The Caged Bird

She looked into the empty void. Tears made their way down as she could only see the glass that was part of her personal prison. Her personal hell. She could only see loneliness, emptiness, darkness as she was met by her reflection. Nothing of what was surrounding her gave her hope. She felt like a caged bird. A bird that was meant to fly the high, blue skies, but was trapped like a prized possession for her master to impress others with. She wanted to explore, venture, and observe the outside world. The freedom that was waiting for her outside, behind the glassed windows, was only an illusion. It was like offering candy to a child and right before the innocent hands would take the sweet snack, to take it away. The beautiful garden outside, on the other side of the window of her prison, was her candy. A heavenly sweetness she met every day to be only taken from her, or better, to remind her it was taken from her. The hollow and dull eyes of the

I was one week in of my horrendous punishment. It felt like the whole world was punishing me by letting time go so slowly. In the morning, my teacher arrived, and we would work until one in the afternoon. Then I would have lunch alone. When I was done eating, I would join Mary in the kitchen as our chef would teach me a new recipe. By then it would be around three in the afternoon. I would go to the library and play the piano until four and then I had nothing to do anymore. This was my routine, day in and out.  I had already watched all the movies I was allowed to watch; I had done all the hobbies I was allowed to do, which were not interesting anymore, and I could not go outside of the house. I was forbidden to go anywhere outside our borders. I had never been to the movies, to the mall, to the library, or to school. I was very

After my punishment was over, I would never take going outside for granted. I felt so much better to be outside again than be cooped up in the house. With my privilege being given back to me, my days were much brighter, especially because I knew when my brother would return home, which was soon. In a week, the party took place, of which I still had not figured out what its occasion was. I made my way to the kitchen after my afternoon walk outside. Mary was eating a sandwich, which meant she was on her break. "Hello, Mary." I chirped. "Hello dear, how are you doing?" She asked with a smile. "Really good, in a week Xavier is visiting again. Again! Maybe he will have some time to listen to the last piece I have learned on the piano." I mused.

The magazines felt like heavyweights on my lap. I could not speak. Silence filled the room. Time went by."Look Ava, I know you don't know my son, I can understand this might be difficult for you. But this wedding will take place, nothing can change that. So, I suggest you quit your whining about this and pick out a wedding dress." Miranda said stern.I looked at her. Her lips were pressed in a thin line and she had a deep frown plastered on her forehead. Her eyes were cold, telling me to obey her.I looked back at the magazines and slowly opened them. Looking at the white dresses. None of them were appealing to me. Nothing about all of this was appealing to me, but apparently, I whined, and I did not want to displease her. So, I started to act like a proper lady and listened to my elders."The pages with the folded ears are the dresses that might be fitting for you." I turned to the next page with a folded ear. "Oh, this is my fav

All week I was scared and confused. I even had forgotten about the fact I was now finally eighteen. The moment in the rose garden with Edric was absolutely terrifying. And to top that off I had all these questions in my head. What did Edric mean by mafia and underworld? I had tried to look it up on my laptop, but it had many restrictions on my internet access. A lot of websites I had no access to and I was too afraid to ask my father or my brother.The whole week I was stressed and today did not help. Today was the wedding.I was already sent to the bathroom to take a shower by Miranda. To say I was shocked was an understatement. She was the one to wake me up and was already yelling directions. Everything had to be perfect, was Miranda's motto today.I had hoped I would have t