Roses on My Way - Prologue

Having life must be fun. You'll feel free and happy. You can do anything you want without following your parents. You can be happy with just a small thing like a plant or a flower. It doesn't mean that I don't have life. But I think I'm dead. For the 14 years of my life, people won't let me out in the sun. I never went out of the mansion. It also doesn't mean that I'm a vampire, but I wish I am. My parents, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, my cousins, my relatives and the servants won't let me do what I wanted. They're so overprotective of me. Whenever I'm out of their sight, they'll call everyone to look for me. My dad is the only kid of my grandparents so dad inherited the company. Then I'm dad's only kid so I will inherit the company one day. That's the reason why they're so overprotective. They're afraid to lose me, as everyone said.

My name is Hilary Evans. I'm 14 years old and I've been inside the house for 14 years. My skin is pale, that's why I always wonder if my family are vampires. But they don't show any of the signs that the book I've read said. My hair is red as the wine in the kitchen. My eyes are blue like the cloudless sky. I am short for my age. My height is five feet and two inches. And I'm skinny. My thighs are big as two fists pressed together. In my whole life, I never wore jeans, shorts or any denim. I only wear dresses or skirts and blouses. I also don't wear sneakers or rubber shoes. I only wear sandals or flats. I'm allowed to wear slippers, but on rare occasions only.

I've never been alone in my life, except in the bathroom, of course. There should be a maid or a butler following me wherever I go. I remembered what my parents told the maids and butlers. They said that I should be followed even I were to go to the Sahara Desert. But of course, the maids and butlers won't let that happen. Not because they're worried about me, but because they're worried that they can't travel that far. They're also worried to be tanned.

I can nearly do anything. I can sing in a soprano voice. I can talk different languages fluently. I can also write in different kinds of alphabets. I can paint and draw. I can read a 700-page book in only a day. I can identify different kinds of plants and flowers and herbs and trees. I can recite all the names of the countries in the world. I can recite the periodic table of elements. I can play different kinds of instruments. But people never taught me things that would cause me to sweat, like cooking.

Once, one of our relatives came to visit. It is my Aunt Alyssa and her son, Drew. Drew is fifteen and a freshman. Aunt Alyssa's my father's cousin and she's only in her mid-thirties. I always hate the two of them. Drew always annoy me. And Aunt Alyssa always bully me by keeping me all day in my room, keeping me out of everybody's way. My parents welcomed them to the house.

"Good afternoon, Alyssa. I see you've brought Drew with you. He's such a handsome boy," my mom said. She seems fond of the visitors but she's not. She also hates them deep inside. My mom thinks Aunt Alyssa is acting like she's the owner of the house whenever she comes here.

Aunt Alyssa forced herself to laugh. "Yes, you're right about that. He's grown up into a good-looking boy. And look at Hilary too, she's such a lovely girl."

"Yes, she is. But she just needs to eat a little more," my dad said. They're now looking at me.

"Oh yes, well, aren't you tired from the trip, Alyssa? I'm sure you want to rest for a while," mom said. My mom barely sees and talks to me but we both hate my aunt.

"Yes. Drew, you may now play with Hilary," Aunt said.

Drew looked at me and smiled wickedly. Aunt Alyssa and dad went to walk through the hall. Mom walked closer to me and leaned to whisper to me.

"Don't worry Hilary, I'll make sure they'll be gone within this week," mom whispered and left.

I just nodded and watched her follow my dad and aunt.

Drew went to stand next to me. "So, how's your studies, little Hilary?"

"I'm not little. And my studies are perfectly well compared to yours," I said.

"Whatever. You're still little. Look at your size," he said, looking at me.

"I know, alright? You don't need to remind me that you've grown taller than me."

"I remember when you used to be taller than me when we're kids. I didn't expect I'll tower over you in just a short time."

"I perfectly remember all of it. So there's no need for you to remind me. Now stop bothering me. I have business to attend to," I said and started walking away.

"You know, Hilary, you act like a grown up. It's obvious on how you speak. It's not cool, you know. Your parents should let you out so you can hear what people your age are saying," I heard him say behind me.

