1Chapter 1: Let the Rain Fall Down
Seven years later...
Mai Valentine stood in silence as if transfixed, staring out at the pouring rain, droplets tracing patterns against the vast glass window of the mansion her parents called home. It doesn't feel like home... she thought to herself, shivering from the cold and turning her attention back to the rain. She watched intently as a glimmering droplet wove its way down the glass, and sighed. Unconsciously, she reached her hands out to the window as if to touch the crystalline raindrop, but felt only cold, harsh glass as the droplet slid down the window, out of sight. She pressed herself up to the forbidding window, as if leaning into an embrace, staring fixedly through the only thing separating her from the outside world.
The sky was depressingly gray and cloudy, but to someone who had to press up against gigantic glass windows to get a good view of the sky, it looked beautifully tranquil. Rain pelted down in torrents on the majestic oak trees and stately gardens that surrounded the Valentine estate. Mai looked up through long, dark lashes and smiled, looking at the rain from a downward view, her warm breath creating fog on the window. A creative, amused look formed on her face as she drew pictures in the fog on the glass.
Two maids passing by "tisked" and shook their heads sorrowfully at the sight of the tiny, delicate blonde girl leaning up against the window, staring out at the rainstorm. One maid, by the name of Betty, felt a surge of pity at the sight and cautiously approached the young girl.
"Miss Valentine?" Betty questioned hesitantly. Mai spun around with a look of surprise on her face at the sound of the maid's voice. Then she realized that Betty had called her formally by her last name, and momentarily, a slight scowl appeared on her face as she replied curtly,"My name is Mai."
Betty was taken aback by the outgoing and forward tone of the little blonde, whom she had always thought looked so adorable and innocent. She tried her best at what she thought would look like an understanding, sympathetic smile and continued,
"Yes, Miss Valentine, I was just wondering if you need anything... perhaps some hot chocolate? It is getting awfully chilly in here..."
Mai saw the nervous, caring look in Betty's eyes and regretted her abrupt response earlier. She clutched her arms around herself and shivered, maybe I am getting cold from the rain... She ceased hugging herself from cold for a moment, and looked up at Betty, attempting a weak, feeble smile. "No thank you, I'm fine."
Betty saw the smile and knew that it was a result of her kindness. She said warmly, "You wouldn't want to close the curtains, would you?"
The blonde girl clutched herself again and looked down nervously, as if she was more interested in her feet. "No," she answered, looking up again hopefully, "I like to watch the rain."
Betty nodded, understandingly, and walked over to stand by the window next to her, much to the little girl's shock and surprise. "I prefer the windows open myself," she said, "The world looks so mysterious and magical when it rains."
Mai's mouth gaped open; no adult, not even her parents, had ever spoken to her this way, or made such an effort to act like they really cared about her. Why is she being so nice to me? she thought, puzzled at the thought that this maid, of all people, could actually understand how she felt, or even care about her. Betty saw the confused look on the child's face and smiled, with a twinkle in her eye, which surprised Mai even further.
"Well then... if you'll excuse me Miss Mai, I'll be going. I have quite a few chores to still attend to..." Betty replied in return to Mai's silence, "Just call for Betty whenever you need anything, and I'll come by and visit." With that the maid withdrew from the room.
Mai stood staring in the direction Betty had left for a while, pondering quietly to herself... Does she actually want to be friends with me? Why? Then she remembered that Betty had called her by her first name, and smiled while shaking her head slightly, her golden curls dancing gracefully through the air. Her hair was a light golden blonde, with wavy curls elegantly cascading down her back; a few obnoxious curls broke free furthering the effect, and refusing to stay in line with the rest of her hair. A few waves of long blonde hair settled delicately around her heart-shaped face, framing it beautifully, and a few stray curls always managed to escape, dangling around the side of her face or in the middle of her forehead. She turned once again to face the window, noticing that the rain was gradually subsiding, but this time a smile graced her lips, brightening her face and enhancing her beauty. She had delicate porcelain white skin, partly from her lack of going outdoors in the sunlight very often, and partly because that was the natural color of her skin. A natural pink blush graced her cheeks, giving her an innocent, angelic look, and her lips were like beautiful rose petals, similar in color and even shape. Her lips occasionally gave way to awkward or shy smiles when in the presence of others, but even a shy smile was capable of dazzling others; however, she rarely laughed. But when gazing upon her, the first thing you noticed was her eyes, curving upward elegantly and framed by long, dark eyelashes. What struck you most about her eyes after noticing their exquisite beauty, was their intensity. Her eyes were like deep, never-ending pools of lavender that would entrance the viewer if he dared to stare deep into them for longer than a moment. Her eyes were known to sparkle with the brilliance of violet stars when she was enthralled or exuberant, and also flamed intensely as if on fire when she was aroused or angered. A glare from her violet eyes was strong enough to even knock a man off his feet, as she would find out many years later. However, the heartbreaking expression in her eyes as she gazed out the window and pressed up against the rain-streaked glass was one of profound sadness and loss, a deep violet color replacing the lighter lavender, from some unknown inner pain or experience that only her eyes would ever reveal. The rain reflected in her dazzling lavender eyes, and with a pang in her heart that almost made her wince, she desperately wished with all of her being and all of her heart that she was outside standing, soaked in the rain, rather than being trapped in this cold, harsh, glass prison that was supposed to be her home... at this thought she closed her eyes and sank into daydreaming, which she often did...
