Star Elizabeth Valerion
A sunny day in Brimsville, the kind that made people forget the hardships of the previous day and hope for a better day.
Star Robert stretches lazily in bed, her only escape to the harsh reality of life. She looks around checking if anyone was awake before standing up to get ready for school. Her 18th birthday is getting closer but for her it is going to be her day of freedom.
Star stared at a faded photograph hanging above her bed. It was a habit of hers which she developed over the years. A huge question mark about her origin tormented her daily. She had no memory of her parents or any relations and according to her orphanage mother, she was left at the gate of the orphanage with a huge sum of money and a note that said ‘please take care of her'. She loved being in the orphanage because that was the only family she knew and loved but she would have to leave once she turned eighteen.
The mirror reflected striking blue eyes against caramel skin, features that always drew unwanted attention wherever she went. Even strangers sometimes stopped to stare. Once, a tourist had asked whether she belonged to a noble family visiting Brimsville.
The sound of younger children running down the hall pulled Star back from her thoughts. The sweet smell of rice porridge drifted through the air. This was her favourite way to start the day.
“You’re daydreaming again Princess” Andrea said while attempting to put her hair in a bun. Star rolls her eyes, “For the last time, stop calling me princess Andrea”. Andrea grinned, mischief sparkled in her eyes.
"Princess."
"Don't call me that."
"Why not? It suits you."
"Andrea!"
Andrea laughed.
Other girls trooped in unfazed by the arguments as it was a daily occurrence. They each got ready and rushed to the dining hall to eat. The hall was lively and noisy as younger children played and the older ones talked aloud. Star and Andrea were arguing over seats when the orphanage mother suddenly appeared. “Star, see me in my office after breakfast”. Those words made Star unsettled.
“What could she want?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Is she sending me away?”
Different thoughts filled Star’s head as she walked to the office. She arrives at the office and knocks.
“Come in my dear”, the orphanage mother replies. She walks in slowly, looking at the woman who had taken her as a daughter. She would be eternally grateful to her.
“Sit down Star,” she said.
“Ma'am Agatha, is everything alright?” She asks, fear evident in her voice.
Agatha becomes unusually quiet, the jovial woman now sits silently across Star with an unreadable expression.
This makes Star move uncomfortably in her chair. Agatha who was completely aware of Shine’s fear lets out a deep sigh.
“Star my dear, I know you've had questions about your real family and why someone left you outside the orphanage”
Those words made Star emotional. She thought she had come to terms with it but hearing it again made her heartbroken.
Agatha continues, “all these years, you constantly felt unwanted and that affected your self esteem but today, I'm going to reveal the truth about your family.”
Star couldn't believe what she was hearing. “Ma'am Agatha knows about my family?”
“Why didn't she tell me anything?”
“What is this about?”.
Agatha opened a drawer and pulled out a yellowed envelope.
Star's breath caught in her throat.
The envelope had only three words written on it:
For Star's Eighteenth Birthday.
Star’s breath caught in her throat. Her whole body shakes as she collects the letter from Ma'am Agatha. She opens the letter slowly and reads the content with teary eyes;
To star,
If you're seeing this letter, it means that it's exactly 2 weeks to your eighteenth birthday. I wish I was there to watch you grow into the beautiful woman you are now but fate had other plans. I'm sure you've had lots of questions surrounding your birthday and origin. You were never abandoned, Star. Every choice I made was to keep you alive. This letter will answer all your questions my dear. Your birth name is Star Elizabeth Valerion, daughter of King Henry Collins Valerion VII……
“Princess?”
Andrea knocked and entered just in time to see Star crying. She rushed forward to comfort her.
“Princess, what's going on?” She asks. A sad smile appeared on Star’s face when she heard the word ‘princess’. Of all the things in this world, she had to be a princess.
Star couldn't bring herself to open the old wooden box just yet. She was still processing the contents of the letter. Andrea escorted her to their room without bothering her. She stayed in bed all day.
Her eyes drifted to the old wooden box sitting beside the letter. The box was old and worn, its dark wood scratched by time. A silver crest was carved into the lid. Star had never seen the symbol before, yet something about it felt strangely familiar. Whatever answers remained were inside. But she wasn't ready to face them.
Not yet.
