Pearl To Ashes

Pearl To Ashes Part 1

Ch. 1

Adelaide was a lovely girl, cooed and admired from her cradle. The pearl of an only daughter, she was allowed to be indulgent and prideful, and even encouraged to be so. Possessing golden locks and eyes the blue colour of forget-me-nots, she was groomed each morning under the orders of a doting mother. Not surprisingly, this little angelic doll was as beautiful as she was spoiled. Of course, she was also perfectly sweet (when she wanted to be) and talented in everything she did, with talents in art and music and enchanted whomever she met.

Her friend Charlotte was not so fortunate, and even though she was neighbours and friends with Adelaide since childhood, she had not even half of Adelaide's many virtues. With a childish appearance, "Lottie" had been born with hair the colour of carrot sticks, the impression only deepened by the tight braids she always kept her hair in, and her shy eyes were always covered by her limp bangs.

Despite being overshadowed by sweet Adelaide, they were the best of friends, and were seldom seen without the other. It was not an uncommon sight seeing the two placing daisy chains in each other's hair, or taking walks in their dainty lace dresses, Lottie still a sad comparison to Adelaide.

Still, the inevitable happenedwhen they grew past adolescence and Adelaide's beauty became appreciated by people her age, Lottie gradually got ignored and pushed away. But the loss of her friend seemed to Adelaide no great consequence compared to the attentions that were being lavished on her.

And in a space of time seeming remarkably short, Adelaide no longer cared much for anything but her beauty. She had long since given up the proper pastimes and hobbies of an accomplished young lady. Reading bored her, and the harp was too much practice, and why study, when she only needed on brilliant smile to ace her exams?

So while Adelaide thrived under the attention of her new followers, Lottie diligently spent her time in the library, poring over books of material far more advanced than anyone would've expected from someone of her age.

Naturally, as things took their course, it became inevitable that these two dear childhood friends would soon have to part. Adelaide now spent her times at glittering balls in satin ballgowns and had mastered the art of fluttering eyelashes and bewitching smiles that captured the hearts of young men. Lottie on the other hand, gained her acceptance into a women's college to further her education.

That night, right before Lottie was about to go, the two paid each other a proper farewell as for a short while, they reminisced of their days together, both with unshed tears glistening in their eyes, they embraced each other with the emotion one would've expected from these two close companions. Even as they parted, Adelaide couldn't help noticing how plain Lottie was, and how magnificent she was in comparison. Lottie, still with the rust coloured hair and clad in her boring frocks, plain-faced as ever, seemed colourless next to rosy Adelaide delicate in her silk and lace dress.

So three years went by, while Adelaide stayed under the same lifestyle, everyday bathing her hair in scented oils, and preening before mirrors that seemed to be stationed in every corner of the manor, admiring the face of beauty she adored so much.

Lottie, away from the influence of Adelaide, gained lots of what she scarcely had before, confidence, pride, and an air of elegance that only came with the well-learned. She had long since casted away her ugly braids and brushed away the security of her skimpy bangs and her hideous, dark coloured hand-me-down dresses. She was able to laugh alongside of companions as gifted as her. And she shone, perhaps never as Adelaide did, like a lustrous pearl, but as if she was an unpolished diamond that was being discovered for the first time. And soon, much to her surprise, Charlotte, the once upon a time plain jane had gained a few admirers of her own.

So, three years later, she returned to her home, to where she grew up, quite accomplished and with a friend, whom she secretly admired.

His name was William - only ones close would call him Will - and he was a dashing young man, with windswept locks and twinkling green eyes. He was brilliant and ambitious, and gifted with the virtue of sense not often seen in the brash young fellows of his age.

When she returned, Adelaide was graced with a sense of shock, who was this becoming woman? It was as if in a few short years, the little, timid girl Lottie had blossomed into a fiery young woman named Charlotte. Her shyness long gone, her eyes had darkened into an enticing emerald and her carrot hair had grown long and silky, and flashing red and gold in the wind, it was dazzling, like fire.

Adelaide was met with emotions of intense surprise, and also something else, envy. How dare she? How dare she become beautiful? She was supposed to be the beautiful one, she was supposed to be the one to be the one that all looked up to and admired.

For there was one thing that Adelaide subconscious felt, but could not confront, a sense of fear she had not yet identified yet.

But something she would find out, for the stage for their story has now been set.