In her seven- year-old mind, she was gloriously running through the rain, like she'd never run before, arms stretched out to their furthest, head tilted back to feel the gentle raindrops embrace her cheeks, legs running as fast as they could, with no care of where they were going; she was completely innocent and carefree... she stopped and twirled herself around and around, stretching out her palms to catch the rain, and peering up at the cloudy sky in complete ecstasy. Suddenly, Splat! She fell down in a mud puddle, completely ruining her classy, and extremely expensive dress and shoes, which had turned from a pale periwinkle color into a murky, muddy brown. She felt a tickle in her throat, and opened her lips, releasing a mirthful laugh. To her great surprise, she couldn't care less about her frilly, lacy dress, made of the finest silk, and began tearing off the layers of lace and silk ribbon that imprisoned her. With a cry of glee, she threw off her equally expensive shoes, and they landed in the mud with a thunk. She smiled wryly, knowing that if her elegant, sophisticated mother saw her she would faint in horror. She tilted back her long neck and laughed at the image this thought produced, feeling glimmering raindrops in her long eyelashes and running down her cheeks but not caring, her dampened blonde locks clinging to her sodden clothing...
Mai presently awoke from her reverie, and with a jolt was forced back into reality. She disappointedly realized that she was still in the vast, cold, empty mansion; all alone. She glanced around at the spacious, luxurious room that would have made any ordinary child fume with jealousy, but felt absolutely nothing. A feeling of overwhelming emptiness and loneliness began to consume her, but she hardened her heart to shield her from the pain...It's not like I'm unfamiliar with the feeling of being alone...she thought inwardly.
Even from the day she was born, Mai knew the feeling of being alone and unwanted...just before her mother and father were married, her mother had had a tubal ligation, for her own selfish, superficial reasons. Mai's mother was one of the most successful, popular supermodels in the country, and had been on the cover of countless magazines, making her seem to all the world, especially the men, (who were more interested in looking at her body than her face) like the perfect, ideal woman. She had worked hard for her body and her image, as well as her fame, and despised the idea of "ruining" her perfect body by becoming pregnant. Her fame, wealth, and beauty were more important to her than the prospect of becoming a mother, and she feared losing her career more than anything else. Therefore, she went through with the surgery, hoping to never deal with the possibility of getting pregnant.
Mai was a mistake; a year later, her mother discovered, to her dismay and horror, she had "accidentally" become pregnant. She visited the doctor, furious that the surgery was ineffective, and demanding an abortion. Mai later found out that the only reason she existed today, and was ever born, was because at that very moment, her father strode into the hospital and talked some sense into her hysterical mother. Eventually, Mai was born, on November 20th, that year; her mother didn't even want to see her at first, because she was mourning over the loss of her perfect image. She was placed into her father's arms, and he noticed her beautiful violet eyes, even more beautiful than her mother's eyes, which were a cold, unfeeling blue. Unknown to anyone, her father had then wondered where the unusual color of her eyes had come from, since no one from either side of their family had ever had such lavender-colored eyes. For a moment, he wondered if there was something special about this child, some reason that she was born, some reason that she had such unique eyes...a destiny...just then, a name for her came to him...Mai, Mai Valentine. The vibration of his pager interrupted his thoughts, and just as quickly as he had come, he was gone, off to another press conference that was supposedly "urgent," more important than the birth of his first, and only, child. For the moment, Mai was placed in her mother's arms, who looked down at the child who would forever be a mistake to her.
Mai knew she was a mistake, she was unwanted, even by her own parents, and cried inwardly every time her parents called her their "miracle baby." She didn't feel miraculous or special in any kind of way, even though her father constantly called her his "precious." The word mistake haunted her mind, she could see it in her parents' eyes, in their forced smiles and laughter whenever they were around her, (which wasn't often), in the way they acted stiff and formal around her. She was never intended to exist; nothing but a mistake...
A/N I know all the readers are wondering why I haven't updated, and believe me, I'm sincerely sorry, but I have one heck of a good excuse...I have been at the hospital every other day visiting my grandma. For hours I sat in that hospital room, watching one of the people I loved most slowly slip away, not being able to do anything about it. I would've given ANYTHING if I could have saved her life, or even just have one last conversation with her. I don't even know if she knew I was there, but I hope to god that she knows that I love her with all my heart. I just found out that she passed away today, and I don't know whether to feel devastated, or relieved that she's no longer suffering...
Cherish the time you have with your family and friends! Live every little insignificant moment to its fullest! Let your loved ones know exactly how much they mean to you, before it's too late...