She's Not Cinderella

Scenes from the Bedside

Chapter 18

~~~

William

~~~

Find solace in ivory keys,

Where the rivers run deep as your soul,

The emerald lakes,

Stream down your face,

And the planes stretch past your eye can see,

Find tranquil tween morning and dusk,

Where the scent of the trees dances sweet,

Beyond the grey mountains,

The sparrow flies free,

When the skies dim the stars burn abright,

Find concord in eternal shade,

Where silence is as gold as the sun,

The final sweet lark,

Has lost its song,

Moonbeams pierce through the veil of the night.

~~~

I watched in silence as Adeline lay stretched out on the bed. Her fiery red locks contrasting against her pale, colourless skin, her lips pale and her lashes long and dark. Her hand was icy and motionless, bandages across her chest.

When Adeline was gone, everything stopped.

It was my fault for leaving her that night. It was my fault for introducing her to Stacey. It was my fault for talking to her that one day as she peacefully listened to her music. Anything, anything but this.

When my mother died, I was afraid to cry at her funeral. They looked at me, all my relatives, judging me. By how I looked. By what I did. I was never good enough.

Adeline was never like that.

Adeline is never like that.

Tears ran down my face as I cried for the first time since I was a baby, and my grief was plain to see on my reddened eyes as damp cheeks.

Adeline was not dead. She was in a coma. At the beginning, it was a medically induced coma, and we all thought she was on the fast track to recovery. Little did we know.

It got worse. She didn't wake up. Her eyes didn't flutter open, and there she was. She would have hated to have known how much she was like Snow White, helpless, but strong. If only my kiss could wake her from her slumber.

It had been two weeks.

"Master Fitzgerald, a message from your father."

I raised up my head from the bed to look up at my chauffeur, who looked down at me sympathetically.

"He never could be bothered to talk to me in person." I said grimly as I took the letter from his gloved hand. Smiling at my chauffeur in dismissal, he left the room, and I examined the letter. On the front, in a neat cursive was embellished in silver 'W. Fitzgerald Junior'. I opened the letter and pulled out a crisp white card. In black, was toyed the message;

'Son,

I understand recently you have been in distress over the loss of a certain female companion. I understand your grief, but you must be made aware of the fact you have familial/ business affairs to attend to, which, in time, must take priority over such social appliances. If you would so please, your attendance at the HAW2 2013 Annual Business Fair and Conference would be much appreciated.

My most profuse condolences,

W. Fitzgerald MA (Oxon.), MBA'

I swore loudly and tore the sheet in half. Why the hell would you put your titles after your name in a letter to your son? Why doesn't my own dad give a damn about my life? Why is it that all he cares about is money?

I looked over at Adeline. I couldn't go to the conference. What if she woke whilst I was gone? What if she died and I would never see her again? I slumped back in my chair defeatedly. Nothing was going right. Suddenly, the door opened, and I sat up in a start. Kelsey stood there, her eyes wide in shock. For the first time, she wasn't wearing much makeup, and she did not even give me a second glance as she rushed over to Adeline.

"Oh my god. I can't believe it." tears began to gush down her face, smudging what mascara she had on.

"This is all my fault."

I looked at her curiously.

"Why?" I asked, and she whipped around, as if she had only just noticed my presence in the room.

"William!"

Looking at her, I remembered the nights we had spent together. I was ashamed of my previous self, sleeping around, not caring about anyone's feelings. Adeline had changed that, but Kelsey just reminded me of long, passionate nights in expensive hotels.

"Why is this even related to you? Why are you here?"

She wiped away a few stray tears, and looked at me sincerely.

"Adeline... Is my sister."

It took seconds for what she said to register.

"Wha-at?"

"I shouldn't have left her with him!" she gushed, burying her head in Adeline's arms.

"Wait, you knew about her dad?"

"Our dad." she corrected, her voice trembling.

I shook my head.

"This is all too much.."

Kelsey said nothing, gently sobbing.

~~~

Hi! It's been too long, my dear reader

This chapter isn't actually fresh, no, I wrote it long ago. It's so short because I want to continue 'She's Not Cinderella' afresh, and soo this chapter ends here..

But a new chapter is beginning :)

Xx Pavane