The Devil's Backbone

Chapter 3: To Whom it May Concern

        Violet shut the door to her bedroom and sighed. She unpinned her hair, letting it fall in wavy tresses down her back. She looked in the mirror of her vanity and frowned. Maybe if she was prettier...

        "Don't be absurd... You're a lovely woman." She told herself. Yes, she was being ridiculous. She was an amazing woman but for some reason, John didn't see that. She doubted that she'd ever know why. One day, she knew, that someone would marry her. Someone would come and sweep her off her feet and she would get over John. This man would be everything she ever wanted and more.

        Her green eyes were glassy with tears as she brushed out her hair. But Violet wouldn't let herself cry. No she couldn't let herself cry. She looked over her dress and sighed. She'd managed to get this one muddy and covered in grass stains. Her aunt would let her have it for doing that again.

        "Why can't you be the perfect Southern woman everyone wants you to be?" She asked herself while she slowly undressed, discarding the ruined dress on the floor, leaving herself in her chemise.

        "Perhaps that's not who you were meant to be," came a voice from behind her.

        Violet jumped and hid herself from the intruder. She wasn't decent to be receiving a visitor. Even with her nerve, this was a bit embarrassing. It was only Mattie. Violet relaxed some and nodded slightly.

        "Mattie... do you ever think about leaving this place...?" She asked slowly. Violet looked through her wardrobe and pulled on a lighter gown for dinner. Of course she'd much rather just wear pants but her aunt would never allow her to dine in something that lewd.

        "All the time..." She answered, fiddling with the rosary in her hands.

        "It was the shame that changed your feelings for him..." Violet alleged. Mattie nodded, staring at the ground.

        "The Lord will damn me and he will surely damn you..." She whispered before starting toward her and throwing her arms around Violet's neck, hugging her tightly.

        "Please! Please stop this... I couldn't bear to know your soul would be in Hell for eternity..." She cried into Violet's neck. Needless to say, Violet was a little shocked. She hesitantly pet her cousin.

        "Mattie..." She sighed. She couldn't tell her that she didn't really care if she went to Hell or not.

        "Promise me you will try! Join... join the convent with me and we will repent and we shall be saved!" She cried fervently.

        "Mattie... I can't do that... If I don't belong here... I certainly wouldn't belong at a convent." She continued to run her fingers through her cousin's hair until she pulled away.

        "You're my friend, Violet... I want to see you in heaven. Don't you want to go to heaven?"

        "Of course I do... Mattie... but this is the path you've chosen to walk. I must choose mine." Violet whispered softly, wiping the tears from her cousin's cheek with a comforting smile.  

Alright here's chapter 3. Didn't end as well as I hoped...