The Glass Princess: True To Yourself

Chapter 18 Secret Garden

Chapter 18 Secret Garden

"And here is the class garden!!!! Its a super secret though" Dakota explains as she continues to tour me and Naomi around her classroom. "Oh cool, didn't we do this class project too?" Naomi asks while holding my hand as we approach the plants. Each plant was placed in a different spot, some near the sun, some in a dark corner. "Oh yeah we did, I quite liked our little plant" I reply happily. Miss Thorne held out one of the plants for me and Naomi to see up close. "This was the type of plant you both had for that particular project" Miss Thorne explained happily. Me and Naomi begin brushing our fingers across this little plant. "In the future, the plant will grow BIG" Dakota yells out while doing a big arm motion. "Its so exciting isn't it" Miss Thorne replies matching Dakota's energy perfectly. "How... do you remember the plant we had? There are like so many types in this classroom" I asked. "Well, the assignment changed over the years. It used to be, for every student to raise the same plant in different environments such as no watering, lots of watering, no sunlight, lots of sunlight etc" Miss Thorne began to explain. I felt a sense of comfort hearing her explain something, a sense of nostalgia came in and felt really nice. "But we found that... well if we give students this one type of plant... all the kids who were on team "avoid sunlight" had all their plants wither.... Which was saddening... so I changed the class project. Instead of show how an environment can change a single plant... we now use a variety of plants to show that no type of plant is the same. Just like people, different plants need different forms of care to grow healthily" Miss thorne explained while looking directly into my eyes. "Wow... I never thought of it like that... I was kinda upset when my plant withered.... So I like this project more" I reply gently. "I'm happy to hear that" Miss Thorne said as she placed the plant back on the window sill. I let my finger slide across one of the leaves.

When I first did this project in 2006... I was really excited to show my parents the plant. Dad however, wanted to do everything in his power to just drop me off at school and leave as fast as possible. Even though my 7 year old self ran up the stairs with so much excitement, his footsteps were how they always were. Footsteps that I learnt to become afraid of. Even if he didn't care, I was proud of that little plant. Me and Naomi watered it and I even made up a bed time story for the plant. It was a rip-off of a pengasus show episode but retold it with passion. I'm still scared of dad, I don't think I ever won't be scared of him. But I'm not letting him stop me live my life anymore. I felt Naomi's hand hold my hand a little tighter. "You okay Princess... you seem upset" Naomi asks with concern. I feel a slight tear roll down my face. I breath in and lean closer to Naomi. "I'll be okay.... I think I'm healing... but healing hurts right now...but I... think things are getting better" I explain as I wipe the tear and place the water on the plant's leaves. "Its nice to know we grow little by little, even if its a little scary" I explain as I walk back closer to Naomi. We both look back at Dakota who seems to of walked off to the toy box play area.

On one of the shelves a doll sat. It seemed old. But well loved. The doll had long orange hair, a cute pink dress and a tiara. I walk over to pick it up. "This dolls cute isn't it... I really like it" I explain softly as I move the arms of the doll to wave at Naomi. Naomi chuckles and puts her hand on my shoulder, smiling brightly. Dakota ran over to me holding another doll, this one had green hair and was kinda dressed like a mage. "I really like this one!" Dakota exclaims loud and proud. "Oooh that one is cute too" I reply happily. I crouch down to Dakota's eye level and smile. "Your class has some wonderful toys to play with" I explain happily. Dakota nods joyfully. "We have lots, but this one is my favourite one! She can do magic!!!" Dakota yells out while waving her arms in the air. "Ooooh that is cool, mages are very cool" I reply as I wave my arms around to match her energy. Naomi was still standing up fully but seemed to be enjoying the exchange. "Yeah! She used magic to make her hair green! I wanna learn magic so I can make my hair green!" Dakota yells out while playing with her hair a bit. "OH" I reply with a joyful but surprised facial expression. I lean over to Dakota. "Did you know there are people that can change peoples hair colour!" I whisper happily. Dakota visibly gasps and then suddenly gets very excited. She starts sprinting on the spot then jumps in the air. "I can get green hair yay!!!!" Dakota yells out happily. "Yeah! When you are a teenager I'll take you to get it done... I mean.. Transformed! If you'd like" I reply happily. "I'm so excited!!!" Dakota yells out happily. I start to stand up as Miss thorne comes back. I had a minor leg injury in high school so crouching down like that sometimes hurts. But it was very manageable.

"Oh you found your favourite doll, Emily" Miss thorne explains with a look of excitement. "Is this the... doll you were talking about..." I replied curiously. I tried to remember but I could only vaguely remember it. Its easy to remember the part where dad got angry however. Despite that, I will admit it feels familiar to hold. "Yes, you once ran up to me exclaiming something like miss thorne one day I'm gonna be a princess like this doll" miss thorne explained giggling to herself while giving an approving smile. "That does sound like Emily" Naomi replies smiling brightly as she side hugs me happily. I look down at the doll happily.

"Hey um... Emily, I know this doll has been worn out but I think maybe she'd be happier with you. Despite years of teaching, I never saw someone love that doll more than you, she even kinda looks like you now that I think about it" Miss thorne offers with a reassuring smile. "I...really...I can..." I do my best to reply, lost for words and tearing up slightly. "We have lots of dolls and well, the newer ones are more popular with the kids. You still have those plushies? I'm sure this doll would love to be with those" Miss thorne askes happily. "Oh um.. I kept every plushie..." I explained happily despite still tearing up. "I quite like the elephant plushie you brought into show and tell one time" Miss thorne replies happily. "I like trunky too" I explain happily, calming down surprisingly fast. "You can take the doll home, I believe she'll be in good hands." Miss thorne explains. "I'll take good care of her! Thank you so much, really!" I yell out happily. "I'd offer a toy for you Naomi but I know you never really gravitated to the toys as much... you always protected Emily though, you played with whatever Emily wanted to play with. You just seemed happy to be there" Miss Thorne explains getting a little embarrassed. "Its perfectly fine, I'm just happy to see Emily happy" Naomi replies while looking into my eyes. "In a way, you kids never changed huh, I'm proud of you two. I have to go talk to some more parents but before I go... thanks for being who you are, opened my eyes a lot as a teacher. Good luck in your studies. Even if things are hard, practice and believing in yourself is powerful" Miss Thorne explains as she grabs some folders and slowly leaves the classroom.