RAVENNA PIERCE

It sucks . Getting married to someone you don't love. He loves her too, or not. But this arranged marriage she never gave consent of. ************************************** Sitting near her mirror sat Ravenna Pierce an orphan as she stared at the her elegant wedding invitation in her hand, the words "You are cordially invited to the marriage of Ravenna Pierce and Dimitri Santiago" mocking her like a cruel joke. The cream-colored card, adorned with intricate gold lettering, seemed to gleam with malice in the fading light of day. Her gaze drifted to the window, where the sky was a deep, foreboding grey. It was as if the heavens themselves were conspiring against her, trapping her in a fate she did not want. she was turning twenty, and she would be getting married in a weeks time. Ravenna's thoughts were a jumbled mix of despair and desperation. She had tried to reason with her uncle to plead with him to reconsider, but he had remained resolute. The marriage would go ahead as planned, and Ravenna would do as she was told. Ravenna's uncle, Lucas, had never made any secret of his disdain for her. He blamed her for the tragic events that had befallen their family. Her father's accidental death, followed by her mother's fatal childbirth complications which led to her death just after giving birth to Ravenna, which made Lucas feel a deep seated resentment towards her. In his eyes, she was a harbinger of bad luck, a constant reminder of the pain and suffering he had endured. His wife, Ravenna's aunt, Victoria, had always been quick to follow his lead, her expression a perpetual mask of disapproval and disdain. Ravenna's childhood had been a lonely, isolated existence, with no escape from the toxic atmosphere that permeated her home. Her every move was criticized, Her every mistake magnified. She had grown up feeling worthless, unloved, and unlovable. The sound of footsteps echoed outside her room, and Ravenna's heart sank. Her aunt, no doubt, coming to ensure she was well fed and less pale because she would be getting married in a few week She wouldn't want Dimitri and his family questioning them if she ever looked fatigue on the day of the wedding. As the door opened, Victoria's pinched face appeared, her eyes scanning the room with a critical gaze. "Ravenna, what are you doing? as she stepped into the room. Are you done with your food? "She asked." Ravenna stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the plate of food left untouched as Victoria began to lecture her. "You need to eat more, Ravenna. You're skin and bones. How will you impress Dimitri looking like that?" The words cut deep, but Ravenna was numb to them. She had heard it all before. Victoria's gaze lingered on Ravenna's face, her expression a mixture of disappointment and disdain. "I swear, Ravenna, sometimes I wonder if you're even trying. Your uncle has arranged this marriage for you, and the least you can do is make an effort to look presentable." Her voice dripped with malice, each word designed to cut Ravenna down. Ravenna's shoulders slumped under the weight of her aunt's words. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of expectation, with no lifeline in sight. She knew she would never be good enough, not for Victoria, not for her uncle, not for her cousins, and certainly not for Dimitri Santiago. Victoria's eyes narrowed, her gaze raking over Ravenna's frail form. "You're not even trying to take care of yourself, are you? You're just going through the motions, waiting for someone else to fix everything for you." The accusation stung, but Ravenna knew better than to defend herself. She had learned long ago that it was futile to argue with Victoria, that it was better to just nod and agree, no matter how much it hurt. So she stood there, silent and still, as Victoria continued to berate her. Victoria's words cut deep again, Ravenna's eyes began to well up with tears. The sting of her aunt's insultive words was too much to bear. "You're a useless, ungrateful child," Victoria spat. "You'll never amount to anything, and you'll be lucky if Dimitri even wants you after seeing the state you're in." "She cursed," As she left, slamming the door shut behind her, leaving Ravenna alone with her tears. She collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow as the dam broke. Tears streamed down her face, soaking into the fabric of her pillow. Ravenna's body shook with sobs, her heart heavy with the weight of her aunt's words. