I can't say I do without you

Do you wish to fly

"Have a nice meal." Mr. Binney, our English teacher, stated. I grabbed all of my books and placed them in the bag. Hang my backpack over my shoulder and turn heads out. "Come back here, Miss Gemma." a deep voice said from behind me.

I took a step back. "Yes, Mr. Sullivan?"

"Could you please do me a favor?"

"What is it, Mr. Sullivan?"

"Could you please return the books that I borrowed to the library? Don't worry; they're few."

I turned my gaze to the prince, who was walking away from me. "But..."

"Just go over him after you've returned the books." I walked back into the room. Mr. Sullivan took the books underneath the desk one after the other. "One, two, three, four, fifth, and sixth..."

Just glancing at the books he places on the table makes me dizzy. Is this what he says a little? "Mr. Binney, you stated a few books... There are far too many of these books. I can't carry them all by myself."

"If Emmet can do it, so can you."

"But, we have different strengths. Emmet is a man. He carries more books just by using one hand."

"Quit whining and just do what I ask you to do." Mr. Sullivan said with a furrowed eyebrow,

I didn't have a choice. I put the books on my arm piece by piece. Mr. Sullivan didn't even provide me a box, so I wouldn't have to lug it around.

"Thank you very much, Miss Gemma." He tries to put on a smiling face.

I walked carefully out of the room so that the books I was holding wouldn't fall. Because of the books that were blocking my eyes, I could barely see where I was walking. Why did I believe what Mr. Sullivan said a little? I stopped for a moment, stretched my neck out, and peeked down to see the stairs. As I stood in front of the stairs, a sigh came out of me. With every step-down, I couldn't help but shiver. Just one wrong step: all the books I hold will fall as well as me. I heard someone climb the stairs, and I stepped aside. Once I heard it was gone, I went on.

However, someone tapped me on my arm and mouthed a query at me. "Do you wish to fly?" The man sounded different; his tone was pretty cold. I went silent, felt nervous that this person would do something terrible to me. Until that person pushed me behind; along with the books, I wheeled down the stairs. And in my last fall, I felt something break in my body.

"Argh," utters a loud, deep sound of pain.

My vision went blurry. The guy's voice kept in my ears. I could hear the dragging of feet close by. I tried clenching my fist to see if I could move my fingers, but it didn't take long for my relief to turn into anger. The memories of me getting pushed and falling down the stairs, and that voice. I wiped my nose with my sleeve, started looking around. Although my consciousness was weak and the world was spinning in front of me, I could still see who the person in front of me was and possibly the person who pushed me. Prince Augustus?!

"C-Cynfael?" a shaking voice called from behind me. "What have you d-done? Why did you shove Gemma?!"

That voice... I turned around. "R-Raeanna?" I managed to get myself up by grabbing onto the handrail, but I collapsed on the floor again due to the pain. This time, Raeanna grabs my shoulder. "No, I can get up."

"Gemma..." Raeanna looked at me with a sympathetic expression.

My heart started beating fast as I became more and more anxious. Prince Augustus looks at me as if nothing happens. I badly want to hurt him, throw these books at him, but I can't... My whole body was sore. Even my limbs were powerless.

Raeanna helped me pick up the books one by one because I couldn't bend. "Let me help you in carrying these books."

"There's no need." I gently walked away, turning my back on them. The throbbing pain in my ankle made it hard even to walk. I must have sprained my ankle when I fell down the stairs. Is there anything more that could go wrong at this point?

"Why... c-couldn't you be a bit nicer to her?" As I moved away from them, I could hear Raeanna and the prince yelling at each other, and it didn't seem to end.

"I didn't shove that NEGIE! Why should I put my hand in the mud? If I wanted to push her, I would have done it in the first place. She was unworthy of being pushed by a prince."

"Stop talking about you being a prince. The real Prince does not act this way."

I went farther and further away till I couldn't hear their argument anymore. A tear was forming; I wouldn't let it fall. However, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I went to the corner and dropped the books. Deep emotions stir with no other outlet but through my long-lasting sobs.

"Mama... mama!" I hid my face behind my hands, which were trembling. "I can't do it any longer. I miss you so badly that my heart is about to burst." It's as though I'll die if I'm not with them. Mama was right. This was a bad idea. I convinced myself that I could do it, but the fact was that I couldn't. I am powerless to help Papa... I can't get him out of jail. I'm just fooling myself.