Come Along

come along catch a heffolump

Oh, how delightful is one's own bedroom window to sit and think of the world beyond the chilled glass panes.

Yes, how delightful indeed.

"Madam, your tea is getting cold." Oh phewie, a bothersome reminder that I am here, stuck between those glass panes and the sunlight, the bird songs, the flowers.

"I don't care for that flavor tea anymore. Throw it out." Honesty. A face I put on in hopes that the person the world, my world at least, sees is more suitable for the other world than I truly am.

For you see, my mind is unlike the rest of the lords and ladies. I'm what they call, different. As a child my favorite pastime was picking the thorns off of my fathers rose bushes, only to feel how each one felt against my pale, young skin.

I had no evil intent, but the pools of blood at the end of the day as I stood in front of my terrified father told the world otherwise. I stay here now, alone, other than a few maids and butlers to keep me sane.

I sit daily in this spot and watch the sun turn into storm, day turn into night and dawn turn into dusk. My day consists of (at least in the down time of those previously listed events) painting in the gallery.

My mother was a painter, a great one at that, leaving me with more than enough whimsical items locked away to catch my bored mind.

On that thought, I slip off the small, window side ledge and fall gracefully on my feet as any feline would naturally do as I straighten my skirt and walk to the gallery to finish my previous painting of yesterday's morning, where the garden sat perfectly still with a layer of snow covering each unkept rose branch.

I walk slowly, although the gallery is only a few short steps from the room where I spend my time, the view is nice, no dust, no cracked vases littered the long Hall's floor, just clean. Safe and clean.

With that I release a long needed breath that I forgot I was holding in the midst of my distractions.

Smash

Shatter

Tear

I suck in my breath once again, the symphony of alarming sounds came from the gallery, yet now there was only silence.

"If you've come to intrude, I dare say that was a quite sloppy entrance." I put my face up to the oak door and listen for a response. Nothing.

I push on the door, the familiar creak of the ancient wood Rand through the halls. Nothing more, no sounds.

I push more and more and more, still nothing. Maybe they were kind enough to leave the way they came, I thought foolishly.

A girl?

A small girl, about my age, lying uncomfortably in a pile of now broken canvases as fresh shards of glass can still be seen in the large windows light floating to land on the girls bare arms.

I sucked in a breath. I could never call the maids, I could feel somehow that by doing that, I would ruin something fun, an adventure perhaps.

"Are you still alive girl?"

A long groan escaped from her lips as she let out an exaggerated sigh. At least she's alive.

"What are you waiting for? Come and help me!" She said as if this was normal practice to have a girl fly through your window.

I quickly scurried past the scattered paint tins and my tipped over easel, those things were arbitrary compared to the sense of confusing excitement I felt as I pulled her from the rubble and she dusted herself off, unscathed.

"You must know that you are an intruder here, and may I add that here is a general's mansion." I said in a slightly warning tone.

"You're not one for introductions are you girl?" She wiped her nose with the back of her torn sleeve. "I'm Winnie, Winnie Roberts." She bowed awkwardly and looked around the room.

"Ophelia, Ophelia O'Hare." I smirked and bowed gracefully back.

"Such a pretty name for such a pretty girl. Don't you think?"

Think? I didn't even have time to think. The comment hit me like a train, so much so I almost tumbled myself into the pile of canvases below my feet.

"Hehe, I kid, but you really are beautiful. Now do you mind to tell me where the restroom is, I'd very much like to get cleaned up." She pulled out an old pocket watch that seemingly came from nowhere in her mangy outfit.

"I-uh," I shook my head and regained my posture, as though I momentarily fainted in joy. "Yes. I'll show you, just come along." I began wobbly steps out of the room, trying my best for the first time ever not to smile.

We made it to the restroom, which was again right across the Hall from where we stood as Winnie walked in, leaving me in my comfortable silence for just a moment more, I knew somehow that this may be the last of its kind.

I slid my head silently against the peach colored wallpaper and slid to my knees as a grin consumed my whole face. Such odd emotions to feel for some who fell from your window.