Evergreens

Lei

The silence and darkness was a hammer pounding on my mind. I peeled away the sheets and placed my head between my knees. Sweat was dripping down my back. 'Why was it so hot in here?' Actually it wasn't at all hot or even cold. 'Then why was I sweating? It was probably nightmares or something.' I decided to myself, but the real question was where was I?

"Miss?" I peeked between my fingers to the direction of the voice.

"Who are you?" I did my best to keep my voice from cracking.

"I'm sorry it always has to happen this way. Everything will be explained soon enough."

Suddenly a bright, blinding light flooded into the room. I flung my arms over my face to cover it.

"I'm very sorry about that. We had to get you awake somehow." I opened my eyes and they began to get use to the lighting.

I was laying on a twin size bed with pale pink sheets. The room was empty but small window, a tiny dresser, and a young and petite women. She looked like she was in her early twenties.

"You overslept." She said simple as if I needed somewhere.

"Wait! Where am I?"

"Sorry, it's not my place to say."

I wrinkled my nose and crossed my arms. "Excuse me?"

"No, excuse me for this."

Before I can react to what was happening the sheets of the bed were tugged and I was laying in a dirty, sweaty heap.

"Harsh" I groaned.

"Sorry sorry!" The woman bent over to pull me with surprising strength. She was about 90 pounds with twiggy arms and legs and with one hand she easily yanked me upward onto my feet.

"It's fine." I dusted myself off and studied her face. She was the same height as me with dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail. Green eyes that were framed with thick lashes. I quickly realized that she was beautiful. Her eyes changed into a different shade of green each time she blinked and as she bundled up the sheets her limbs moved elegantly. Even the simple white dress she wore hugged her hips.

"I-I like your shoes." I stuttered pointing to her golden saddles when she notice I was staring in awe at her.

"Thanks." She said giving me a shy smile.

"What's your name?" I blurted out. I could feel my cheeks burning with stupidity.

"Oh well, that doesn't really matter now does it? I'm just the maid."

"The maid?" I gasp loudly. "But your so..."

"I know." She smiled to herself. "I'm so young and pretty. I get that a lot." She said it without a bit of cocky in her tone.

I pushed my hair backwards and tried the straighten the simple dress that I was wearing. "What's your name?"

"I don't really remember. I been called many things in my life." When she looked up at me, she bent over with laughter. My mouth was opened in a wide gap. "It's not like that. Just different names. You could say I don't have a real name."

"Oh, well could I give you a name?"

"Like what?" The maid scooped up the sheets and begin to neatly fold up the wrinkles.

I studied her face. Sharp cheekbones and a cute pug-like nose, wow she was beautiful. She was simple and didn't throw that around and rub it in everyone's face. "Lei?"

Her green eyes met mine. "I never been named that. It's really beautiful. Thank you." When Lei said 'Thank You' she met you in the eyes and said with a serious tone. I blushed at the older girl's approval.

" I must get going." Lei picked up the sheets and began making way to the door.

"Wait!"

She turned to look at me. "If it's a question about where you are or how you got here, I can not help you."

"No! It's not that!" Lei made a motion with her hand to continue. "If your a maid.., but your so pretty and why did you choose to become a maid?"

"I did not chose to become one."

"But you're too young to be a maid." Lei turned to look me in the eye with her hand on the doorknob. With such intensely behind her green eyes she said, "And you're too young to be a prisoner."