Steal Away

             The peaks of the mountains slowly started to devour the setting sun, telling me another summer day has come and now gone away. The gentle breeze pushes my hair away from me like it pushes the leafs away from their trees. The golden sun made the mansion and its surroundings look like something from a fairytale. The rivers were running clear and the brackens looked gold in the sun, with horses running freely through the green pastures. Though some of its inhabiants, like mother and Peter, seemed to, most days, take all the warmth and happiness and twist it into cold bitterness. Days like those ones, never forget to remind me of how desperately I wanted to steal away. Though I am not strong enough to even make beyond our hills surrounding the estate without guilt and cowardliness pulling me back. Or maybe it was the fear of not knowing what lies behind the rolling English hills.

      I shivered as I hesitantly brought my head down and looked at the reflection of myself in the still pond. The fair skin of my face was disrupted by a red mark covering most of my right cheek. The result of Peter. Raising a shaking hand, I slowly and carefully place my fingertips to my right cheek. The blow had hurt, but I refused to let a tear escape from my eyes. But now... the stinging was overwhelming and unwillingly a tear escaped the right eye and slid down my cheek. The cold tear soothed the burning hot flesh. I took a deep breath and slowly pulled my hand away from my cheek. Taking another glance at my reflection, I picked up a small rock and dropped it into the still water. My reflection could barely be seen anymore because of the motion. It truly is incredible how something so small, like a pebble, can bother the entire pond, not just the part it had hit. Just like a strike and a girl. The hand only hit her face, but bothered her entire body. Walking away from the pond, the water is still rippling.

         I pulled my wrap closer around my shoulders and arms, wanting to stay outside as long as possible. Though it was only mid-summer, the ocean that rested at the edge of the property brought cool winds, no matter what time of year. I walked along the rough road leading out of the forest and it wasn't until I stumbled that I realized there was only a couple of minutes before twilight turned into absolute darkness. I quickened my pace and my breathing began to accelerate.

          I saw a light in the darkness and knew it belonged to the stable. I picked up my pace even more as the wind come on strong and the rain started to, in a second, down pour. I raced against the rain and by the time I reached the stable door I was drenched to the bone. I threw open the door and bombarded inside. I took a shaky breath and walked down the corridors. The halls were empty, some of the horses blinked sleepily at me, but most were asleep already. The stable boys must have retreated to their quarters.

      "Can I help you, Miss?" a voice said from behind.

      I whipped around and saw a young man with golden hair. He looked exhausted and and worn out. .

      "May I borrow a lantern?" I asked quietly.

       "May I ask why?" He asked dryly. He must of saw that I was taken aback by his response and he quickly covered it. " I'm sorry, Miss. Are you trying to get back to the house? Do you live there?" I nodded. " Oh, well I'll - uh go get you a lantern." and with that he was off. Several minutes later he returned.

       "Miss, what are you doing in weather like this?" He said quietly, .

       "Well it would seem that I was out for a walk and while returning from that walk, I got caught in a rainstorm." I said annoyed. " Don't you stable folks observe anything? Strange isn't it, a girl soaking wet, in a rainstorm" I used a shrilly laugh. " And a stable boy doesn't even offer his coat to the daughter of his mistress! God!" The golden boy didn't once take his eyes off me while he removed his coat. Showing me his blood stained shirt at the back. " Oh I'm sorry! I haven't exactly had the best day today." I whispered

        He smiled a smile that was rarely seen here. "Don't worry about it Miss" he said as he helped me into his new coat. " I haven't excatly had the best day today either." He handed me the lantern. " Goodnight Miss" and he strolled back down the corridor to his room.

                                       ****************

let me know what you think please!!