𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 ⋆ d. hoffman

𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 ⋆

subchapter III.

UPCOMING...

"Why? Meeting with your new friends," she speaks up.
It made me stop in my tracks.
"What? What friends?"
"Those boys I saw yesterday. Behind the pig pen. Mr. Cuddlesworth the panda saw them too," she points out.

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— MIND

Was I dreaming or did I actually meet and helped two strange boys yesterday? It's been on my mind so much, because that was genuinely the first time I've probably interacted with someone outside of family. Let alone more than one person. I act like I'm caged up in my own home, but I'm really not. I just have no reason to be out and about with people like that. My parents made it seem like there's already a path for me here, and it's been like that since I was practically born.
     "Priscilla, what are you thinking about?"
I look up to my mother's voice. It brought me out of whatever trance I was in.
     "Hm?"
     "What are you thinking about? You seem so stuck in your head," she motions her finger to her temple.
I normally would tell her everything, but that's only because nothing ever happens. My life is completely boring. I just don't think she'd like the idea of random boys showing up and me helping them to fix their car. That's like 101 kidnapping. My mother taught me better, but I still trusted them.
"Nothing out of the normal, no. Why?" I ask with caution. It may have came out more suspicious than I thought.
"No reason... it's just you've been quiet and to yourself," she shrugs.
"Well, I'm kind of always by myself. There's nothing new here. Can I go to the city?" I ask with a tone of desperation. But am I wrong? I'm always cooped up in here like a princess trapped in her cell.
"Excuse me? No you may not. Where's the attitude coming from," she crosses her arms, narrowing her eyes at me.
I didn't even give any attitude.
"Sorry. I'm going out by the pig pen," I get up from the sofa and grab my shoes.
She didn't say anything to me. It's whatever, I still went out.

I shut the door close as I take my walk towards the pig pen. I wanted to go by the lake. After that slight tension moment with my mother, I kind of just want some peace and quiet.
The walk through the woods was warmly. It had a grey hint color to the surroundings. It was like this whole place is a whole different place from the outside.
I was approaching the lake closer. I could see the body of water glimmering from the small spots of sunlight that shines through the tree leaves.
I see my picnic blanket from the last time I was here and my book. I take a seat on the blanket and lean against the tree. It lies right beside the lake.
It didn't take long before I notice a small figure across the lake. What? The figure became more clearer.
Harper?
How great is that. Her imagination made her wander into my place.
"Priscilla, is that you?!" Harper yells as she runs over to me.
"Uh, yeah... what are you doing here? You're not allowed here." I tell her as I stood up.
"They don't have to know. Plus, the lion told me to come here. There's a prize at the end of the woods," she whispers secretively.
I sigh. Maybe one day this will be a problem, but right now she's a child and acts perfectly for her age... I think. I know I wasn't. I was herding sheep when I was four. When Harper was four she was playing horse stables.
"You should really get going, come on," I usher out towards the house, guiding her.
"Why? Meeting with your new friends," she speaks up.
It made me stop in my tracks.
"What? What friends?"
"Those boys I saw yesterday. Behind the pig pen. Mr. Cuddlesworth the panda saw them too," she points out.
"Look, Harper. Don't tell anyone you saw them. Secret between you and me," I whisper to her as I hurriedly try to get her out.
She didn't say anything, she looks at me like I am forgetting something.
"... and Mr. Cuddlesworth the panda."
She smiles as she nods excitedly.
"Yay! Secrets are so fun. I promise I'm good at keeping them," she laughs heartily.

As I was getting her back to our yard, I keep thinking to myself. Would I see them again? Would they message me? Who am I kidding. They're probably too high in status to message a girl with a flip phone. I wonder what's it like out there in the city. Like actually living out there.
     It wouldn't come past me if I found out Harper had accidentally wandered into the city and did all sorts of activities.
The only thrill I had that actually seems thrilling was meeting those boys. I mean you don't often see people walking up on your yard. I don't know why i'm so interested, maybe it's just curiosity.
My mother would've told me 'Curiosity kills the cat. Stop playing with your life.' She doesn't trust anyone outside the family or animals. Once a stranger had actually came up to ask for instructions, she actually started going crazily cautious and before they can even say a word she goes psycho. If she was near a gun, I'm pretty sure she would've pulled it out. However, the closest thing was a shovel. But with a psycho woman... any tool or weapon is ten times more dangerous than it is.

After Harper entered the house, I look around to see if my parents were here, but they weren't. I think they took their horses out. If it's 6pm. They always go on a ride every Wednesday at six with the horses. Unless one is sick, but no one gets sick in this household. The furthest we get is a headache with a side of stomachache.
     I go up to my room to settle in for the night. I have to get up early in the morning and I need my full eight hours to deal with this sad life. I'm sixteen and I'm starting to wonder if I lost half my childhood going along my family's mindset and plans.

I start to place my pajamas on my bed for when I get out of the shower. I turn the shower handle on to hot water. I can't stand cold water unless it was just for a second after my whole steaming shower.
It was only a quiet night.

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[07.30.24]