I was alone. I always knew I was, but now it was hitting me as hard as cold air to your skin after a hot bath. I was laying in my makeshift bed in the room with all of my "sisters". My bed is a sheet of linen tied with hay. It is basically a jumbo sack filled with hay. There were ten of them in this room, many of the girls who arrived here together would share one, but many of us came alone, so many of them were sleeping on the floor. I was supposed to share with my sister, like they promised, but they decided to place her in the west wing, while I'm in the north house.
They liked to keep the young girls in the main house, with girls in the west wing and boys in the east wing. They put the older children, like me, in the separate houses, girls in the north and boys in the south.
When a child became of age they are let go. Many of them die, they have no money, no job, and no family to help them survive. Some of the eager-to-survive, though, find a living doing the work that nobody else wants to do.
I don't know what I'm going to do when my birthday comes, I'll need to find liable work, not like some filthy job in a factory. Maybe I could go to school and become a teacher, maybe a cook or a maid in Veinhutchen Castle. Maybe I could even live in the Veinhutch district, maybe I could fall in love and marry. Maybe I could have some children of my own someday.
They're just dreams. I know that won't happen, who could love a lonely girl without parents. Who could love a girl with no hope for her future. Who would even associate with anyone who lived to get out of Mary's Home for the Unwanted. Everyone who gets out of here becomes mad anyways.
"Rose!" I heard someone whisper my name. It was probably just the spirits of my mind acting up again. "Rosemarian!" I heard it again, but with more whim. Who could be looking for me at this hour. Was I in trouble?
"Who's there!" I whispered. I sat up in bed and looked around. Then I saw him, Reid Nighthaven, the boy every girl dreams about. He's probably stolen the hearts of every girl in the north house, except for mine.
Many of the boys and girls sneak between houses to see each other. Reid keeps trying to take me someplace, everyone wants what they cannot have, I suppose.
"Come here!" He whisper-yelled. Alexa, the girl who sleeps in the bed next to me said, "Just go, will you, he's been crazy for you for months." I rolled my eyes, even though nobody could see it." I stood up and walked towards the origin of his voice. I almost walked past him and he grabbed me by my waist. It was pitch black in the wing, everyone was asleep at this hour at night. I scowled although he couldn't see me. I didn't need to be seen with a man-whore.
He lead me outside through the window he entered in. He was wearing his night clothes, which meant undergarments and a plain shirt. It's truly disgusting that he didn't even have the decency to put on some breeches. I was wearing the same outfit that I always wear: my mother's huntress dress. She wore it all the time and it comforts me to wear it. It is a beautiful deer skin dress that was made in the Gladden Territories. It is said that there are savages who live in the territories, it's always been one of my dreams to meet one. My mother was born in the Gladden Territory of Portsdale. She always told me stories about her journeys that she went on after she was of age. That's how she met my father. Maybe I could follow in her footsteps and meet a man in my hopefully future travels.
"You know I'm leaving tomorrow," Reid interrupted my thoughts. "Are you really," I replied unenthusiastically. "Yeah, and I already got a job," he showed a small smile.
"I don't want to associate myself with any factory workers,so maybe I should leave," I said in a slightly harsh tone. He rolled his eyes, "I just want one last thing before I leave here," he looked at me with the seductive smirk that made many young women's knees tremble. "Rosie," He used the petty nickname he gave me, "I want you. I want you more than anything." I gave him my famous scowl, "Well, you can't always get what you want."
"Please baby, I'll do anything-"
"Don't 'baby' me. We are not together, and we never will be. I'm sorry, but I would like to leave now." He took my hand as I was turning to leave. He pulled me into a rough kiss. I pulled away and slapped him. Who does he think he is, kissing me like I was giving kisses away. Reid really grinded my gears.
I left without saying anything, I went back into the North House and made my way back to my bed. Everyone was sound asleep, save me. Needless to say, I didn't sleep at all that night.
