Ever After . . .

Epilogue

~Nathan~

I lied. For the first time in my life I had lied to my father. It wasn't completely lying though. I was in my office, and I was doing something. I was looking at the Selected. But I did need something. My head kept spinning, which meant I was in for a long night. What I needed was a warm glass of milk. I knew I would help me, so that's where I was headed. To the kitchen.

Marissa's face kept coming back into my head. She was the only red head here which made her stand out more than the others. If I remember right she had a twin, and they were both in the Swan Lake ballet a few months ago. Is that why she kept coming up?

I don't remember why I was walking down this hall, but it meant I'd have to go downstairs and pass all of the Selected rooms. As I did I heard crying coming from one of the rooms.

It was silent but still there. She called out for a name. It was one of the Selected. It was probably just homesickness, and I thought best to not intervene. But the maids were gone for the night, and no one would be there to comfort her. So I instantly did something I would probably regret.

I set down the papers in my hands right across from the room of the crying girl. I quietly knock on her door. I hear a quiet gasp. She must've been asleep. Then there was the quiet murmur of what sounded like "Come in."

I open the door ever so slightly. On the bed I see a girl. Her breaths were uneven, just like she'd been crying. I creep into her room and find her still crying.

"Are you alright?" I ask bending to her level. She was awake, and her eyes were alert.

She looked me in the eyes and knew exactly who I was. "Your majesty. I'm so sorry I didn't mean to bother you," she said.

"Oh no. You're quite alright. I was just passing by and heard something. I thought it'd be best to see what was happening."

"I'm still sorry. It's just I've never been this far away from home before. Mainly my brother."

"Oh?"

She sits up a little, and wipes her eyes. A wave of bright red curly hair follows her head. "Yeah. I have a twin brother. We've been through everything together. There isn't much I haven't done without him. When I'm upset he's there to comfort me. Now he's not here, and I don't really know what to do." She says it with a small laugh in her voice.

"Is this twin brother older or younger than you?" I begin to move to sit on the side of her bed.

She gives a half hearted laugh. "He's younger. But he acts older than me because he's my brother. It's like his second nature to protect me."

"I wish my brother was like that. He's just quiet, never says anything, and only usually speaks to my mother."

"My brother is quiet, but he always finds something to talk about with me."

"That must be nice. I've always been so close to my dad, but that's not really the same as having a brother."

She laughs. "No it's not. I never had a father so I can't really relate."

"Oh. I'm sorry if I touched a sore topic there."

"Oh no no no no. You're fine. To be honest I never even met him. He died when I was a baby so I really don't have anything of him. Talking about him with my mom is a different story."

"I see. Well I hope that you're feeling better, I best be on my way Miss..."

"Singer. Marissa Singer."

This was Marissa Singer. The girl from Carolina that everyone knew.

"You're the girl that everyone knew." I say.

"He yeah. I actually just learned that my mother was in the last Selection. Nobody back at home really remembered much about it. Again touchy topic with my mom, don't really know much about it."

"I could imagine. Well Miss Singer-"

"Marissa."

"Excuse me?"

"Please just call me Marissa. I'm not big in formality with my name."

"Well then Marissa. I will see you tomorrow. I do hope you feel better then."

"I should. It was nice talking with you Prince Nathan."

"Please. If I can call you Marissa please just call me Nathan."

She smile, and I smile back. "Thank you. You have no idea how much I needed that."

"You and me both." She gives a small smile again as I get up to leave her room. "Sleep well Marissa."

I close her door. Suddenly my headache is gone, and I feel much tired. A glass of warm milk shouldn't help anymore. I pick up my papers, and go back upstairs to my room. Tomorrow is a big day.