The Lines We Draw

Chapter 1 Seasons Greetings

    I often find myself looking back upon the day that she drew her initial mark on my life. As if in my constant reeling these moments past could have some how changed.

    That day I cannot help but remember so vividly, I had just freshly turned eleven, such a simple age really. At that time I had  been adjusting myself to life in the manor with my uncle after suddenly finding myself in such a grand villa. I hadn't lived there for long as I only came to find myself residing in the Marquess's estate after my parents fell ill.

Disease, a disgusting thing. Like a plague of locust, washes over in waves, reaping even the strongest fruit. Countless people in the cities lives were stolen, decimating entire families. Honestly, I didn't know whether it a miracle or a curse that I survived.

    After months passed of having nothing of significance to do other than read and be engulfed by my thoughts. I decided to wander the grounds.

    It was winter, about mid December... I believe it was the 13th if my memory serves me right. It was a cold day, freezing in-fact, as I ventured out onto the snow littered cobblestone pathway. The sounds of the crunching of snow and rock floating into my ears amidst the silence as my brown leather boots hit the ground. Puffs of grey filled the air infront of me as the crisp air entered and left my lungs. Each breath felt like a frosty mint as the sting of the cold touched my nostrils. As I continued walking I was met with a hoard of naked trees that seemed to continue forever. All their branches coated in shimmering snow luring me forward. I knew that it was ill-advised for me to enter the woods especially in my position. I halted for just a moment in hesitance as I turned and looked back at the manor bundled up with snow.

    But temptation already had sunk it's claws into me. My parents did always say that I was strong of will after all.
As I trekked farther into the forest my oxford blue winter dress began to drag and become moistened from the snow. Weighing me down into the heavy cold crystalline terrain. Though my brown leather boots did me well guarding me from my feet becoming wet and surely aquiring some sort of frost bite, I still found my toes to begin to sting from the cold.

    I thought it time to return to the warm comforts of the manor when I realized that the trees, bare of foliage and, in a snow covered state were undiscernible from one another. The wood I was venturing was just as unusual and unfamiliar as the snow that fell around me. I had always lived much farther south where the cold was seldom to come by. And now I find myself lost among snow and barren trees, what a luck indeed.

    I stumbled my way around attempting to retrace my steps that led me in circles until I came across a blinding frozen lake.

    As I got closer I could see a figure. A girl as graceful as a swan glided and danced across the ice drawing lines across it with her blades as she moved. She looked to almost fly as her frilly dress so lightly pink it was as if a peach and a cloud lightly brushed against eachother, flowed behind her.

    Her long blonde hair whipping in the wind and following her every twirl.

    I didn't notice that I had been staring for so long. I didn't understand why I did it maybe it was the ever encroaching loneliness of being the only girl in the manor or perhaps it was the elegance in the way the girl moved and twirled on the ice just how the unusual snow fell around her.

    After quite some time the girl had noticed my presence amongst the snowy background and her face immediately revealed a large smile as she began rushing towards me.

    I was in some shock in lack for better words. I even considered trying to make a run for it, but where would I have gone I was completely lost.

"Hello! It is ever so nice to meet you here! I haven't seen another kid in ages! Do you want to be friends?I love your dress!..."

   Her mouth seemed run faster than even the finest racing horse. She excitedly grabbed onto my freezing hands and squeezed them tightly as she leaned forward.

"So...." She drawled out realizing she hadn't even asked my name

"Elaine" I interjected

"Do you like to skate? Or sing? Or- or play cricket!? We should play together!"

"Well I do suppose I enjoy singing and participating in a game of cricket..."  I say quietly as I avert my gaze towards the ground

"Excellent! We should arrange a play date! I'm so overjoyed that you came to the lake. Speaking of which why are you here? Did you perhaps come here to skate too?!"

    Embarrassment flooded to my face as I told her that I was actually lost in the woods. She immediately offered to help me changing out of her pink skates and holding onto my hand once again and leading me towards my uncle's manor.

    On our way we delved into many a conversation and I found myself opening up to her and laughing at her strange antics despite my usual stoic demeanor.

    As we arrived to the manors large cherry colored doors she began to say her goodbyes before I spoke up

"You never did tell me your name."

"Catherine Vorheese. Daughter of Viscount Alexander Vorheese." She said back with a radiant smile.