The Odd Girl And The Princess.
Episode 1
I feel a rapid beat in my chest, and I sit in the corner of the room. I fold my small arms over my knees with my head placed on top to calm myself from the pressure surrounding the room. I feel so small trying to reach for any slither of air.
Then I raise my head, and the ballroom is empty. No one dances on the light golden floors or gossips loudly about their social affairs; it’s just empty.
There’s a princess twirling and laughing in the centre of the room as her pink dress flows with her movements. She embraces the pitter-patter of the music and looks so free as if she feels none of the pressure this society holds
I let myself feel in awe for a moment, only to feel that heavy stone in my heart and my air growing thin after a second’s pass. Not knowing what else to do, I bury my head into my arms once more.
This time I hear a clicking pattern making its way towards me. I lift my head to see a gentle hand placed in front of me.
Cleo
“May I have this dance,” the princess asks.
Jade
I shake my head to decline
Cleo
“Don’t know how to dance, do you,” she teases.
She gives an understanding smile in return.
Cleo
“That’s all right. Perhaps that means I must retire from dancing at the moment to seat beside you.”
I let out a heavy breath as her dress makes a light ‘poof’ noise while she sits.
Cleo
“You know, when I was about your age, I didn’t like dancing in ballrooms much either. I used to run out to the corner of the room at every chance I was given.”
My brows furrow in thought; ‘why would a princess need to escape her own ballroom if she’s one of the hosts?’
She nods as if she could hear my thoughts.
Cleo
“You see, it’s difficult being the hostess when everyone expects everything and more from you. One day, as a child, I was sitting in the corner of the room such as yourself, and someone in gorgeous blue asked me for a dance. I was hesitant yet stood as a polite hostess should. I tiptoed with grace while she leapt forth with glee. We stood in the centre of the room. She let go and danced with no grace at all. I felt dozens of stares from all over the room. She didn’t seem to notice or care as she suggested I do the same. That night, I let go of all the pressure in my chest and danced the night away, doing the same ever since.”
I feel myself rise and hesitantly offer my roughly textured hand to the curious princess.
She smiles again and nods with a rise.
I now see everyone dancing around us again with eyes on us in the center of the room, but before the pressure could build up again.
Cleo
she whispers, “focus on the music and let the rest carry on.”
I let out a heavy breath, and as the night drifts on, the room fills with our giggles; for once,
I picture the princess ending up adopting this girl, but the little girl also has an illness, so it's kind of angsty like that and stuff, but it all comes to a happy ending where she's cured, or she dies but is happy that she got to experience life through the princess' eyes.
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