Pierced In The Heart

Chapter 3 My Heart's Desire

“Excuse me, coming through. Ugh, I can't see anything. Why must you be in the front of the crowd. Your hair couldn't possibly get much taller. Excuse me people!” Starligh and Charlie have been fighting the crowd to get a good sight of the prince at the parade. “Charlie! Starligh! Over here.” Starligh's best friend Ginger calls them over to where she is. “I literally had to go use the small room(pee) all day but I refused to leave this spot.  There are more people than ever here. What do you think the prince looks like? “Women, who cares. It's how he takes care of the people that really matters”, Charlie proclaims. “Ugh politics, don’t care I just need to see that beautiful face of his. Now lift me up on your shoulders so I can get a better view.” Charlie lifts Ginger over his shoulders. Starligh began to cross her legs. “I need to go use the small room. Also, you two look like a giraffe, finding you won't be that difficult. Starligh travels back through the crowd. After a long battle she is finally from amongst the people. Everyone seems to be at the parade for the shops all contain closed signs. She wonders the streets looking for an open shop. Suddenly she sees light coming from a bakery shop. Starligh knocks on the door. There is no answer. She twists the handle. Giving off a creaking sound, the  door pushes open. “Hello is anyone here?” The shop is full of baked goods. A variety of decorated muffins are put on displays. Packed bread  are stacked on shelves. The bread gives the shop a delightful smell. “Hello, is anyone here?” Suddenly a shadowy figure approaches from behind her. She quickly turns around. Caught off guard, she tumbles to the floor. “What a klutz.”, a voice says to her. “I am no klutz but you have startled me.” A young man appears in front of her.

