An Affair in the Big Top

The Blooming of Something

Lily woke up to the sun bursting through her room and shinning down on my face. The thin veil that closed off around her bed prevented any light from being hidden, forcing the tired teenager to get up and stretch while her slender lower body stayed connected to my bed. Her long white nightgown feeling good on her gentle skin as she began to get out of round, expensive bed and walk out to the dining room and finding her silent mother in the kitchen, cooking her usual breakfast as her father read his papers, presenting her bright but dark house like a dollhouse. The idea of it made the teenager sick to her stomach but somehow she sat down at the table and looked at her meal of mint, apple butter, and a nice glass of orange juice to start her new morning. Once she had completed her meal at the struck of the grandfather clock again ringing its hourly Melody , she got up from her spot and placed her dishes nicely into the sink and went back upstairs to change into a new outfit.

"Honey?" Lily's mom said before knocking on the door. Lily quickly slipped the dark red dress she had picked out on and over her head and slipped her slim arms through. "Can I come in sweetheart?" She asked her daughter again before Lily sat at her vanity and sat down.

"Come in." She said slightly loud so her mom would hear her but not get yelled at by her dad for yelling. Her mom walking in and closing the door. Lily picked up her brush and began to brush her hair gently and looked at her mom in the mirror. "What is it Mom?" She asked her mom.

"I was concerned about you last night. Something seemed off along with this morning." Her Mom explained. Lily did not know how to explain it but if she were to tell her mom about the lion tamer, her mom would possibly break into a million of pieces, like a porcelain doll. That's all lily could think of her mom as with her pale skin and soft pink cheeks and ruby red lips and clear blue sky eyes and she was so soft unlike a doll but she did dress like one.

"I'm fine Mom. I'm just tired. That's all." She lied and smiled softly before turning back to her mirror and pulling out a dark red ribbon to match her dress.

"Here. Let me do it." Her Mom suggested as she gently took the ribbon, Lily taking it back.

"I want to do it." She responded quickly, seeing her mom's eyes taken back and wide. Lily sighed. "I'm sorry. Go ahead. I just wanted to do it for myself for when...." she said and stopped talking before looking down. Her mom took the ribbon and nodded, understanding her daughter and began to do her hair.

"There. All finished." The porcelain Mom said and pulled her hand away and admired her daughter, her hair in a ponytail but loose until the end of her hair as the ribbon was tied and placed over the girl's right shoulder. Lily touched it gently and looked at her Mom.

"Thank you Mom. I think I'm gonna get a ride out." She told her mom as she got up from her cushion seat and looked at her. Her mom nodded and letting her daughter walk out of the room and down the stairs to her dad. "Uh Dad. I'm gonna call a cab and head out ok?" She asked her Dad nervously. Her father looking up from his paper and looking at her.

"And where will you be going?" He asked her, his wife at the stairway.

"Just to the shopping strip with my friends." She lied and smiled gently. Her father getting up and looking at her in the eyes. His cold dead eyes. She looked at them nervously and nodded. "I swear. We were thinking of heading to the circus again so we could play some games." She added. He frowned. "Maxwell will meet me at the circus." She added as well. Her father finally nodding yes and looking at his wife. His wife nodding quickly. The ringing of the clock chiming again as it makes her father's answer.

"Fine. I want to see you come home with him. We need to talk." He said to her and she nodded and quickly walked out before he stopped her. "And where is my kiss goodbye?" He asked her coldly. Lily quickly walked back and kissed his cheek and kissed her mom's and went to the car and drove off to the circus.