Cherry Tree

Prologue

I lean my head back and take another sip of my Bacardi rum, whilst watching my friends argue about who should get to ask the pretty blonde sitting a few tables away, to go home with them.

I smirked and watched two drunk men start fist fighting over something stupid and the bartender trying to break them up while men and women gathered around them yelling things like "FIGHT!" or "Rip his hair off!"

As I kept sipping my rum, watching the nonsense fight, the door to the bar slammed open. A man in red and gold robes with barely any hair rushed in with a sweat-soaked brow. 

The fighting came to a halt as the people stared in confusion and amazement at the royal messenger. I stood up from the stool and glared at the man who had just barged into the drama of the bar fight and he came running over to me.

"Your Majesty!" The man said while bowing with fear and urgency. "What do you need this time? Have you come to bother me about royal duties?" I demanded, furious that he had rushed in on my free time like he usually does. "No, Sir! Your mother is deathly sick! I was sent to deliver that you must head back before..." He trailed off looking into what was seemingly an abyss.

"Before what?" I demanded, not wanting to know what the answer was. I rushed off, grabbing my coat and ignoring the stares and the females looking at me batting their eyelashes in adoration. I ran out the door driven by fear and horrible thoughts of how he could have finished that sentence.

I jumped into the chariot awaiting outside, and the horseman broke into a steady trot. "Can you go any faster?!" I yelled impatiently at the driver. "Um, sorry Sir! But this horse is old and slow!" The driver replied.

Not wanting to wait any longer, I opened the side door and jumped out. "Sir, wait!" I heard the messenger scream in my direction. I ignored him and continued running. I ran past the merchants and townsfolk, I ran past the bleating goats tied to poles waiting for their traders to sell them off, and I ran past the screaming housewives going after their children who weren't listening. And finally, I reached the castle door.

I barged in and the cleaners and assistants bowed to me. I paid no mind to them and ran up to my mother's room. I heard sobbing from the inside, whom I assumed was my father. I silently crept in through the door and went to my mother's side. Her eyes were closed and the smell of sickness washed over me, making me want to throw up. I reached out to gently grab her hand but it was cold and limp.

My father looked up from where he was crying, his eyes red and puffy. And next, he said the words that messed me up forever.

"She's gone"