Amethyst

Chapter 1 - A Secret Revealed

I open my eyes to see above me my bedroom ceiling. I lay there, warm blankets calling my body and mind back to sleep. But I push it away and throw the covers off me. As I'm sitting on the edge of my bed, the coolness of my Amethyst Necklace makes contact with my chest, the intensity of its coolness causing me to shiver a little. I look down at it with a discomfort that has slowly grown over the years. I still remember the day my parents gave this to me; my fifteenth birthday.

When they gave it to me, I looked at it as though it were the most beautiful thing in the world, this gorgeous purple necklace that seemed to literally glow when I held it. But thinking back on it, I wish I hadn't.

The thing is, when my parents gave me this necklace, they told me that it was important for me to never take it off because it was a precious family heirloom passed down from mother to daughter. But now, my parents, especially my mother, have asked me the same question every day since: "Are you wearing the necklace?" and when she asks it, there's this look in her eyes she hopes I don't see. A silent confirmation of reassurance that I am, in fact, wearing it. I've wanted to take it off since then, but I think the mystery of not knowing the reason I need to wear it every day keeps it around my neck. But I am going to get the answers I want today.

I get off the bed and stand up, the light beige wooden flooring making contact with my feet. I walk past the sage green walls of my room and approach my dresser, grabbing out of it a white t-shirt, a plaid shirt to put over it, black leggings, my navy blue high tops and a red beanie. As I go towards my desk where my bag is, I see myself in the mirror and stop. I guess that there are some days where I wake up hoping to see some slight change in my appearance. Hoping that my long dirty brown hair will look warmer, my pale skin not so dead. Honestly, the only thing in my appearance that's slightly more alive are my forest green eyes. I inherited those from mum.

I sigh, wanting this day to go by as quickly as possible.

After I'm dressed, I grab my bag and put in it my binder, a book I'm currently reading, as well as some other items. Then, looking around the room to make sure I've not forgotten anything else, I descend the white wooden steps and make my way to the kitchen.

Mum and dad are already there; dad reading this morning's newspaper and mum making breakfast. From the smell, I can only conclude that she's making her famous chocolate chip pancakes. My mind desperately wants to surrender to normalcy, but I push it aside, telling myself that I am going to get answers about this necklace; one way or the other.

I sit at the table with dad, his black hair almost absorbing the morning sun while his light brown eyes seem to shine in the golden morning light that comes through the patio door, his peach skin pleasantly coloured. Mum still has her back turned to us, her dark brown curly hair swaying back and forth as she moves in a happy manner. I look at the center of the table and see a vase she made about a year ago; sapphire blue glass blanketed in thick golden morning light, a purple orchid in the center. A distant and vague idea forms at the back of my mind, but I push it away, hoping it won't come to that. Mum then turns around, green eyes kind and friendly, peach skin alive with life as always, says in her kind and quiet voice,

"Good morning, sweetheart. Did you have a good sleep?"

"Yeah, I guess. But I was hoping-"

"Oh, before I forget, Shelby. I was thinking that after I finish work and you get off school, there's this beautiful hiking trail we could take together. It has such amazing sights and you can see all kinds of wildlife. Foxes, Squirrels, Deer. Lots of woodland creatures. What do you say?"

"Sure; sounds nice, I guess. But I was hoping to-"

Mum cuts me off again, making me irritated.

"Great! I can't wait to go take it in with you. It's been a while since we've done any sort of outing together. I know you'll just love it-"

"Mum." I say, cutting her off before she has a chance to say anything else. The intensity with which I say it is enough for her to look me straight in my eyes, giving me time to ask her my question. 

"I want to ask you about the necklace. And before you say anything else, don't give me the same stupid story about it being a 'Precious family heirloom." You think I don't notice the look on your face whenever you ask me? That look of hopefulness that I am wearing it. And yes, for your information, I am wearing it. Just like every stupid day so far. I'm nineteen years old, dammit! I have a right to know the reason-the real reason I have to wear this stupid necklace every single day of my life. Please, if you have any trust in me, any at all. Either of you. Tell me why I need to wear it every single day. If there's a real, dangerous reason, then tell me. Tell me so I know how I can help. Please," I implore mum to tell me, beg her with my gaze. She just stands there, looking at me.