I turned slowly and said, "Whatever words I choose to speak isn't your concern."

"Ugh. Whatever. You're such an old woman, you know that? But you always speak what's in your mind."

"Thank you for your opinion, Drew," I said sarcastically and moved my legs to my bedroom before I can hit Drew for calling me an old woman.

I walked through the halls with paintings hanging on the wall and huge vases at the corner. The carpet I was walking on was perfectly cleaned. I looked at the clear glass windows while walking. It's snowing outside. I wonder what it's like to touch that white soft-looking thing falling from the sky. I walked toward the window and looked outside. The trees were covered with snow. Everything was covered with snow outside and it looks wonderful. I looked around me and quietly opened the window. I put out my hand but before a snowflake falls on my palm, I heard someone behind me.

"Hilary? What are you doing?" I turned around and saw Aunt Alyssa.

"I'm just wondering what the snowflake would feel on my palm," I said.

She laughed and I stared at her silently.

"Do you want to come outside and see?" she asked.

For a moment, I thought I was dreaming. This shouldn't be happening. I was never offered to come outside. I remembered when I was a little kid. My doll fell from the window and I attempted to get it outside. One of the gardeners saw me and carried me back inside again. My parents were mad and told me they won't know what to do if I'm out of their sight again and someone tries to kidnap me. Of course they know what to do. They'll call the cops and tell them to look for me. They'll bribe them a large amount of money to look harder for me. They're so pathetic.

"Am I allowed to?" I asked.

She went next to me and placed her arm around my shoulder. "Of course, my dear. So, do you want to?"

I nodded quietly. She grinned and started leading me through the hall. I was both scared and excited. I really never came out of the house. Even for buying my things. My parents will get someone to buy me a bunch of different things and let me choose what I want. We went down the stairs but didn't see the maids. Where are they? Weren't they supposed to see me and tell my parents I'm going out? Then they'll be rushing toward me and tell me the same things again and again and again. We reached the door and she opened it for me.

I stepped outside the door and went to stand at the marble porch. I stood there and watched the snow falling from the sky. I reached out my hand and a snowflake fell on my palm. It was cold. And it was gone within seconds. It only left cold water on my palm. I heard Aunt Alyssa stand beside me.

"Why are you nice to me today?" I asked, still watching the snow.

"I've been nice to you since the first time you met me," she said.

"You're not," I said.

"Yes, I am. Drew and I always pretend to hate you. I'm sorry if Drew have to fight with you. But we're doing it for you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, still not looking at her.

"My dear, we always pretend to hate you so our family won't think that I'll do a favor for you. I kept the maids and the other servants away from your way. I'm making a favor for you right now. You can now run away from this life. Aren't you bored about it? You don't like it, right? You can escape your life now. This is your only chance. You don't have to worry about your father's company, anymore," she said in a calm voice.

What? She's doing a favor? For me? How does she know I don't like my life? This is my only chance? For escaping? There's so many questions in my mind right now. I sort of like the idea of running away. I will never worry about the company anymore. I can go out whenever I wanted to. I can do anything I want. I will never have to follow anyone. I will never have to rely on them. I'm gonna be free. I like the sound of that.

I looked at Aunt Alyssa and saw her looking at me. She reached into her bag and pulled out a black credit card. She handed it out to me.

"I saw it in your drawer. I knew there's millions of money in your account. I just don't know the exact amount. You'll need it in buying a house and in your tuition fee in school and your other needs," she said.

I reached the card. "Thank you, Aunt Alyssa. You'll never know how happy I am." Without warning, tears started streaking down my face. I avoided thinking about my parents, my family, the ones I'm leaving behind. "Please take care of our family. Please take care of everybody. Please tell them I'm sorry to leave them. Please tell them I'm gonna be back again if I'm ready."

She smiled. "Of course, I will. Now you better leave before anyone sees you."

I nodded, biting my lip. Then I started running. The snow was falling and I can feel it on the top of my head. My feet are pressing against the snow as I walk. I pulled my dress high as my knees and started running. I ran out of the gates and looked back at the mansion. Goodbye, I thought and looked in front of me. Finally, I'm free.