The secret of the rose

Part 1 Chapter 1

Early on a foggy morning in New Hanover County, two police officers ring the doorbell of the Parker's giganticproperty.

I am awakened by the ring of the front door. I hear Mrs. White's heavy step on the floor. As usual, our housekeeper, a little lady in her sixties, dark complexion and black hair combed in bun moves nonchalantly to the door. At the sight of the police officers, she remains speechless. The effect of surprise shows on her face, but she regains her composure and smooths her maid uniform

- Good morning, gentlemen. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are not at home. Can I help you?

The tallest and slighter of the two police officers walks under the light of the lamp near the door. His face does not show any emotion. The second officer stands back and stares at the roadway. Obviously, the tense atmosphere suggests the coming of bad news.

I hear voices coming from the ground floor. I sit in my bed to hear more clearly what is said.

- We are sorry, ma'am, but we must speak with Miss Jenny-Rose Parker in person. 

I recognize the voice of our governess, but not of the man who asks to see me. I get up from my bed and I go down the stairs with a hesitant step. The steps that I usually tumbled out seem to me more numerous.  My body is heavy, like it weighs a ton. I am not quite awake, but when I heard the officer saying he needed to speak to me in person, my brain began to slow down.

Dressed in short pajamas covered with cubs' designs, I appear before the police officers. At just 14, I have curves and a slender body, which already gives me the appearance of a young woman. I am still growing, and my angelic face preaches on this stylish body of a teenager. My brown hair is tied in two braids, reminding people that I am still only a child.

At the sight of the police, I know right now that something terrible has just happened to my parents. The mist rising from the garden accentuates the gloomy ambiance. Unable to move one step forward, petrified by the devastated look of the agents, I close my eyes to listen to the rest. The smaller of the two takes off his cap, holds it in his hands with an embarrassed gesture, and began talking;

- I'm Agent Croze. He is silent for a moment, swallows his saliva and continues without taking a breath. I'm sincerely sorry, Miss Parker, but I regret to inform you that your parents were victims of a serious car accident last night. Unfortunately, they died instantly. They did not suffer. I knew your father well for dealing with him as an accountant. I liked him a lot. It will be a great loss for the city of Wilmington. I offer you my sincere condolences.

With a very lively gesture, he salutes me by putting on his cap and returns to his car followed by his teammate. The police car slowly retreats in the driveway. I watch it pass the gate without moving, petrified by what I just heard.

It was brief, but this statement announces the beginning of a life filled with misery. I just lost everything. I remain frozen for a moment overwhelmed by my grief. I suddenly feel my legs shirking under my weight and I crash on the ground. Tears start to rain on my face. Mrs. White, who heard everything, rushes to comfort me. She crouched down on the floor and wrapped me with her delicate arms to rock me like a baby trying to fall asleep.

This mark of attention only accentuates my shock. No one in the worldwill be able to make me feel secure anymore as myfather did, and no tender hand will be able to comfort me anymore like mymother's. My whole universe collapses. What will I become? I am now an orphan.

Not yet an adult, I cannot stay alone in this big house. The social services of my state will take care of me for a while, but this measure will only be for a short period. Eventually, I will be placed with the only person I hate the most in the world. The only member of my family still alive. My paternal grandmother, the hateful Abigail Parker.