Escaping Her Curse—Completed

Running through the dark streets, Everlyn followed the twists and turns that took her to a worn, old door. This had been her safe haven, her comforting spot, where she had been unashamedly herself. Now, it stood empty and run-down. Nothing remained of its former glory. There were no signs of its grandiose standing or how the high-ranking nobles used to flock here for the status. To be seen in this establishment had meant power and wealth. Though, she hadn’t known it then, for she had been a mere child. Things were different now. Everything had changed with one simple sentence. What she had meant for fun and games had become a terrifying reality. And she would do anything to avoid that fate. His fate. So, she chose the only path she knew. Everlyn ran, and she would not look back. She came here for one simple purpose, for one simple outcome. She needed to die, and he needed to move on from her. Everlyn clutched the picture to her chest, tears pouring from her eyes. It had been an easy decision to make up until this point. This is where she had to finally commit to her new role. Everlyn had to forget everything she had learned and practiced, and do something no noble lady would ever dream of. She was giving up everything for him, and she prayed he would accept it. Reaching for the door handle, it swung open easily. It was as if the old building knew why she had come and was welcoming her home. All new and shiny things become old and dull. Just as this place had once been the gem of the empire; so now, Everlyn too, needed to fade into nothingness. She walked in and closed the door quietly behind her. Her skirts swishing ever so gently. Everything was already prepared and ready for her. Everything was waiting for her hands to follow through with the plan. Everlyn crouched down and started a fire, stoking the flames. Once the fire was strong and blazing, she took one last glance at the boy’s face in the picture. His smiling, perfect face. His hair was sun-kissed and golden, and his eyes were the most brilliant sea blue. They would get stormy when he was upset, but they always shown clearly when he gazed at her. His dazzling smile made Everlyn’s heart skip a beat every time he flashed it at her. He was her love. Her one and only love. And now, Everlyn was saying good-bye. If all of her planning was accurate, she’d never see him again, and they would live completely separate lives. Tears dripped down her cheeks and fell onto the picture, muddling it. This perfect image of the boy she loved was being ruined by her. Oh, how cruel fate could be. But it was foreshadowing his fate if she stayed near. With her resolve soaring from her epiphany, Everlyn cast the photo into the flames and watched it lick up every inch of the picture. She then grabbed the scissors on the table and chopped her long, brown curls, which were well past her waist, all the way above her shoulders. The locks fell to the floor in chunks. Picking up the bleach, Everlyn walked calmly over to the dirty sink and doused her hair in it. It took longer than she had expected, but her hair was now a splotching white-blonde. She then dyed it an orange-red color. She hoped that in time, her hair would turn auburn, but if she still looked somewhat like her old self, then she could always keep dying it. With a nervous sigh, Everlyn looked into the cracked mirror above the sink. It had been hours now, and she was sure the palace would have noticed her absence. Although it was nighttime, there were nightly checks to ensure that all was well. Her maid was sure to discover her ruse sooner or later. Pillows could only do so much. This was the part of the plan that she was dreading the most. Everlyn had never really considered people’s looks, other than his, of course. But the nobles and maids and others were always telling her how pretty she was. And if that were the case, then she needed to be un-pretty, and the only way she knew how to do that was to mar herself. She picked up the scissors once more, hesitated for a few moments before dragging the blade down the left side of her face. She screamed out in pain, but tried to bite her lip to not only shut herself up, but also distract from the searing sensation. Once the wound was properly bleeding and dripping everywhere, she smeared it all over her gown, the table and sink, and everywhere she could think of. Everlyn knew this had to be convincing. As soon as she began to feel woozy, she pulled out a small marble and held it over her face. It hummed with energy and then sealed her cut closed. Steadying herself, she took a moment to rest and drink a small glass of water from a broken cup. She then changed out of her beautiful blue gown and into a simple maid’s attire. This was the last part of her plan, and once she walked out of this building, her entire life would begin anew. Shredding her dress, she threw half of it into the fire, and the other half, she strewn around the room. Taking one last deep breath, Everlyn closed her eyes and gave a last farewell to the boy she loved. She wished the best, and then she walked out into the darkness, where the sun was just beginning to rise. She was no longer Lady Everlyn Grace Monroe. Now, she was nobody. Now, she was just a simple maid named Jessie.