The Runaway Princess

The Perfect Day... to Runaway

"You look... Beautiful." My mother stands in awe as two of Ava's assistances fluff my dress more. My Wedding Dress is formed around my body and I can't help but feel as if I'm going to die. The dress is gorgeous, but I don't feel right... Standing here. I look into my reflection and try to smile back at my mom. I know she still doesn't agree with what I'm doing, but she has obviously pushed it aside and decided to just go with it. I feel out of place. For the first time, I don't feel like myself. When I make eye contact with myself in the mirror, it's like looking at a complete stranger.
"She is a hundred percent correct, my Dare Devil." I sure will be a Dare Devil once this is over....
"Thank you guys." I muster out, my throat closing so it sounds quieter than I intend.
"We'll leave you." Brooke pushes my dad out of the room and I look down at my hands. They're smooth now, almost clean of any scars. Before, my hands always had scrapes and bruises; riding a skateboard isn't always the safest thing... But Connor would always attempt to match my bruise by doing the same stunt to purposely fail.
"I miss you." I murmur, playing with my fingers, going over every place a scar was made in the past.
"I bet you do miss him." Ava's voice brings me back to reality. "You can leave us." The women scurry off, almost as if scared for their lives.
"You need to learn to come off better." I push out a laugh, feeling almost forced. How can I laugh with meaning today? Today isn't a happy day... Today is the day I'm reminded who I chose. Gus, over Connor. That's nothing to celebrate.
"Being their Queen, you have to come off a bit strong." She smiles, "I bet you're having a pretty intense battle within yourself."
"Tell me about it." I step down, almost tripping on my dress. I'm barefoot right now, so my dress is way too long. "I have to walk down the aisle in less than fifteen minutes." She places her hands on the side of my face, and I automatically step back. "Sorry, my makeup was just finished-" I stop, clarification snaps through my head and I start hysterically laughing.
"Skylar, are you okay?" Ava presses the back of her palm to my forehead and I keep laughing.
"No." I say between breaths, "I'm not."

***

The music is so loud, I can hear it through the double doors. My dad was informed last night that at a royal wedding, the Princess has to walk the aisle alone. It symbolizes that the country has no chains to hold it down and the new leader isn't afraid to walk alone. It's very meaningful, but I wish my daddy could hold my hand right now and tell me everything is okay.
"Skylar-"
"Please, don't ask me if I'm 'okay'."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Johnny smiles, bringing me into a hug. He lingers for too long, but I don't care.
"Presenting: The Princess of Maatira," the doors open and I pull on the biggest smile I can have at this moment (which is not every impressive). "Princess Jocelyn Anne Elizabeth Smith." Everyone stands and starts starring. Gus stands at the end of the mile long walkway and is properly dressed with medals and a slash going across his ugly tan suit. Even though he looks so odd to me, he still isn't unattractive. Not like Connor though.
As I continue to slowly make my way to the end of the line, the strangers all around me stare blankly into my soul. I bite my tongue, hoping it's not too obvious that I don't want this...
Then I catch the glimpses of the men and women who are in charge of the laws and agreements that I will someday have to make for this country. They look empty, and broken inside. They look as if this is a duty; they don't know how much of a war they have caused inside of me.
I stop moving.
What's the point of this? To show that I'm a tool they can use. Just sign the paper and I'll do and say anything they please? No.
"I'm sorry, Gus." I mumble, making eye contact with him. He either looks disappointed or satisfied. I smile at my mother, for she was right. Then I smile at my father, for what he said finally kicked in. I smile, for the first time today, for real. I hold my gown and run as fast as I can down the opposite end. I grab Johnny's hand and drag him with me. I keep running until we're outside. Out of breath I ask him to drive me somewhere.
"Now? Of all times: now!" I nod my head viciously. "Woman, you're crazy." He pauses and opens the door, "Get in the car." He smiles.
"Thank you!" I hug him and hop into the front seat. I stare at my face in the mirror on the advisory.
You could've sealed it. You could've lost everything for Connor... And you were three feet away from it. What would you have done if you followed through with it? OH, I know! You'd hate yourself. Well, time to hate yourself for making the decision in the first place!
I feel tears on my cheeks and I allow them to fall. Johnny grabs ahold of my hand and continues driving with help from me; instructing him where to go. I wipe away the streaks and try my best to hide the proof they left behind. My mascara was running but I fix it by wiping it off with a napkin. I bend over and peel off the heels that have dug holes in my feet since I put them on. When I sit up, the bottom of the heels scrape against my dress,  dragging the fabric with them. I pat around the rest of it and find three or four more places it riped. I guess I hit more things than I thought running out of there. I pull my phone out of my built-in bra, and notice Gus has called me ten times.
"Boy issues?" Johnny jokes sitting beside me. I shrug,
"Not anymore." I pull down my hair from the tight, uncomfortable bun and allow it to flow nicely on my shoulders. About two hours into the ride, Johnny finally hits my hometown.
"This is Knightston?" He sounds unimpressed.
"Home sweet home." I use the classical term. Once we crossed town and got to where I grew up, I start feeling nervous. I step out of the car, wiggling my fingers, getting antsy. I make myself knock on the door, inside praying it isn't him.
"Hel-lo." Sam, Connors mother, smiles at me. "Skylar! How are you?" She kind of closes the door more, as if trying to hide something from me.
"I'm good... Is Connor home?"
"Uh, yes, but I don't think he's in the best state right now..." She comes closer, "He's been going through mood changes."
"Can I just talk with him?"
"Of course dear." She smiles and brings me through the house. I sense her noticing my torn up dress and my barefeet toes, but I focus more on seeing Connor. I look out the back patio glass door and see Connor flash by. I saw the end of his arm, but I also saw a bat in his grasp. When I come closer, my fingers resting on the door handle, I can hear his grunting as he swings the bat and hits a glass bottle. It flies through the air and smashes against the brick wall dividing Mae and Connors house from each other.

Wow. Is all I can think.

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Thank you for reading!

Ta Daaaaaa 😝

- Emuna_Jasmine