A Whisper

Chapter 13

On the way out, mom gave me medicine to help control both my nerves and attacks. The boys picked us up on time. Mason drove, and I sat in the passenger seat. Sabrina sat by Ed in the back. They wouldn't tell me exactly where we were going. On our way to some unknown location, I started to hum along with the music. The melodies swayed as the car curved around the long road. It looked cloudy through the glass. I hope it rains. Hoping such things, I realize we hope on things that are out of our control. If such things were in our control, hope would be unheard of. With these things, we hope for a greater good that against the odds, could overcome. Hope is a beautiful word and a reason why not all things are in our control. I see a building, covered with lovely decorations. The lights twinkle as the moon shines. Classical music fills the air. We must be going to a dance judging on the people filling in the large double doors. The valet allows us to drive up right in front of the entrance. I allow the boys to open the doors for me and Sabrina. Arm in arm with my Prince, I walk in a pattern in which he leads. We walk through the double doors. The ball room is gorgeous. It is lit up with sepia lighting. The ceiling is high, and in the middle is a crystal chandelier. We blend into the crowd, and out of the corner of my eye I see Sabrina and Ed placing masks over their faces. I look over to Mason and he already has his face covered. With seeing that, I place the black laced mask that Sabrina gave me earlier, on my face. Mason has a black suit on and a black mask on. He looks like every other man in the room, yet I know my gorgeous Prince when I see him. I locate all of the exits by scanning the room, which is what I do every time I come to a new unknown place. Mason and I hold hands to the left corner of the room. We sit at a table reserved for us. Our names line the circular table, in which I am referred to as "Princess Serenity" and Mason as "Prince Mason." Who has time to eat when there is an open floor and music playing? Mason gets up and lends me his hand, "Would you like to dance Princess?" I blush, "Of course my Prince." I would be lying if I told you I wasn't mentally preparing myself to find out that Mason couldn't dance. He is strongly built, and hardly looks like a dancer. With us approaching the center of the room, Sabrina and Ed follow. The music is gorgeous, classical and calm. Slow yet steady melodies time our steps. We dance close, swaying and moving in time with the music. I have to say, I am quite impressed. Mason is doing better than I thought. I am home, in his arms. The slow movements that are guided by his body calm me. I belong somewhere, and that somewhere is right here with my Prince. The music slows to an end and we separate. The room is crowded with mysterious masked people. I look to Sabrina and Ed; they are holding hands and looking in our direction. I guess they hit it off quite well. Mason mutters something that is blocked out by the music in the background and walks toward Ed. Sabrina and I walk back to the table. "You know that you are the best, right?" I ask her. She smiles, "I guess I am pretty great. You two are adorable together." We are. We are two halves of one whole. A puzzle fitting perfectly into place. I look around as I am overwhelmed from the lights and people. They sway together in swift movements. Many circular tables like ours are placed on all sides of the room, forming a circle. We are located on the far left corner of the room. Beside the large doors in which we enter are two stairwells. Roses are placed on every table. Before I know it I see Mason walking toward me. He doesn't say a word yet places his hand right in front of me. I take it and look around, where's Ed? Oh well, by the time the thought occurs we are already dancing. He is much better this time around. I follow his lead as he moves us around the middle of the circle. We don't speak. It wouldn't feel right to ruin this moment with words. When the song is finished he looks at me and removes his mask. To my surprise the man is not my Prince. I gasp, "hey Serenity." This stranger knows my name. Where's my Prince? I demand to see Mason. I look around the room and he is nowhere to be found. I take a second glance at this man, he looks familiar. "Alonso?" I say in shock. "What's up gorgeous?" He grins. "You about scared me half to death! I thought you were a stranger. How did you recognize me anyway?" I ask. He walks me to the table as he explains, "Well your black dress and mask gave it away. And also the fact that Sabrina has on a sparkly royal blue dress." Sabrina stands up. "Well if it isn't Alonso. How are you?" He smiles, "I'm okay." Alonso is an old friend. He is actually Ann's nephew. After I was diagnosed, Ann's way of "keeping me happy" was to let me and Alonso play together. I was young when I was diagnosed, nine years old and a year after my brother died. Ann's mom, and also Alonso's grandma, died from this same disease that I have. We grew apart with age and I progressively got worse. I missed him. He was my brother when I no longer had one. On weekends he used to stay with Ann, who lives right next to us, so we had gotten close. Alonso is a tall, Hispanic boy. I love him, my sassy best friend. "Alonso why are you here?" I ask. "I love to dance." We all laugh. A shorter, bushy haired boy came up behind Alonso. "Oh, Sabrina, Serenity, this is Quincy." We sat down and got reacquainted when the conversation suddenly ended. Ed and Mason finally showed up. "Welcome back! Mason, Ed, this is Alonso." Introductions were exchanged. Mason walked toward me and held my hand and led me to the middle of the room. We danced once again, but this time was more verbal than the last. "Who is he?" He asked. I giggled, "An old friend. Why, are you jealous?" He held me tighter as our bodies swayed together. "Honestly, yeah." Mason, you have nothing at all to worry about. I kissed him on the cheek as the song slowed to a stop. Sabrina and Ed sat and ate at our table. We joined them soon after the song was over. "Are you two having a good time?" I ask. Sabrina smiles, "Absolutely." Alonso and Quincy had left after Mason and I ran off. The night was coming to an end, and we decided it was time to leave this magical place.