It was one of the days I would never forget. I didn't really want Charles to go but that witch with a capital B,Annette insisted. I walked back inside,head hanging,and sighed. Why did I want to cry when Charles left? Why did I enjoy his hugs and snuggles so much? A single hug would end ten minutes later with both of us cuddling on the ground.
When Melinda saw me,she pushed me towards my father's study. What had I done wrong this time,I wondered. This room was usually reserved for life or death situation talks,like the time I'd lost my first tooth. When I walked in,I noticed he looked quite grave. He told me to sit and I obeyed like the perfect little "angel" I always was.
"Pearl.." He began,his voice faltering already. "I know you've heard about someone named Erik in relation to you. Don't try to deny it,I caught you listening in that once,remember?" I nodded with a wide grin and he continued, "Erik was a patient of mine. He's very intelligent,for all he is a little insane and he knew your mother Pearl. Though,before you think it,I doubt that's...mostly...the reason for his insanity. Pearl.." He whispered the next part,holding my hands in his. "He's your elder,half brother."
Something clicked in my head as I stared at him. That void in my life,that thing that had always been missing..Erik was the only one who could fix that. Even as my father began to describe my brother's deformities..sunken eyes,misshapen lips, I was forming a picture of him in the back of my mind. I had to smile to myself,no wonder Madeleine had hated me so when I'd caught the disease which gave me all those funny little marks on my skin. She'd wanted me to be "normal"! Didn't she! That ignorant wench..all she cared for was outer beauty.
The more father spoke,the more convinced I became that he thought in the same manner as her. Didn't they know such beauty was only skin deep? True beauty was deeper than that,much deeper,a rainbow was a perfect example in my eyes. If the light of the sun didn't shine through those droplets of water they'd have only remained a haze which covered an ugly storm,wouldn't they?
When he mentioned a mask I snapped back to reality from the shock. "A mask?" I whispered,somewhere between horror and outrage. "What for...?!" Father paused,blinking as he looked at me. It took him a very long time to speak in such a weak tone as he answered me in,"To hide his face Pearl. So people wouldn't hurt him,as they did you that once at the zoo.
The day I'd met Charles.
I flinched.
When Melinda saw me,she pushed me towards my father's study. What had I done wrong this time,I wondered. This room was usually reserved for life or death situation talks,like the time I'd lost my first tooth. When I walked in,I noticed he looked quite grave. He told me to sit and I obeyed like the perfect little "angel" I always was.
"Pearl.." He began,his voice faltering already. "I know you've heard about someone named Erik in relation to you. Don't try to deny it,I caught you listening in that once,remember?" I nodded with a wide grin and he continued, "Erik was a patient of mine. He's very intelligent,for all he is a little insane and he knew your mother Pearl. Though,before you think it,I doubt that's...mostly...the reason for his insanity. Pearl.." He whispered the next part,holding my hands in his. "He's your elder,half brother."
Something clicked in my head as I stared at him. That void in my life,that thing that had always been missing..Erik was the only one who could fix that. Even as my father began to describe my brother's deformities..sunken eyes,misshapen lips, I was forming a picture of him in the back of my mind. I had to smile to myself,no wonder Madeleine had hated me so when I'd caught the disease which gave me all those funny little marks on my skin. She'd wanted me to be "normal"! Didn't she! That ignorant wench..all she cared for was outer beauty.
The more father spoke,the more convinced I became that he thought in the same manner as her. Didn't they know such beauty was only skin deep? True beauty was deeper than that,much deeper,a rainbow was a perfect example in my eyes. If the light of the sun didn't shine through those droplets of water they'd have only remained a haze which covered an ugly storm,wouldn't they?
When he mentioned a mask I snapped back to reality from the shock. "A mask?" I whispered,somewhere between horror and outrage. "What for...?!" Father paused,blinking as he looked at me. It took him a very long time to speak in such a weak tone as he answered me in,"To hide his face Pearl. So people wouldn't hurt him,as they did you that once at the zoo.
The day I'd met Charles.
I flinched.