I will never forget the day I met him, the gentle boy with the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. People said there is nothing special about dark brown eyes, they are a common eye colour and that is probably true but no one ever looked at me like that boy did on that day. The sincere look or the shining in his eyes were unforgettable and I'm sure that I wasn't the only one who had noticed, father would always say how beautiful his eyes were. Who would have thought that after many years his warm and pure face would become cold and expressionless, almost unrecognisable?

1889 - Ellis Mansion

After a long day of writing practices I finally found the chance to sneak outside and play near my favourite cherry tree, the pink flowers had bloomed and it was my favourite place of the mansion at the time since no one came there to disturb me. I would spend hours drawing, playing with my cat or singing near the beautiful tree waiting for my father to come back home.

It was getting dark outside when I heard my father's car on the other side of the tall wall, but this time I noticed something different, he seemed to be talking to someone else other than our driver as I heard him say :"Boy, this were you'll live from now on".

After hearing these words I wanted to go back inside and tell mother what I had heard, but as soon as I reached my hand to open the door I heard the gate open. I quickly turned around to see two people walking on the path towards me, father and someone else who was for sure the boy to whom he was talking earlier.

It would be disrespectful to pretend I didn't see them and rush back inside no matter how shy and uncomfortable I felt meeting a boy who obviously seemed older that me. Because it was already dark I couldn't see him clearly but he was walking behind my dad and was as tall as him. I waited there in order to welcome back father, as I always would.

When he came close enough I was the first one to speak

- Welcome back father. I said smiling trying to look at his face even though I couldn't see clearly because of the bad lightning.

- Sweetheart, why are you still outside? It's quite cold. Come on let's go, I want to introduce you and your mother to someone.

I opened the door first and left it open for them, then quickly run to the living room were I knew I would find mother.

She was sitting on the couch reading a book and as soon as she saw me she looked at down at my feet

- Haven't I told you a million times... Don't come inside with your muddy shoes... that's not what a lady would do, she said calmly and looked back at her book.

- Father is back and brought a boy home, he wants to introduce him to us. I said nervous while looking down at my feet.

-Oh, I see. She responded in the same calm tone, closed the book and headed towards the entrance.

I quietly followed. Father was there holding the boy's shoulder and talking to a maid

- prepare one of the guest rooms for this boy and serve us beef and potatoes. He told her and looked at the boy, you must be hungry, right?

He nodded.

When he saw me and mother coming closer he lowered his head.

The maid quickly left leaving me, mother, father and the boy standing there.

To break the silence father said smiling

- Katherine, Violet this is Julian. I found him alone in the streets, he is an orphan so I decided to bring him here and make him our servant. He rubbed the boy's head and smiled at him.

Julian raised his head and looked at mother, then at me. When his jewel-like eyes looked directly into mine my heart skipped a beat, he had a penetrating stare that I didn't expect. His midnight black eyes, pale delicate skin and thin rosy lips made him look like a doll, expressionless but with eyes that could reveal millions of emotions.

I couldn't see mother's reaction since I was standing behind her. She slowly approached him and he raised his head to look at her.

- I'm Katherine, you don't have to be afraid or shy. You will definitely have a good life here as long as you follow the rules, I hope you will adapt to our lifestyle and serve as well. Come on go take a bath and get ready to eat with us, we'll discuss further after you'll have bathed and eaten.

I always considered mother a graceful woman, she would obey father and never lose her calm. She raised me to be a proper lady and always criticised my actions in order to improve myself. After all she was Alexander Moore's daughter, the richest man in our town. Despite his disapproval she married father out of love even though he was 9 years older than her.

At the table no one said a word. I thought that mother would start telling Julian what he should and shouldn't do like she always did with me, but no, mom and dad were eating their food quietly.

Julian was sitting next to him slowly eating too.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him, now that I think about it I'm sure he felt my intense gaze but didn't dare to look at me.

The next day I woke up because of the brightness in my room, the sunlight lit up my entire room so I couldn't sleep more. I got out of bed and headed towards the big window to look at the garden, the maids were watering the flowers and Julian was sitting under my cherry tree. Up until then I was the only one who would sit there, that's when I thought that I wouldn't be alone anymore. Dad would always be at work and mom would spend most of her time alone reading.

I imagined Julian playing with me and the thought of him laughing made me smile unconsciously. I always wanted a sibling but my dad said mom can't have other kids so maybe god sent Julian to me. I would definitely take care of him, he looked hopeless the day before so that's why I had the impression that he needed my care.

I got dressed in my favourite dress and looked in the mirror, I had this habit of practicing my smile in the mirror to know what other people see when I'm smiling. I always admired mom's gentle smile that would warm up anyone.

I rushed downstairs and went to have breakfast, alone. After I finished I decided to go look for Julian and maybe get closer to him so I went outside. He was still under my cherry tree with his eyes closed, looking like he's sleeping. I slowly approached him feeling the cold morning breeze on my face as every feeling seemed more intense as I was looking at him.

His eyes opened and he looked back at me serious making my heart throb in my chest.

-Can... can... That was the only phrase I managed to say pausing while avoiding his stare.

-Can? He asked not understanding what I want to say.

-I'll sit with you. I stated and looked at him. God I felt so proud but my tone exposed the fact that I was unsure of myself.

He didn't talk so I took it as an approval and sat next to him. I closed my eyes and thought of a way to start a conversation.

"We didn't really get to talk last night so I thought I should introduce myself properly." I said to myself in my mind, how could I be that daring to speak out loud? Whenever I tried to look at him I would get nervous, just like a few minutes ago.

-Your family seems nice.

Shocked I turned and looked at him, he spoke to me first.

-I... Yes. I said nervously, cut a blade of grass and wrapped it around my finger trying to make myself busy.

He chuckled.

-You don't have to be so nervous, you'll get used to my presence after all.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at him again.

That was our first conversation. I don't remember more details and how it went but for sure he made a good impression, because after that day I would meet him every morning under my cherry tree.

He opened up my heart but I never managed to open his. It always felt as if he was next to me but so far at the same time, I never asked about his past, his parents. Having someone to talk to was enough for me.

After a week or so my mom started giving him responsibilities. At first he helped in the kitchen, then he would arrange the bed shits and things like that.