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of despair, with no lifeline in sight. The pain of Victoria's insult was nothing new, but it still hurt. Ravenna had grown up with her aunt's constant criticism, her every move scrutinized and found wanting. But today, with the wedding looming and her future hanging in the balance, Victoria's words felt like a particularly cruel blow. Ravenna's gaze fell upon the small, leather-bound book she hid beneath her pillow. It was her mother's journal, the only tangible connection she had to the woman who had given her life. She opened the journal, the pages yellowed with age, and she began to write. This was her sanctuary, her confidant, her peace. Whenever she felt sad, lost, or alone, she would pour her heart out onto these pages. Ravenna had written in this journal countless times before, sharing her deepest fears, her wildest dreams, and her emotional trauma. It was her safe space, where she could be herself without fear of judgment or rejection. The words flowed onto the pages, a release of emotions that had been bottled up inside her. She wrote about her aunt's cruel words, about the wedding, and also her uncle's children. There were three of them, all girls, and they had always made it clear that they didn't want anything to do with Her. The eldest, Sophia, was a carbon copy of Victoria, with the same pinched face and critical gaze. She had always been particularly cruel to Ravenna, taking great pleasure in making her feel small and insignificant. The middle child, Isabella, was a bit more subtle in her cruelty. She would often pretend to be friendly. But then there was Miranda, the youngest of the three. She was different from her sisters, with a kind heart and a gentle soul. Despite being part of the same family, Miranda had always treated Ravenna with kindness and compassion. Ravenna's thoughts turned to Miranda as she wrote in her journal. She was the one person in her family who had always made her feel seen and heard. The two of them would often sneak around the house, sharing secrets and laughter whenever they could. As Ravenna closed her journal, she felt sadness. She wished that Miranda was here with her now to offer her some comfort and support. Just at that moment, Ravenna heard a faint knock at the door. She hesitated for a moment, wondering who it could be. And then, a soft voice called out, "Ravenna, it's me, Miranda. Can I come in?" Ravenna's quickly wiped away her tears and opened the door, revealing her cousin's concerned face. "Ohh! Miranda! , I have missed you." Ravenna said. "Mother didn't wanna let me come see you," as she slipped into the room. "I couldn't help but think about you and the whole wedding saga , so i had to sneak out. I had to see you." Mother doesn't know I left my room. Miranda explained. Ravenna felt loved as she gazed at Miranda. Her cousin's kindness and concern were a balm to her battered soul. "Thank you, Miranda," Ravenna said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just being here with you makes me feel a little better." Miranda's eyes filled with compassion as she took in Ravenna's tear-stained face. "I'm so sorry, Ravenna," she said, opening her arms. "I know how hard this must be for you. Come here." Ravenna hesitated for a moment before stepping into Miranda's hug. Her cousin's warm arms enveloped her, holding her close as Ravenna let out a sob. "You'll be fine, We'll figure something out, Ravenna. Together." Miranda assured. "Ravenna, I should go," Miranda said, her voice low and urgent. "If mom finds out I'm not in my room, she'll be furious." Ravenna nodded, understanding etched on her face. "I know, Miranda. Go, before you get in trouble." Miranda nodded, giving Ravenna a quick hug. "I'll be back, Ravenna. I promise. And I'll try to come see you as soon as I can." Ravenna smiled weakly, her eyes welling up with tears. "Be careful, Miranda. And don't forget to litsen during classes at school tomorrow." Miranda rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I won't forget, Ravenna. I'll be back to my usual routine tomorrow. But I'll try to come see you as soon as I can, okay?" Ravenna nodded, "Thank you, Miranda. Miranda smiled, her eyes shining with compassion. "I'll always be here for you, Ravenna. No matter what." As Ravenna sat on her bed, She thought about all the things she had missed out on, all the experiences she had been denied. One of the things that hurt the most was the fact that she had never been allowed to go to school, but her cousin's all three of them were in college. Her uncle, Lucas, had deemed it unnecessary for her to receive education. "You'll be married off soon enough," he would say. "What need do you have for book learning? Ravenna's heart had ached every time she heard those words. She longed to learn, to discover new things, new fantasies , to explore the world beyond the confines of her room. But Lucas had been unmoving, and Victoria had supported him every step of the way. As a result, Ravenna had been forced to rely on stolen moments, sneaking glances at books and papers whenever she could. She had devoured every scrap of knowledge she could find, teaching herself to read and write in secret. But it wasn't the same as receiving a proper education. As the silence of the night surrounded her, Ravenna's eyelids began to droop. The emotional exhaustion of the day finally caught up with her, and she felt her body surrendering to sleep. She slipped under the covers, her head sinking into the pillow. The darkness of the room enveloped her, and she let out a deep sigh. As she drifted off to sleep.