Goodnight Sweet Princess

Lost in this World

A lullaby that never ends. The lord's gentle caress brings forth sleep.

A girl woke up in a field on a sunny day. She tried to recall who she was or how she got there in the first place, but her memory was blank as if she was a newborn baby. She walked through the field in search of her name. The smell of grass entered her nostrils on this fine day that she marked as the first day of her life.

She walked until she came across a dirt road that lead over the hills. The sun was high in the sky but the cool breeze blocked off the scorching heat it intended to give. Without a second thought, the girl followed the road, as if calling her entire being to follow it. As the sun slowly made its journey towards the horizon, the girl continued to walk and walk, passing by hills, orchards and forests. Soon, she reached a town.

The townspeople walked around minding their own businesses. Some men were carrying crates, others were tending their shops. Some women were doing their laundry, others were selling peculiar items. She passed by several stores and buildings that seemed to look identical from the corners of her eyes. She tried to ask for help but could not make a sound.

As the sun neared the horizon and the surroundings become flooded with a warm light, the girl looked for a place to rest. In an alley, she found a box that was big enough for her to stay in. With the darkness slowly creeping into the town, the girl settled inside the box. There, a black cat with gleaming yellow eyes and a red collar approached her. The feline stared at her for a bit, before running away. Before she knew it, she was running after the cat. It ran through the maze of streets and alleys, making turns so sharp it was as if it had disappeared into thin air.

The cat ran through the gates of a large mansion at the edge of the town. The place had cracked walls and loose bricks that have fallen off, and weeds grew all over the garden. The bent iron gates were wide open, as if inviting the girl in. She took a step, but nobody came to stop her. She took another, and another, and another, until soon she was through the large wooden doors.

It was very lively inside. The smell of champagne and roast chicken floated through the air. Maids and butlers were walking back and forth serving drinks and finger food, while guests in fancy outfits seemed to be having a wonderful time. There were adults everywhere she looked, and it seemed like the girl had walked into a different world where children never existed. The subtle sultry melody of the jazz music was accompanied by the sound of dancing feet, muffled conversations, laughter, and clanking utensils and champagne flutes.

The girl turned towards the spacious living room where several of the guests were, lounging on couches and dancing in the open area. People were talking and laughing, all too busy to mind the others around them. Maids and butlers passed her by, attending to the guests.

She walked towards the dining room, hoping someone would offer her to grab something from the table, as she heard her stomach sing along with the jazz music. At the doorway was a young boy, with eyes that were oblivious to the realities of the world. He stared at her then smiled. He stretched his hand out in a sort of invitation to shake hands. The girl was hesitant, but slowly took the boy's hand in hers. Instantly, the boy pulled the girl into the dining room.

The dining room, or the dining hall, rather, was enormous, as the dining table stretched from wall to wall and had several kinds of food—from entrees to desserts. The chairs paired with the table were lined along the walls of the hall for the guests to sit on. The chandeliers that hung from the ceiling flooded the room with a warm light. The boy took a muffin from the table and offered it to the girl. The girl bit into it. It tasted like cinnamon and apple. The boy took a few more desserts then pulled the girl up the stairs.