Ropes

Chapter Five - What Hurts Me the Most

"Won't you look at her ugly face Stella. How did she even pass the academy interview?"

"Why does she even bother wearing a corset like that it doesn't even work on her."

"She doesn't belong here."

All this whispers. I desperately clung to Cynder and I's friendship that I was almost begging her to take me back. I had no one by my side and when I did try to make friends, I was only the last option that when they don't need me anymore or I was of no use to them anymore they'd leave me hanging. I walk along the hallways lost and confused and I struggle to know what is wrong with me that people never seem to want me.

Mother and Father's absence has taken its toll on me. I was alone in a big house and the staff like always has left me to myself. Even Sarai kept a certain distance since Aunt Esmeralda pointed out her friendliness towards me.

I refused the carriage to ride back home and told Winston that I wish to walk.

I was heading towards our neighborhood. I happen to encounter Cynder and Gizelle in all their doll-like glory as they loiter about. They immediately stopped and looked at me. Gizelle whispered something in Cynder's ear that made the group of girls laughing. I shuffled in my feet and walked as fast as I could and broke into a run.

After a while I had to catch my breath and I found myself leaning on a bridge. The rush of fast water creates a loud sound as the strong current forces itself past the huge rocks along the river.

"Young miss?" I voice startled me that I almost lost balance and fell into the river. If not for the pole catching my shoulders the water would've turned red.

"Be-Benjamin?" Benjamin is the son of our staff Letizia who never spoke to me and mostly kept to himself. He was a tall, slightly lanky, curly haired boy.

"Your- Your shoes are torn out... if you like I'd hand you my bike so you can ride it to the manor." He said in a shy tone and his head down.

He pointed at my feet and there it was my shoes a thread from separating from its sole.

"Oh. I didn't notice. I'll be fine. I- I don't know how to ride a bike. You could go ahead."

"Oh, if only I could give you a lift but that might endanger you more. Please just wear my shoes for a while. It's getting dark so I insist to walk you home."

He handed me his shoes and he stared at my eyes for the first time clearly pointing it out that he'd take no for an answer. I complied. We started walking. I with his shoes and him on barefoot wheeling his bike along. It was quiet as I expected apart from the few crickets along the road.

"You weren't going to jump, are you?" His voice somehow deeper as if he was contemplating to ask this for quite a few miles.

"No."

I knew, I was saved by this boy.