10. Opportunities
Shrouded in darkness, the world was silent. The light from the moon slipped through Sally's windowpane, casting shadows along her bedroom walls. Sapphire eyes glanced around her room, committing every bit of detail, from color of her walls to the size of her, to memory.
Sadness prodded her heart; she realized that she would probably never see her home again. She wouldn't see Elias or her parents anymore, or she doubted that their paths would cross again.
Taking a shaky breath, Sally steeled herself, harshly shoving away any fears or regrets she felt, ignoring the way her heart thrummed in sadness, ignoring the tears that slowly slipped down her face. She had to do this.
Sally maneuvered her way to her window with ease, her grip on the strap of her duffle bag tightening ever so slightly. It swung back and forth like the pendulum of a clock, and it was bulging with all the belongings she managed to cram inside of it.
She now stood in front of her window, her fingertips grazing its cool, smooth glass surface. Gently, she pushed it open and was greeted with the cool breeze of the night. She leaned forward and stuck her head outside, inhaling lungful after lungful of fresh air before slowly exhaling.
It's now or never, Sally thought. However, Sally didn't move, hesitating as doubt once again reared its ugly head. Did she really want to leave the only home she's ever known? Could she really leave behind her family and her kingdom?
She felt cowardly. Here she was trying to escape her destiny, and for what? The thrill of adventure? The heady taste of freedom? She was a princess! She should remain here and do what was expected out of her.
"Do what's expected out of me?" Sally repeated, making sure to keep her voice at a low whisper. She frowned, already loathing such an idea. Was that how she wanted to live out the rest of her days, being a puppet whose strings were constantly being tugged and manipulated?
No! This is my life, and in the end, I am the one who dictates how I'll live it. She felt so limited and trapped here, like a bird clawing at the bars of its cage. She wasn't meant to be caged; she was meant to be free. It was about time she spread her wings and soar off into the sky.
Erasing all doubts from her mind, Sally jumped out of her window, safely landing on the cart of hay she had placed beneath it earlier. Dusting bits of hay off her dress, Sally smiled, her emotions running rampant as she hopped off the cart and took off.
"I'm free," Sally whispered, the night wind whipping through her hair. She didn't know where she was going, but she didn't care. She was free, free from the chains that held her down, and her destiny was now hers to carve.