The Stolen Girl

Fallen Roses - Part Two

I gulped and continued to stare at the note for a full minute. I had forgotten about Rina's request.

The note appeared to have been written quite hastily; it was just a piece of paper torn from a notebook.

Calming my heartbeat I laughed wearily to myself and shook my head; Rina was always a bit theatrical.

To be honest, I was glad I had opened the gift before I got on the plane; the mess the rose petals created would have made my parents furious.

Wrinkling my eyebrows, I pondered how Rina didn't consider that fact. It wasn't like her to overlook something like that. She was always so careful and every gesture of hers was made with caution. I think my nonstop familial complaints had caused that mentality in her.

I admired the mirror some more, turning it this way and that and inspecting it from all angles. Rina said it belonged to her before me, but it hadn't even a scratch or a missing jewel. It was perfect.

I wonder why it reminded her of me though. It didn't seem like any part of it resembled me. I mean, my favorite color is purple.

Still trying to find a reason, I caressed the glass lightly with my fingertips and immediately felt an odd chill run down my spine. Startled, I let go of the mirror and watched in horror as it cluttered on the hard floor.

Gasping, I snatched it back up and searched woefully for any sign of damage. I would be devastated if I let my clumsiness destroy my best friend's parting gift. Nearly in tears, I squinted my eyes to catch any cracks or edges that had been chipped. The seconds ticked away as I continued to stare.

There were none.

This slim, delicate object was completely intact after brutally clanging to the ground.

I bit the inside of my cheek and recalled the icy feeling that sprouted upon touching the glass.

I cautiously lowered my hand inch by inch towards the mirror, but shot up abruptly when a series of knocks sounded on the bathroom door. I pressed my ear against the wood.

"Alisa," Levi called, "Everything all right?" I could see his socks through the crack underneath the door.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute," I replied breathlessly. Holding the mirror by its edges, I slipped it into the inside pocket of my purse and started to hastily gather the rose petals in a pile with my hand. My palm scratched against the ridges in the tiles.

"Okay, hurry up! We need to leave soon  'cause it's 8:45!"

"Shoot," I mumbled grumpily under my breath.

Pushing the last few outlier petals into the center pile, I gathered handful by handful and stuffed them into my purse.

My parents had already cleared out their trash and besides, I couldn't risk anyone else seeing the petals before we left. It would raise unwanted questions.

I stood up and let out a long sigh; I needed an explanation for all the abnormalities I'd been witnessing throughout my life. They were getting to be overwhelming now. I hated not knowing things.

I zipped my purse shut and twisted the doorknob, bounding outside in a flurry. Levi and Morry were standing outside the bathroom waiting for me. I shuffled my feet uncomfortably.

"Why'd you run like that into the bathroom?" Morry asked immediately. His face depicted brotherly concern.

"Oh...um," I stalled, "I just really had to go." I stroked my purse and nudged it closer to my body.