Lilly

𝖈𝖔𝖗𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖔 𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔 𝖑𝖆 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝖘𝖚𝖘𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊

It was the moment her foot felt the soft touch of the grass for the first time, Lilly felt free. She had been planning this moment since she was just a young girl, around the age of 5, the same age her mother and father started telling her not to go into the same forest she was now entering. She had tried to run many times before, but had been caught every time, her mother and father scolding her for each new attempt.

The first time she tried to escape, she had been the tender age of 6, a year of curiosity and scheming, her mother and father telling her not to go into the mysterious forest just beyond her window, caught up to her. Her parents had found her, every time she tried to escape her vine--covered castle.

This time, she did it at a time they wouldn't have suspected, her sister, Kaylee's, wedding.

☆☆☆

Her parents had been so busy with the wedding planning, they hadn't laid an eye on her. No one had. She asked to be excused at dinner early every night, stuffing food in her mouth quickly so she could get back to finishing her plans.

The wedding day consisted of people, 'the wedding crew' as my mother would call them, rushing in and out of the castle, tending to their jobs. An hour before the wedding, mother took Kaylee into another room to help her with her beautiful, white wedding dress, while mother expected me to do the same.

I stared at the dress now on my bed, the sage green gown with an off the shoulder sleeve, pink and yellow flower print flowing from the skirt. I quickly go to the closet, returning with the flowing gown on, and pink heels, which are already hurting my feet. I hear a knock on my door, interrupting my mind from the wondering place of anxiety.

"Oh, dear, you look stunning! The dress brings out the color in your beautiful eyes!" My mother said, still making her way through the door.

"Thank you mother, you look wonderful too."

Mother sees as I shift in my uncomfortable heels, fidgeting with the skirt of my dress.

"Oh, dear, you can't do that at the wedding" She paused, looking down at the ring me and her both had. "Do you have your ring on, my love?"

I held up my hand, showing her the little silver ring, shaped like a figure 8, that sat on my ring finger. She had gotten us both the rings from a little fair that came to our town when I was 13, we've worn them ever since.

"Fidget with that instead of your dress, people will want to see you being professional." She said with a wide smile plastered on her face. I had to suppress my eye roll, of course this was about being professional, everything was.

"Yeah, Yeah" I said, my face remaining neutral.

Mother sighed, used to this boredom from me, everything always had to be perfect for my family, every move was always watched by the people of our town. She moved closer to me testing the waters, I don't always like physical touch, and she knows that and respects it even if it was her love language.

"Lilly, I know you don't like dresses, but it's your sister's big day, one day you'll have a wedding of your own, with the man you love. Try to be respectful, and look a little interested."

The 'wedding of my own' part is the only correct part of that sentence. Will it be a man, maybe? She doesn't know it could be a man, a woman or even a partner, but for now, my top priority is escaping so I can find that person.

"When's the wedding starting?" I ask, hoping to deflect the topic we were just talking about.

"It's supposed to start at 4."

I looked at the silver watch that sat on my left wrist, It was 3:50. The wedding was starting in 10 minutes, but she wouldn't be there to watch. The bell chimed, which meant Mother and I had been talking for a while.

"Oh dear, I've got to go help your sister, I'll see you at the wedding, my love" My mom said rushing out the door before I could respond.

Except she wouldn't see me, I would be far gone, in the depths of the forest.

☆☆☆

At 3:55 the bell rang again telling me to get ready execute my plan.

I was quite worried the plan wouldn't work, just like all the other times, but a part of me felt hope. I walked nonchalantly into the halls, trying to avoid any contact with my mother,knowing that would make her suspicious.

I walk into the bathroom, pulling a piece of carefully folded paper from the pocket of my dress. I unfolded the paper, revealing a map I had found in the library, my lazy handwriting detailing directions. I studied the map, as i've done many times before, preparing for this moment,which was coming with every tick of the clock.

Walking back out of the bathroom, I now feel anxious, reality catching up to me, my thoughts rushing in all at once?

what if it doesn't work? What if mother finds me again?

No. I can't think that way.

This is going to work, i'll make sure of it.

The final bell startled me out of my rushing thoughts of anxiety

now's the time

The feeling of nerves and Adrenaline rush through me, making my heart flutter. I started walking towards the back exit I had discovered during the making of my escape plans. Once I got there I paused for a moment and looked back, realizing this would be my last time in the castle and with my family. I smiled and changed into the sneakers I had set on a rusty square box, shoes that would be easier to run in,if necessary.

Stepping onto the forest floor, feeling the grass and the breeze flowing, I finally knew what it meant to be free. I stood there enjoying the new air that came with this new found freedom.

I reached up to where my hair was tied up in a bun with flowers embedded in random places, and let it down, not having a care in the world. Some of the flowers fell,unable to cling onto my waist length hair without the secure hair tie. I was going to be happier than ever out in this mysterious forest, I now saw only across the fields of the castle.

I started running, not caring if my mother could see me, because they wouldn't have been able to catch me if they tried. I crossed the field running and by the time I was standing in front of the huge forest, I was out of breath, but happy to finally be face-to-face with the forest. My hair was now blowing with the soft breeze that guided me into the forest, my feet now flowing with every step.

Once I was in the actual forest I looked around at my surroundings, taking in everything. I couldn't help but smile at all of the pretty purple, blues and greens that engulfed me, the sky a light blue color and the clouds white. All of the excited feelings stopped when I heard something move around me, somewhere in the large forest.

It sounded like it had come from the bushes behind me.

I turned around,feeling more anxious then when I had left the castle.

"Who's there?" I asked stupidly, knowing no one would answer. I walked towards the bushes still alert in case something,or someone, decided to attack me, but with no weapons it was going to be hard to defend myself.

I crept closer to the bushes, trying to be silent, but the grass had other plans, crunching under my sneakers with each step I took. I still couldn't see what was in the bushes until I was about another footstep away from the bush, but what I did see was it was another human hiding. They didn't look scared, in fact they looked calm.

"Follow me and I will show you all your dreams" They said. At first I wasn't sure about them, they could be a trick of some sort, but eventually agreed to follow them deep into the forest, to a place like a village, little did I know that they changed my life, and not for the better.

☆☆☆