Annie woke up with the feeling that something good had happened. Rolled over in the bed and rubbing her eyes, the girl tried to remember what had happened.
And suddenly it dawned on her - she had broken up with Archie! Why then she has a sense of freedom and joyous, almost childlike inspiration?
Miss Brighton went to the window and opened the curtains. The Brighton's mansion park was laying in front of her, the water in the fountain sparkled in the sun like diamonds, the bird singing pacified the soul.
For the first time in a long period, the girl felt free. She thought she could not bear the parting, she was already ready to cry for at least a week, so she returned here to be away from friends, from the Chicago society.
But, to Annie's surprise, she did not want to cry. On the contrary, a feeling of eternal anxiety left her.
Archie, Archie, all her thoughts and desires were subject only to one thing - to Archie's love.
She did not realize this and thought these desires was her own, but now, being free from this relationship, the girl realized how she was bound with this ubiquitous "to be loved by Archie".
Then, at school, she first felt that her beloved had chosen her not quite of his own free will. And unconsciously, Annie began to behave so that he did not regret about it and even more, was glad of his choice.
If they were going to somewhere, she first thought, "Would Archie like this?", and only then she cared about herself, dressing up, she cared "If Archie will be impressed?". She got used to not argue with her lover, then, imperceptibly, this behaviour became painful for her, and she was irritated by herself and by Archie, who did not suspect what the matter was.
'Do you love me?' She asked again and again and, receiving an affirmative answer, still did not believe. In the depths of her soul, she did not consider that she deserve to be with him, and this tormented her.
Eternal orphan habit - the desire to be liked - by adoptive parents, educators, anyone who has power over the orphan, taught her to demand approval constantly.
But deep down inside she wanted to be desired, loved just like that, have a difficult nature, do not concede and do not agree with everything, and do not be afraid to be rejected.
The longer their relationship lasted, the more Miss Brighton was afraid of losing her fiancé.
The marriage seemed a panacea for this quiet humiliation, she could become a wife and relax and no longer trying "to do everything that Archie was pleased".
But the broken engagement and the subsequent Archie's behaviour completely weakened her.
She did not go into hysteric, as any self-respecting girl would do. She did not even break up with him forever. She left him the chance to be with her again.
The last straw was her attempts to make him jealous on Neil's advice.
It was terrible, dressing up just to make him jealous! The girl felt as if she was just an object, unnecessary, bored, trying to earn attention by the fact that she would not belong to the owner any more.
It was sorely.
Annie felt that Archie was slipping away, leaving her, and she was clinging to him with frantically clenched fingers.
And now she let him go. By herself.
And it was an amazing feeling that nothing needed to be done. There is no need to think about whether Archie marries her or not, what dress he would like, where he would like to go, how to behave, and how to remake herself and make him, finally, fell in love with her!
Now, in the end, this task did not need to be solved any more. Yes, she failed, but the price of victory was too high. She was losing herself.
Miss Brighton approached the mirror.
Yes, she is an orphan, her parents abandoned her. But now she already has adoptive parents, for a long time! They gave her their name and love her.
She is young and beautiful.
She can be who she really is.
A whole life opened before her. Her own life full of adventures and roads.