To Marry the Future

Fear Is A Choice

I stood confused as Father turned and introduced me to more men. The party seemed to be coming to an end so I excused myself early as I was taught to.

After everyone left Father wanted me to stay in for a whole week. I wasn’t allowed to leave my room, much less the house, even to walk Sunshine. Finally, Father let me out of the house. The air hit my skin and the sun laid on my hair bringing out the color better. The people looked at me now I was the center of attention. Everything was back to normal. Although I prayed something would happen even if it was selfish to ask for someone to save me. That seemed too much to ask and the maids would get hurt. 

I wanted someone to save me, just like the movies. So I made a decision to run away from my maids and get found by some cute guy that I’d marry and Father couldn’t do anything. Though this was only a thought my body seemed to forget. 

Before I knew it I was lost and confused. I didn’t know where I was even though I lived in Aurora my whole life for as long as I can remember. I had remembered Father say our house was in the middle of Aurora so I had attempted to go inward. I kept walking until I couldn’t anymore. I sat down on a bench I had found in the middle of a park. I thought to myself, “I should bring Sunshine here someday so she can really run free.” I looked up to see the people, I hadn’t even noticed that I was looking down. People stared at me for a moment and turned away. Some tried to approach me but walked away like they had the wrong person.

A group of young men walked past me talking to one another. I assumed they were in High School because of the way they walked and talked about their work. I looked back down somehow nervous, I didn’t know what to do with my hands, my head, my body, I didn’t know where to look. This was the first time I had to choose what to do.

I looked up and the group of boys had come back around and were now looking at me dead in the eye. I smiled politely. I didn't know why they had come back. One of the boys grinned with his lips and chuckled, he seemed to be the leader of the bunch. There were 5 boys in total each different in their own way but seemed the same from a distance.

The leader opened his mouth to say, “Well aren’t you pretty, why don’t we all go hang out? Hmmm?” From movies, I had learned that “hang out” was just going out with someone or a group of people to have fun. 

I agreed and held back my excitement. I had made friends. We walked for about five minutes before I felt someone pull my arm. I looked back and it was the man at the Ball, the one that angered Father and caused me to stay at home. I don’t know if I was mad as him or Father or that I remembered who I was and what my life was. 

“Sorry gentlemen but this is my wife we must be heading home now.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me away I couldn’t even collect my thoughts, what the f**k did he just call me??? He looked down at me and I dared not look up. We were alone, I could tell because it wasn’t as loud as before. I don’t even know where we were.