"Shelby... sweetheart. we...I" dad has his newspaper lowered, looking at mum. I can't see his gaze, but I do notice the subtle downward tilt of his head. As though he's silently telling her that I'm ready to finally hear whatever it is she wants to say but feels she can't. a slight, small ray of hope enters my system. It seems that at least dad is on my side.

And for a second, I really do believe she'll tell me. That she'll finally say what I've been wanting to hear for the past five years. But she clams up, shakes her head, says,

"Sweetheart; It's like your father and I have told you many, many times. It's a family heirloom that my mother gave to me for me to give to you. That's all. There's absolutely nothing dangerous about it. Okay?" mum gives me a simple smile, turns back to making the pancakes. I turn to dad, hoping that small ray of hope isn't going to wither away.

"Dad? why'd you nod at mum? I saw it. What is the secret behind this necklace?" I turn my still pleading gaze towards dad, hoping he'll tell me what mum obviously won't. But he just says from behind the paper, his face obscured by black and white text,

"Did I? I can't recall. Sorry, kiddo." I look at the table, wordlessly sitting there, my arms hanging dead at my sides. I honestly thought that because I'm an adult now, that I'm older, they would finally tell me about this damn necklace.

And slowly, the anger, the frustration, the hurt at not being trusted enough all immediately come together. I look up from the table, see the vase with the orchid in it and-

'Smash! ' the sound echoes in the quiet, still kitchen.

Shards of glass and orchid petals fall to the ground. Both my parents look at the source of the sound, then back at me. I yell, with tears streaming down my face.

"WHY CANT EITHER OF YOU TRUST ME?! I AM NINETEEN YEARS OLD! I AM OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW WHY I HAVE TO WEAR THIS RIDICULOUS NECKLACE EVERY DAY! BUT HERE, LET ME MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE!"

And before either of my parents can say something, I yank the cord holding the necklace from my skin, hold it in my hand angrily and say to mum specifically in a cold, emotionless voice,

"Now you won't have to ask me the same question every day." And I throw it right next to her as she watches it fall to the floor. I don't see her reaction or hear her as I storm out of the house, too angry to remember my bag.

I slam the front door, only make it to the last stone step before I sink onto it, crying.

I honestly don't understand why they can't trust me. I'm nineteen years old. Surely I can be trusted enough to know if it's something dangerous or not.

As I sit there crying, I hear a gentle, concerned voice ask above me,

"Shelby? what happened? Why are you crying?"

I wipe my tear-streaked face and look up into the eyes of my childhood friend, Ben. He has pale skin like me, though I'm paler than him. His neck-length light brown hair has a touch of a caramel colour in it and seems to shine a little in the morning light. His pale blue eyes, like always, manage to draw me in and become interested in him. But today, I feel none of that. He's the only person I can trust to tell me anything. I've known him ever since I can remember. But the odd thing is that I've never met his parents. Never been to his house. I know nothing personal about him. And whenever I make it a point to ask, something else fills my mind and I never remember to. But right now, I honestly don't care. I greet him with a voice that drips sarcasm,

"Oh, hey. Not sure if you heard my yelling or not, but guess what? first time I'm not wearing that necklace. I think I just needed to take it off for a day, ya know?" Ben, now only just realizing it's not around my neck, says in a suspiciously concerned voice,

"Wait, you're not wearing it? Why??"

"Because I obviously can't be trusted enough to know the real reason I need to wear it! I'm old enough now; yet my own parents can't trust me enough to even tell me why I need to wear it."

"Yeah, that's understandable. But I'm sure there's a good reason-" I cut Ben off immediately, saying,

"Goddammit! not you too! I can't believe this. Walk to school yourself today, Ben."

And I just leave him there, standing on the sidewalk. I can't believe that even he is on my parents' side. I storm away from him, hurt consuming every part of me as I walk alone to school.