All I Have Left

Chapter Ten

I was wearing the long, sheer red dress Mother bought me. My makeup was done nicely, although it wasn't too much that it was overbearing. My hair was in a nicely done French braid, the two strands of white hair in front of my face. I was wearing one-inch transparent heels. I had on some of the jewelry I had gotten for Christmas.

I was wearing the golden bracelet with my name engraved in it. I was wearing the tiny golden hoop earrings. I was wearing the golden ring that had a tiny tiara on it. I looked stunning, as Mother says. Father said I looked spectacular. He said everyone will be jealous.

Honestly, I don't know how to feel about that.

~

It was finally seven. I stood at the front door of the foyer with Father, waiting for guests to arrive. Father was wearing a fancy suit, one that showed off our wealth. That was Father's goal, after all.

The whole house was decorated for Christmas. The foyer had tinsel all around the railings of the staircase. There was a nicely decorated Christmas tree in at least every room of the house, but a huge one in the corner of the foyer. There were stars hanging from the high ceiling, even one hanging from the chandelier in the center of the room. Candles were lit everywhere in the house, making it brighter than usual. The house looked amazing, it was undeniable.

We heard the first knock on the door, meaning the first guest has arrived. Father and I quickly stand up from the stair we were sitting on while waiting to open the door. As I walk towards the door, my heels made a noise so loud it echoed throughout the house. When we approach the door, I reach to open it but Father stops me. He looks at me and shakes his head, and I notice Smiley appearing next to him. Smiley opens the door, and we see the first family to arrive.

"Lila!"

"Daphne!"

We hug each other as soon as we see each other. Daphne's wearing a short white dress, one not as nice as mine, but her hair is done amazingly. She's wearing a lot of makeup, but it's just a little more than she usually wears. She's wearing three-inch high heels, but it makes her the same height as me. I pull away from Daphne and hug her little sister Astoria.

"Hello Astoria." I say to her mid-hug. She was wearing a short navy blue dress, her hair also done similar to her sister's. She wasn't wearing nearly as much makeup as her sister, but it was still a bit. She was wearing flats, but they were very nice. We pull away from the hug and I go to shake her parents hands.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass." I say while shaking both their hands. They smile at me. Mr. Greengrass was wearing a tuxedo, but Mrs. Greengrass was wearing a nice, long black cocktail dress. Her hair was done similar to her daughter's, and her makeup was done very nicely.

"Hello Roman, Ophelia." Father greets them, shaking both of their hands. They greet him back. "Please, all of you, come in."

He gestures for me to take them to the ballroom, so I do. Father stays by the door waiting for more guests to arrive.

"Wow, this is very lovely. You guys have done a nice job decorating." Mrs. Greengrass says while we enter the ballroom, and she wasn't wrong.

There was tinsel hung around the room, and there were trees in every corner. Rose bushes and tree bushes were decorated around the room. The four chandeliers that hung low had stars on them, making a nice effect. The railings on the third floor that you could see in the ballroom had tinsel and bouquets on them.

There were red and green benches placed around the room for people to sit. Candles were hanging from the ceiling, so were stars. The large chandelier in the middle of the ballroom was lit lighter than usual, and slow classical music was playing.