  His cat like eyes glaring down on her. His black hair is tied into a bun. His figure small but shoulders broad. “I startled you? If I'm not mistaken, there is a sign on the front door that says closed.” “But the lights were on and the door unlocked.”, Starligh replied. “So that gave you every right to enter?” Taken back, she lowered her head in apology. “I'm sorry I've entered without permission. I have no right to intrude. It is completely my fault. The young man finds her amusing. "It is good you realize your wrongdoing." He reaches his hand out to her. She grabs it and he pulls her towards him. With his other  hand on her waist he stops her midway. Staring deep into her eyes, he leans forward. “How beautiful. What is your name?” “Starligh.”, she responds. He moves his hand towards  her face and tilts her chin up. “You shouldn't be wondering alone.” “S-s-sorry.” Her voice becomes shaky. She could smell a sweet flowery scent coming from him. It draws her in. Her breathing slowly becomes heavy creating a lump in her throat. “I wish not to w-waste your time. But if you would allow me to l-l-leave I'll certainly be on my way kind sir.” He leans forward. “Why the rush? You must have a good reason to have entered this closed business.” Her heart began to beat fast. “I suddenly can not remember and if that is so then it mustn't been of importance. I must go now.” Slightly tugging at his sleeve, she tries to remove his hand from her waist. Her body instantly becomes weak. Like it's about to cave in any second now. P-please sir I must be on my way. My brother is waiting for me. The parade……” Then he suddenly pulls back. “I must go as well.”, he replies. He then takes off a beautiful decorated sash and ties it around her wrist. “Keep this with you. You must never lose it.” The young man runs off. Starligh is in shock from the bizarre encounter. She can hear her heart beating at a rapid pace. “Who was that?” She looks at the purple satin sash around her wrist. A gold-work of thread ran on the outline of the sash. A lavender rose is embroidered on it with the initials P.H. stitched on its ends. “The parade!” She quickly makes her way to the parade. The  crowd has gotten larger. Pushing her way to the front, she yells out Ginger’s name. On her tippy toes she looks up and sees her still on Charlie’s shoulders. “Ginger!”, she yells out. Ginger sees Starligh being smushed by the crowd. “Charlie I see Starligh. Put me down.” She goes and takes her back to where Charlie is. “What took you so long? Thankfully the prince hasn't arrived yet.” The festival has a huge turnout. The whole kingdom is there. Nothing but cheerful noises feel the atmosphere. After the marchers, horsemen, and masked dancers have passed , women carrying baskets throw flower petals to the ground. Trailing behind is a golden carriage covered with flowers containing the queen and king. “Wow talk about an entrance.” After the carriage and more masked dancers have passed, next is the prince’s carriage. It is also pure gold draped with purple see-through curtains. All that could be seen was the prince's silhouette. “Charlie pick me up.” He lifts Ginger onto his shoulders. The prince pull the curtains back and began waving to the crowd. He is faced the opposite direction from them. “Oh no. He is not looking this way. Prince Hwang! Prince Hwang!” The crowds’ cheering drowns out her voice. “I've been standing here for hours and this is what I get.” Starligh then grabs Ginger’s arm. She takes after the carriage and began waving it down. Loudly, Starligh yells out his name. “Prince Hwang!” The distance between them and the carriage increases. She takes a deep breath and belts out his name once more. “Prince Hwang!!” The prince then turns around and began to open the curtains from behind him. A swift wind then blows Starligh’s sash from around her wrist. She quickly goes after it. “My sash!” After a long chase, a hand from the crowd reaches out and grabs it. He has long brown hair, dark brown eyes, and his lips are a pale pink. He hands her the sash. “I think you lost this.” Starligh ties her hair up with it. “Thank you so much. Well I should get going. Goodbye.” Starligh goes back to find Ginger. She finds her and waves her down. “You really got a thing for wondering off. And you missed the prince. He was so dreamy.” “I thought you said no one was better looking than my brother.”, Starligh replied. “Don't worry my loyalty for Charlie runs deep.” “Well why don't I go see what he thinks.”, Starligh teases. “We should get back to him anyways.” As soon as they see him Ginger jumps on his back. “You must've been so worried and lonely without me…I mean us.” “Not really, it was like a breath of fresh air.” Ginger smacks him on the back. “Bad horsey.” She looks back at Starligh and sees the purple sash tied around her hair. “Hey where did you get that?” “Oh one of the shop keepers gave it to me for no cost.” She responded. “It looks expensive. Can I borrow it sometimes?” “Sure as soon as you give me back my necklace that mom bought for me as a coming of age gift.” Ginger begans whining. “You know I lost it in the woods.” “Well there is your answer.” “What a great friend you are.” She says sarcastically. “I'm  starving. Shall we go eat now?” “We shall.” Ginger smacks Charlie's back. “Getty up horsey.” After eating they enjoy the rest of the festival then part ways home. Starligh and Charlie arrive home. Opening the door, they see their mom and dad fast asleep in the living room. Charlie goes and get a blanket and cover them both up. He then goes to the kitchen to get a cup of water. He notices a stack of letters on the kitchen table. Written on them is the word “proposal” with different signatures. Starligh walks in. “Starligh you can't keep putting this off. You are a woman now. You know the rule of the kingdom. You must be married off at your age. Mom is worried for you.” “But I don't want to be just a housewife. I want to travel and see the world. Discover places no one has. I can't do that if I'm married off. And what about you? You men can choose whether you want to be married or not and go wherever you want to go. It isn't fair." Winter and Charles enter the room. “How was the festival you two. Did you have fun?” Starligh and Charlie both nod their heads. “I'm glad you did. On the other hand, we do need to talk about both your futures. Starligh as much as I want you to be happy and follow your dreams , you must face the reality that sometimes we have to make sacrifices. The kingdom laws want  change because you want them too.” “But mom.” “No buts. I'm sorry Starligh but me and your father have put this off way longer than we should have.” Tears began to flow from Starligh’s eyes. “I hate you!” She quickly runs to her room and slams the door. Charles hugs Winter. “You know she loves you very much. Give her time. Soon enough she'll come around. Have you decided what you want to do Charlie.” “I want to help grow the farm. Business is going well but I think I can grow it much bigger.” Charlie exclaims. “Well its set.” After a while everyone is sound asleep accept for Starligh. Laid on her bed are four letters wrote to her family. With a large bag of clothes and money she has saved during the years, she sneaks out through her bedroom window. Taking one of the horses and carriages, she heads for the kingdom ship dock. Upon her arrival there are several people boarding the ship. A hand taps on her shoulders from behind. “Excuse me mam, but may I see your ticket to board the ship.” “ I’m so sorry but I was not able to get my ticket in advance. If I can, I could pay you and…….” The man looks and sees the sash tied around Starligh’s hair. “Oh I’m sorry. I didn't know. You may board this ship mam. Please let us know if you need anything.” She boards the ship in disbelief. “Well that was too easy. And my sash, why did he agree upon seeing it.” Along with the material things she packed from home, Starligh carries her hopes and dreams in her hand. But is she truly going in the right direction or is her heart steering her down another path?