The Fallen Stars

Chapter 5 Esme

Have you ever wondered how it feels like to be surrounded by utter darkness?
Well, let me tell you, it feels cold and lonely. No smell, no sound, just darkness around me.
"Oh my darling!" Called a woman's voice.
"Hello?" I called back.
Giggles came in reply.
"Where are you?" I yelled into the darkness.
"We'll be okay, Essie... I'll always be here for you." I toddler boy's voice said.
I started to cry.

Who are these people?

"Essie follow me. I know where we can be free." The boy's voice said, going further away from me.
"NO! DON'T LEAVE ME!" I screamed until I only saw white.

***

I wake up, only sweat covering my body.
I put on my bedside lamp, where it was darkness, now my closet and table is covered in a soft golden light.
I calm my breathing down.
"What is going on with me?" I whisper to myself.
I cover my face with my hands, then pull them down, holding my chin.
I look at my small clock on my nightstand.

3:57

Great!
Had a nightmare, now fully awake, my stomach is growling, and it's only four o'clock in the morning! What am I going to do? I can't go back to sleep... after that dream.
A few tears roll down my cheeks. Why is this my life?
Little sleep, little food, no love, no friends, no family.

Why didn't the families love me? Why did they always take me back to that horrid orphanage?
Why was it so hard for them to love me?

I sighed.
No one is going to help me pick up my broken pieces, so I should just shape my broken pieces into a master piece.

I got out of bed, stretching, and I opened my closet door. I grab my school uniform, a black skirt that ends just before the knee. White button-up shirt. Black school jacket, with the school's yellow crest. I put it on tucking in my shirt, I reached for my white sneakers and a grey pair of socks.
I pit it on.
I then look in the small mirror on the inside of my closet door.
I grab my brush on my bedside table, and I brush through my hair.
I make a low, messy bun.
I look at the small blue round clock.

4:18

This is going to take a while.
I went to sit on my desk chair, looking at some of my math homework.

***
2 and a half hours later...

A servant unlocked my door.
Yes, I said servant... my foster family is very rich. I think they said it's from family inheritance. They have a butler, two servants, a chef, a housekeeper, a gardener, and a chauffeur.
Very, very old fashioned.

20 minutes until we have to leave for school. 20 minutes, then freedom of the Marwoods... but into Lezabel's claws.
Luckily, English is a good friend of mine... I get to see life through Emily Dickinson, Booker T. Washington, Shakespeare, John Greenleaf, etc.

Through Emily Dickinson's eyes, I can see the beauty of nature.

Booker T. Washington's eyes, I can see hard work, and the right mindset gets you far in life!

And Shakespeare... Shakespeare lets me see what love ought to feel like.

I smile at the thoughts of my friends... the dead writers, and poets. At least they encourage me to try to see things with a silver lining.

"ESME!" Mrs. Marwood yelled from downstairs.
"COME DOWN, UNLESS YOU WANT TO MISS SCHOOL!"

Luckily, I already packed my backpack with all my books and finished homework.

I open the door and run down the black tiled stairs.
I almost tripped when I got to the landing. The floor is so slippery!
I grabbed the railing and rushed to the bottom of the stairs, in front of the front door... where the butler, Casimir, Linzy, one of the servants, and Mrs. Marwood is waiting for me.
"You should wake up earlier. Otherwise, you're going to make Casimir late." Mrs. Marwood sneered.
"I was up very early... I didn't mean to be late." I explain out of breath from the stairs.
"Don't take so long to get down here. When the servant opens your door, you come down." She ordered. With her finger pointing at me like I'm a stupid toddler.