Short Stories

The Masquerade Ball

Brightly coloured ball gowns and suits twirled around the gold and white ballroom, each one as unique as their wearer. Pallen's annual Masquerade Ball was famous across the world, and envoy's and royalty came from every place imaginable. Except Pallen. A ghost town except on Midsummer, Pallen was home to a single girl. Ten-year-old Violetta Lorain stared through the window of one of the few still standing buildings. She envied greatly the chance to walk up the grand marble staircase in elegant gowns and masks, and she often imagined herself in the brightest gold and blue gown, twirling elegantly around the ballroom.

Eleven-year-old Alejandro Brown, prince of the Valerian Isles, hid in a leafy green bush, watching the brown-haired, dark-skinned girl in a tatty white dress. She glanced over at him, her startling violet eyes locking onto his brown ones. He ducks down and out of sight, blushing furiously. 

A year later, Violetta feels a tap on her shoulder as she sits and watches the dance."My name is Alejandro Brown," the boy tells her. "What's yours?"

"Violetta Lorain." She replies. The two start talking.

"Shouldn't you be inside?" Violetta asks when Alejandro tells her he's a prince.

"Nah. Dad doesn't mind." But there's something strange in his voice. 

Fourteen-year-old Violetta's face lights up when Alejandro gives her a promise ring. 

"Forever and always," he says. "Just you and me."

Sixteen-year-old Violetta is worried when Alejandro doesn't show. Then she spots him in the window. Dancing. But his face is hollow and worried. He is not the same boy he was a year ago. When he spots her, his face lights up. He pulls from his partner and runs towards her."Are you okay?" Violetta asks. "Shouldn't you be inside?" 

"Nah. Dad doesn't care. He wants me to marry someone he's chosen." Violetta doesn't understand that he's not joking. "Vi," he tells her, "I'm serious."

Violetta starts to cry. She yells at him. Calls him names. An idiot. A lier. Tells him she hates him. Throws the promise ring into the bush. He doesn't protest. He knows she is right. 

Nineteen-year-old Violetta doesn't show up to the ball. She has given up on her dream. She knows it is useless.

Twenty-one-year-old Violetta returns to the ball, for old times sake. Alejandro is waiting. She turns away.

"Please," Alejandro says. He gets down on one knee. Pulls out the promise ring. He doesn't need to ask.

"But-"

"I ran away. It never happened Vi."

She says yes. She still loves him. After all these years.

Twenty-two-year-old Violetta stands in white. She walks down the aisle to Alejandro."Always and forever. Just you and me." is the promise.

Twenty-three-year-old Violetta Brown walks up the marble staircase, dressed in the brightest gold and blue dress, a silver crown twinkling on her head. After thirteen years, her violet eyes shining brightly through her mask, the Queen of the Valerian Isles fulfils her dream.

(A/N - This is a different style to how I normally write, so let me know what you think!)