Snow White

014

Snow’s Point of View:

I walked out of the house, the cool breeze brushing against my skin. The sky was a dull gray, as if the world around me was mirroring how I felt. The garden stretched ahead, peaceful and untouched, a stark contrast to the storm swirling inside me. I followed the stone path until I found a quiet spot, far enough from the house, and sat down on the soft grass.

The ground felt cool beneath me as I slowly lay back, letting out a deep breath. My eyes fluttered shut, and for a brief moment, the weight of everything seemed to lift. Out here, under the sky, I could pretend the last few days hadn’t happened. No lies. No secrets.

But then, a familiar voice broke the silence, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Good morning, miss.”

I lifted my head, squinting against the sunlight. Standing a few feet away was Jacob, our driver—and my old best friend. His face softened into a warm smile, the same one that used to make me feel safe.

“Morning, Mr. Jacob,” I replied, my lips twitching into a small smile despite myself. “Here for a talk?”

He chuckled and walked over, sitting down next to me on the grass. “Yeah, got bored.” He let out a long sigh and leaned back, his eyes drifting up to the sky.

I watched him for a moment, feeling a strange mix of comfort and nostalgia. We hadn’t spoken much since I’d been back, but seeing him now brought back memories—simpler times, when things made sense.

Jacob turned his head slightly, his expression softening. “Anything wrong?”

The question lingered in the air for a moment before I answered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Just found out some... secrets at home. Makes me feel off.”

His gaze held mine for a moment, as if searching for the right words. “Let me guess... about your mom?”

The mention of her name sent a jolt through me, and I nodded slowly. He always had a way of knowing things, even when I didn’t say them out loud. The truth was, I didn’t know how to feel about it all. I didn’t know her. She died before I could even see her face. But still, the thought of her death, of her giving up her life for mine... it weighed on me.

I glanced at the grass beneath my fingers, picking at the blades absentmindedly. “Was that why they sent me to live with Grandma?” I wondered, more to myself than to Jacob. “Because I was the reason she...”

I couldn’t finish the thought. The guilt I hadn’t even known I carried felt like a stone in my chest.

Jacob reached over and gently patted my shoulder.

“Don’t think too much, love. Just wait till your dad comes back, and ask him.” His voice was calm, steady, the way it always was. It should have been reassuring, but my mind couldn’t stop racing.

I nodded, letting out another breath. My dad... I wasn’t sure how to feel about him right now. Part of me wanted answers, but another part wasn’t ready to hear what he had to say.

Jacob’s gaze softened, and he gave me a knowing look.

“Just know they love you, Sophia. I watched you grow up, remember? Before... well, before everything changed.” He trailed off, his eyes clouding for a moment as if he’d said too much.

I frowned, confusion prickling at the back of my mind, but I didn’t ask. There were already too many questions I didn’t have answers to. Adding more to the pile wouldn’t help.

Jacob leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on the top of my head like he used to when we were kids. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

I nodded, offering him a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Jacob.”

With that, he stood up and gave me one last glance before walking away, his figure slowly disappearing down the garden path.

And then I was alone again. Alone with my thoughts, my questions, and the heavy silence that seemed to follow me wherever I went.