Not your Romeo and Juliet

e i g h t

The wedding is tomorrow.

This is the last night I get to stay at my home. Once I get fake married to the Prince, I'll reside in the palace. After our deal is over and I officially become Juliet Montague, I'll live in Montague mansion.

But it's my last night in Capulet mansion.

Instead of sleeping, I creep into the fighting area. I learnt few self defence tricks and sword fighting here. The fun I had with Antonio is all embedded in this place.

Next I go to the sewing room. Matilda loved it and we had numerous forbidden conversations here. The walls of the room still bear our secrets.

Next, I go to the kitchen. It's empty. All the servants have gone to sleep in the servants' quarters. My mother and I baked cakes here. All the traditional recipes are still fresh in my mind. I touch all the drawers and utensils, giving them my last memory.

Then I go to the garden. The moon shines dimly making all the stars glow more brighter than usual. I look up and take in the scent of the garden. My father, uncle Cynthius, Rosaline and I planted most of the plants and trees here. Aunt Achilla, who is well versed in herbs, taught us numerous medical uses of these plants. Sometimes we would talk for hours in this very place I stand.

I turn around and find Rosaline by the fountain. When I go closer, I notice the tears escaping her eyes, hidden behind her red locks.

I hug her from behind.

"And I thought I was the weaker one amongst us." I say lightly.

"You are." She gives out a small laugh. It was more sad than happy.

I sit beside her. " You know Tybalt once told me that he would do anything for you. I doubted him. Now I know he was being honest." I smile at her.

"And how's that?" She sniffed.

"Because I found something in his room."

"What might that be?"

"A book you dearly wanted to read but it was forbidden in Verona."

"He bought that!! That had to be imported from South Asia. Due to the war amongst the rulers, any entities from the region were banned in Verona." Her eyes widen.

"I think he might have sneaked a book for you. You know he could have got killed if he was caught."

"But why didn't he give it to me?"

"Because he waited for your birthday." I answer.

My comment makes her sob harder.

"Rose- Rosaline. Come on, sister. You know better than that. He died a fair fight. He doesn't need mourning, he needs commemoration." I hug her sideways.

"He surely does. He killed someone close to the Montague. Both sides had casualties."

"Don't you sometimes think how we could be if both the families decided to have peace?" I let my thought out loud.

"I do. It would be peaceful. But not typically entertaining." She replies.

"So deaths are entertaining?" I ask her.

"Not deaths. No not that. The fights amongst the servants in the market. Those are hilarious to watch." She smiles for once during our conversation.

"Do you miss him?" I ask slowly, afraid she'll cry more.

"He is my brother -- was my brother. But he was annoying. Atleast now I don't have to fight to get the last bit of dessert." She gives me a sad smile.

"You don't have to. Isn't that a good part?"