
"Thank you, Lucy. I love it very much."
My father spoke up, "I thought I told you not to go to the vegetable garden." I frowned.
"But I just wanted to see what it was like," I said quietly.
"Don't do it again," he said sternly and returned to his book. I curled up in my mother's arms, hiding my face in her chest.
"I'm sorry," I squeaked, doing my best not to let the tears out.
"Darling, don't you think you were a bit to hard on her?" asked my mother, stroking my hair. I sniffed. I wouldn't cry…I was tougher than that. My father just shook his head. My mother looked down at me.
"Don't mind him. He's just in a foul mood," she whispered to me. I nodded and smiled up at her.
"I have good news to cheer you up," she said to me. I grabbed her neck and hung off of it.
"What is it? What? Tell me!" I demanded, curiosity and excitement in my voice.
My mother smiled, "Tomorrow we're going to go to a party!" I squealed. I loved parties. The colorful gowns, the amazing dancing, the tasty food; I loved it all.
"Now, let's go get some sleep. The sooner you go to sleep, the sooner you'll wake up and the sooner you'll get to go to that party!" she said, tapping my nose. I nodded vigorously. This was serious; if I didn't go to sleep now I'd have to wait for the party even longer! I hopped off of my mother and ran towards the door.
"Tilda, would you be so kind as to put Lucy to sleep for me? I'm afraid I still have a few things to finish here," said my mother.
"Of course, Mistress. I will do so right away," said Tilda, curtsying.
I grabbed Tilda's skirts and bounced up and down, my finger hanging out of my mouth, "Tilda, we have to hurry!"
"Yes, Miss. We do!" said Tilda, leaning down to pick me up. As Tilda carried me out of the room and propped my chin on her shoulder. I watched as my mother disappeared behind the door again. I held on tight to Tilda's shoulders as she brought me to my bedroom. She lay me down in my huge bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin. I shut my eyes tight.
"Alright, Miss. Shall I sing to you, then?" asked Tilda. I nodded drowsily, but drifted off to sleep before she'd even started singing.
The Next Day
Gentle sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows in my room. I blinked a few times to ward off my sleepiness. I sat up, pushing the tangles of my hair out of my eyes with my hand. I sat there for a few seconds in a dreamlike state.
"Miss…Miss," said a voice, breaking my trance. I looked to Tilda who was sitting beside my bed.
"We have to get you ready and dressed! The party is today!" said Tilda happily. She always closed her eyes when she smiled, which is what she did then.
My eyes lit up, "The party!" I squealed and jumped out of bed. I ran around my room in circles and then collapsed on the floor out of exhaustion and dizziness.
Tilda laughed and picked me up off the carpet, "Miss, let's prepare you for the ball."
A Bit Later
Laughter and boisterous, frivolous noise surrounded me. A rainbow of glittering ball gowns swayed with the dance steps and the tempo of the music, the shining shoes of the men somehow avoiding the hems of the women's skirts. I was sitting in a gilded chair with velvet lining, entertaining myself by watching the couples dance across the shining ballroom floor. I sighed and propped my head up on my hand.
"Boring, isn't it?" asked a voice. I turned around and peeked over the back of my chair. Sitting against my chair was a boy. He looked about my age and hard dark hair and eyes.
"I don't think it's boring. I just wish I could join in," I answered. He was wearing a blue suit and had diamond cufflinks.
"My name is Lucy," I said down to him. He looked up at me, his arm resting on his knee.
"Gray," he answered.
I smiled, "Nice to meet you, Gray." We spent the rest of the party talking. We didn't talk about anything in particular…rather we talked about everything and anything.
"Lucy, come. We're leaving," said my father, walking up to me with my mother behind him. I was sitting on the floor with Gray. "Don't sit on the floor, it's filthy down there." I immediately got to my feet and brushed off my dress.
"Goodbye, Gray. I'm sure I'll see you again one day," I said with one final smile. I didn't know it then, but we were destined to meet again. I followed after my parents as we left the party. The cold night air greeted us when we stepped out of the door. Winter's briskness bit at our ankles, coaxing us towards our waiting carriage. The driver gave me his hand to help me into the cabin. I took it and lifted my skirts with the other, pulling myself into our carriage. My parents followed behind me. We rode through the night, lamps lighting up the dim streets.
We were silent. I stared out the window, my mind reliving the events of the day. Snow drifted gently down, illuminated in the street lamps. Buildings and alleyways flew past, blurring together. I perked up. I'd seen something.
"Mother, we need to stop the carriage!" I shouted. Once our carriage had halted, I flew out of the door. I ran through the snow, stumbling on my dress but catching myself before I fell. I left the carriage and my parents behind as I ran towards the alleyway. I stopped, breathing hard. Lying in the alleyway, snow covered and shivering, was a boy. I leaned over him. His breath puffed up clouds into the air. I crouched beside him, my skirt rustling as I did so. I reached out and touched his face, brushing snow from his hair. His cheeks were flushed and his face felt hot. There was a cut on his forehead that seemed fresh.
I ran back out of the alley and called to my parents, "Mother, Father, there's a boy here. We need to help him!"
"Really?" questioned my mother, walking towards me.
"Leave him there! He's probably an orphan!" called my father, refusing to leave the carriage.
"Isn't that a better reason for us to help him!" my mother called back. She turned to me and touched my face, "Show me." She waved to the driver to come and help. I nodded. My mother had the driver pick the boy up. His arm hung limply at his side. He was breathing hard. My mother stroked his head and he mumbled.
"Poor boy. Let's bring him into the cabin," she said. We returned to the car. My father protested, but my mother stopped him from continuing with a simple hand gesture. He grumbled but didn't throw the boy out.
"I wonder what he's called," I said, his head on my lap. I stroked his pink hair, "He has strange hair." My mother laughed.
"He does, doesn't he?" I nodded happily.
"Can we take care of him until he gets better?" My mother nodded. I turned back to the boy. I stroked his head, careful not to touch his wound. His breathing had slowed a bit, but he was still sweating. He stirred on my lap and I smiled. One thought kept circling in my head: what an exciting discovery.
A/N: Please review if you liked it! (Or even if you didn't...I don't mind constructive criticism)
Thanks for reading!