The Path to Love

Chapter 4:Luna

The fundraiser seemed to have no end. I was bored out of my skull. I sat through endless speeches and political rants. The three little pigs I encountered in the bathroom avoided me ,thank God . But I knew that they would be back at some point. Their mission, whatever that is, was not complete .

I sat by a window,admiring the full moon outside. I might have even heard a wolf howl. But I wasn't certain of it. The loud chattering around me ,made it extremely difficult to tell .

"It's beautiful, isn't it ?" I looked up to see a short blonde woman in a red dress acknowledge me. I nodded at her slowly, wondering why she spoke to me .

"I'm Luna. " She smiled ,offering her me a handshake.

"Claire ." I responded.

" I am so tired of this event. " She sighed. She sat beside me and scanned the room with a bored look.

" My husband is here somewhere,trying to form some partnerships. What brings you here?"

"My parents." I dryly  responded, hoping she would leave me alone and be on her way .

" You don't talk much." She chuckled.

I loosened up a bit after she chuckled.

" I am also very bored of this event. I never wanted to be here but I had no choice." I explained.

She nodded at me and focused all her attention on me .It was as if her blue eyes could see my soul.

" You will get what you need and want ,in time ." She smiled . As she smiled ,she looked behind me . I looked in her direction but saw nothing .

I thought about the strange statement she made. I wonder what she meant. She smiled again, as if she could read my thoughts.

She endlessly talked about her family and I actually enjoyed listening. I learnt that she had a set of 10 year old twins ,a boy and a girl . She spoke of her husband with utter love and adoration.

" However, I think you will like my brother ." She grinned. She had a knowing look in her eye and I just raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah ,sure . " I didn't know how else to respond.

" So tell me about yourself. You are so quiet ." She said.

" Well ,you know my name already. I'm 18 . I go to Clark Terrence high school. I enjoy playing the piano and I'm an only child ."

Her eyes lit up for some unknown reason. Then she looked around the hall, as if looking for someone.

I heard her muttering to herself before her gaze settled on mine .

" You and my brother will definitely get along . His name is
Caelan . He also loves to play the piano ." She smiled.

I was about to ask more about her brother when a loud announcement filled the hall .

"We will like to now call Mr. and Mrs. McLeighton to the stage for a short presentation."

As the audience applauded, I watched my parents make their way to the stage.

My father was the first one to speak. " I am blessed to have a wonderful family. It is a gift I cherish every day ." He started.

" I have a beautiful wife and daughter as well as the ability to provide them with all they need ."

He can keep lying to himself.

" However, not all people are able to share this blessing. That is why we are donating 50 million dollars to the Eresco foundation. This money would go towards helping families with resources such as housing and financial aid." He smiled proudly .

I rolled my eyes as he spoke and clenched my fist as he spewed nonsense from his lips .

The audience however, burst into a fit of applause and gave him a standing ovation. I, on the other hand was very ready to leave . Their pretenses did not fool me . It never has and never will.

Luna gave me a concerned look and I didn't even bother smiling back at her.

"Claire ?" I looked up to the sound of my mother's voice.

She gleefully asked me to go and take pictures with some people she met.

I looked back and Luna was nowhere to be found. As I walked through the crowd, I felt eyes staring holes into the back of my head. It was probably Luna.

"This is my daughter, Claire . She is the heir to my husband's company. " She spoke .

The couple looked impressed and greeted me in a cordial manner. They were the famous Roberto family. They owned a multimillion dollar software company named Glyon.

"Our son is just a few years older than you . He will also inherit our company. A joint partnership would be a very strategic move ." Mrs. Roberto nodded and smiled at me , before looking at my parents for approval.

I felt my heart drop as the conversation went on . My father eventually joined in and approved of a possible union between his company and theirs. That meant my unhappiness.

They were willing to sacrifice my happiness for money . Such loving parents I have .

As I stood there, I felt invisible and insignificant. My parents talked about me as if I were an object to be bought and sold . As if I were a commodity .

They ignored the fact that I was a living and breathing human being .

After minutes of invisibility, the event came to an end and it was time to leave.

As we said our goodbyes to the Roberto's, I spotted Luna talking to a man in a black tuxedo. I saw him from the back but he looked familiar.

As he was turning around, my mom cleared her throat behind me and instructed me to follow she and my father to the car.

I followed suit , praying for the day I could move out . Praying for the day I could live the kind of life I desired.