S t o i c [h.s]

Two

I was caught in the middle of taking a sip of my coffee and my glance rose to her own. I straightened my back and asked "What do you mean I'm getting married?" She huffed and I glanced at my father who wasn't saying anything. "Eleanore, you had your fair share of fun with your life, you even got to finish a meaningless degree. But now, it is time to finally become a worthy member of our family. You need to understand that considering you are the only inheritor you need a male in your life. I will not let you waste your life away anymore Eleanore. I was hoping you would become a more mature and responsible woman, I was hoping you were actually choosing someone to your side, who would be worthy of our family status. You see Eleanore, you need a man that is not interested in inheritance and also someone who will bring prosperity to our family. As you haven't managed to find a suitable man, I found one for you." My eyes were wide and my hands sweaty, I understood what she was implying, but I couldn't process it properly. "A great friend of mine has a son who is going to be your husband, he is running the Roada Corporation in London, he is successful and a great influence for your unsophisticated life. You will be marrying this man in two weeks." I gaped at my father, who held an uninterested look, confirming my grandmother was drop dead serious. "Grandmother, I can't marry, I-I-I am too young and I don't even know this man" I stuttered away looking at her in disbelief. "Young?! I was 19 when I married our grandfather, your father also married his first wife when he was 20, don't you say you are too young. You should have been at least engaged at your age, but look at you, graduating University instead of taking care of your family! What a disrespect! You should be thinking of your poor father and mother and the inheritance you will get when we all die! Who will take after your father's company? You? Ridiculous! You young lady will marry this gentleman I have chosen for you and you will be grateful I even allowed you to waste your years in that meaningless university. Now that is my final word!" She raised her voice and I still couldn't believe my ears. "You agree with this mother?" I looked at her in hope she would understand how wrong this is. She only looked into my eyes with a sympathetic smile, silently saying that even if she didn't agree there is no way grandmother and father were stepping down from this plan. I sighed, looking at all three of them with teary eyes, suddenly feeling suffocation and needing to escape. I silently finished my coffee, thanked them for the lunch and said my goodbyes.

After driving down the street, where I was sure they wouldn't see me, I reached shakily for my cigarettes and lit one up. I inhaled the stinging smoke, exhaled, calming myself down. Surely there must be a way out of this mess. I just needed to think. After smoking my lungs away and figuring there really is no way out of this situation, knowing I would set fire if I even dared to speak up about my feelings towards this plan my grandmother was so convinced about, I drove to my apartment suddenly feeling exhausted. I didn't even manage to wipe my makeup off before I shamelessly fell asleep only in my undergarments.