𝕄𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕀𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕪

Prologue

        The sun reflected off the waters before Ivory, sending a silent reminder of her current loneliness.  

        The spot beside her was empty.  Lacking that warmth from a friend or a family member. 

        Ivory hadn't had a friend since second grade.  

        No one had wanted to be her friend since then, and Ivory had never pushed it.

        Why try hard for a friend, when they would just change their path and move away?--

        Leave your heart shattered on the cold floor with no one to pick up the pieces and put them back together? 

        These thoughts were alone in young twelve year old Ivory's head.  She didn't know if she could think anything other than this deep loneliness-- 

        The things that were buried deep.  Hidden away from people who tried to let themselves in.

        Her thoughts and feelings were solely private. 

        Only she could have them, feel them, and see them.

        That was the only way she wouldn't be broken again.

        Her mother who had died, and her father who had left her.

        Her aunt and uncle who had pushed her away.

        All the bullies who had spoken of her behind her back in ways she could only describe as crushing, hurtful, cruel.

        A small sniffle came from the small girl.  Her light brown hair fell in front of her pale face and covered her ivory eyes from view.

        'Your father wanted Emily,' her mother had said. 'But I was thinking of a more unusual name. Something that could describe you in one word.'

        Ivory blinked back tears as she thought of her mother's beautiful smile.  It was the only thing that kept her from completely breaking down. 

        Her wonderful smile.  

        It was something she wanted to see again.

        Even if it was only for a minute.

        'How did you come up with Ivory?' she asked her with childish curiosity.

        'It was quite easy, actually," her mother replied, tapping her daughter gently on the nose. 'Your eyes were the unusually beautiful shade of ivory itself." She pulled the girl into her lap and continued, "But we also knew you would grow up to be tough like the things made of Ivory. Such as an elephant's tusks.'

        She didn't feel strong now. 

        Uncontrollable sobs consumed her body and left her weak and helpless on the banks of the lake.

        There was no one there to pick her up and comfort her.  

        Even the people around her simply walked by her and continued on with their lives.

        Parents were probably rushing home to their kids.

        Friends looking for their friends.

        Husbands meeting their wives for a date.

        They didn't realized how incredibly lucky they were that they had someone who loved them.  Who cared about them like a person should be cared for.

        Ivory wanted to get up and take back control of myself.

        But she couldn't.

        All her body was drained of energy and she was left hopeless.

        Utterly hopeless--

        And alone.