A few months earlier
I've always followed my parents rules throughout life. I'm always back by my cerfew. I always tell the truth. Even though it almost happened, I've never gotten drunk. Nothing bad has ever happened to me My parents expect a lot out of me, and I want to live up to their expectations. Every once in a while, I'll get made fun of, but it doesn't really bother me.
My parents do everything for me: They plan my parties, and they pay for all of my clothes. If I ever disobey their rules though, they won't. Maybe that's why I'm always doing what they want.
"Annabelle, spin for me one last time." My mother says. Her face wrinkles into a smile as I do what she told me. "This one is perfect" she says, 'this one' reffering to the fancy dress I have on. "What do you think about it love?"
As I look at myself in the mirror, I see that my blue eyes go beautifully with the lavender color. Although, I can't find anything else that I seem to like about it. The dress is really quite ugly. After making my decision on how I feel on the dress, I reply.
"I don't really like how it looks on me." I say. My mother looks at me with a disaproving look on her face.
"Then you'll have to go nude to the party. It's that or nothing."
That's the only thing I really hate about my parents. I never get to chose anything in my life. Not even who I date! It really does pester me sometimes.
"Well, we wouldn't want that to happen," I reply. She gives me a satisfied look as I role my eyes.
My mother doesn't look anything like me. She's got this thin, blond hair that flows beautifully to her shoulders. Her brown eyes always gleam when they're in the light. She's very skinny and frail. When I look at her, I do realize how beautiful she is. Sometimes, I wish I looked more like her.
I pull my wavy brown hair up into a ponytail as I slip out of the dress. The attendent takes the dress to go check out while I dress back into my normal clothes. I look into the big mirror that sits perfectly on the wall in front of me.
"Annie," I say to reflection, "are you really happy like this? Do you like never getting your way?" My reflection sometimes makes me feel like a different person. I step closer to the mirror. I'm close enough to touch it. My hand glides up the glass surface at identical times with my reflection's. I'm almost touching it, and when I do touch the mirror, it shatters. Startled, I run out of the dressing room, and slam the door. The palm of my hand has a cut on it, and as I'm walking to the main room to meet my mother, I suck on the gash to make it stop bleeding.
"Here's your early birthday present Annabelle" my mother says as she handss my new dress to me.
That's why we came to this store, I remind myself. It's my brithday. "You were born on this day twenty years ago" my mother says.
"That's hard to believe." I reply.
"It's also hard to believe that your party is tonight!" She squeals of excitement.
I hate it when my mom gets excited. Nothing she likes is exciting.
We hop into our car, and don't talk for the next twenty minutes. When we pull into my driveway, I get out, and shut the door quickly behind me. I want to get upstairs before-
"Annabelle, we still have to talk about your male escort for tonight!" I wanted to get upstairs before that happened, but I guess not.
"I was thinking about Jeffery! How about you?" My mom loves Jeffery, just because he's smart and wealthy.
"No mom. I'm going to the party alone." I refuse to go with some selfish, over confident man.
"Go get ready darling. We'll talk about this later."
***
"Hello Annabelle! You look lovely tonight! Happy birthday!" Everyone greets me as they walk in to the ballroom where my twentieth birthday party is being held. I pretend to like each snobby person as they say hello.
Once everyone is in their seats, I have to be introduced. Thankffully I convinced my mom to let me escort myself. I hate how she thinks that women always have to have a man by their side. I really hate it.
I walk through the hallway that leads to the grand staircase and greet my mom and dad. They both look very satisfied with how I look, as they give me a hug.
"Oh, my darling Annabelle. I'm so proud of you." I hug my mom back, but do it effortlessy, because there's nothing for her to be proud of about me.
"You know what to do?" My dad asks.
"Yep." I reply, as I get into my ready position.
My mom and dad walk out onto the stairs. "Finally. I'm alone."
"Annabelle!" Someone says. I curse at myself for jinxing what I just said. I turn on my heel and see Jeremy, the man my mom was talking about eariler.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him.
"I'm here to escort you!" He says with a smile on his face.
Right then and there, something is freed inside me. I feel angry. I feel hatred. I feel lied to. Why would they lie to me? They had told me that I didn't have to have an escort. Something rumbles inside me. Before I know it, I'm doing the unspeakable. I open up the curtains to the ballroom. I take three steps down the stairs and glare at my parents.
"I'm done." I say, as I take my heels off and run. I run as fast as I can. I run until I'm out of sight.
