TWELVE YEARS AGO

My father had sent me to the market in town, for he was sick and could not get around very well. I was only to get what we needed and then come straight home. No gallivanting, no daydreaming. Market, then straight home.

I was trying to remember what it was he said we needed. He had written it down on parchment but the wind had swept it out of my hand whilst I was walking toward town. I couldn't forget anything because this was the first time that Father had let me into town by myself and I wanted to make him proud. I wanted him to know that he could trust me, I was old enough now. I'm not a baby, anymore.

Suddenly, I felt myself hit the ground. I was jolted out of my thoughts and back into reality. I looked up and found a girl who looked to be my age, maybe a year younger. Her blonde hair was in beautiful curls and freckles were dotted across her pale cheeks and nose and she was wearing an expensive looking dress. I felt inferior to her. My own brown hair was knotted and tangled, my skin was tanned and perhaps a little sun burnt from labor and I was dressed in a pair of trousers and boots. I couldn't afford dresses, but I didn't mind. I didn't like them much. They seemed uncomfortable.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!" I apologized. The girl just smiled.

"It's okay. My name is Elizabeth." She curtsied. "What is yours?"

I pushed myself up off of the ground and held out my hand. "I'm Sophia, but you can call me Sophie if you prefer."

She looked at my hand for a few seconds before taking it in her own. "Nice to meet you, Sophie."

I smiled, "You too, Elizabeth."

Suddenly, I saw a women rushing toward us. "Miss Elizabeth!" She scolded. "You know better than to rush off like that. Your father would not be pleased."

Elizabeth looked down, "I didn't run off. I lost you."

The woman grabbed Elizabeth's hand. "Well, we must get you back to your father."

"Goodbye, Sophia." She called over her shoulder as the lady rushed her away.

"Goodbye, Elizabeth!" I called back.

I turned and started back home until I remembered, I was supposed to get things from the market. I turned again and rushed back to get what we needed.

If I could even remember.