As I am laying in the hospital bed I began tossing and turning, without even knowing it. I started sweating and kicking my feet, in my sleep. Immediately I jerked awake, panting and breathing heavy. As my eyes slowly adjusted, and my body started to wake itself up, I realized then I was still in the hospital. I looked to my right, at the bottom of the window was a little crack and I could see daylight shining through the window. Today is the day I finally get to go home. After all this resting, I was definitely ready to get back out there.

• • •

           Days began to fly by as we got closer to the annual party. Everyone was acting funny and suspicious, and quite frankly I did not approve of it. I checked my calendar one more time to see the date and there it was, July 20, 2022, nearly three days away. The big day that everyone will find out who will be the queen.

'The queen of the phoenix pirates' I thought to myself.

This was not a name that I will ever take lightly. A month ago, I knew nothing of the sort, even though it was only a month ago that I knew nothing, today was a different day because I knew what the future might hold for me. To have the responsibility of that title would be such an honor, but to have my twin sister, my dynamic duo as that title and not me, well it stings a little bit. My stomach turns and twists little knots in it, my throat begins to burn, and my hands start to sweat profusely. I was having a panic attack worrying about something that I simply cannot control, my worst enemy ever, my own mind.

        Your own mind will destroy you, if you let it. With nearly two and a half days away, barely three days, my mind was playing so many tricks on me. That night, I had a nightmare, that Bailey became the queen and she forced me to do all her dirty work she did not want to have to do. Bailey is the worst in my dreams, she is a complete nightmare. I did not know what to do if Bailey was chosen, and not me. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with myself, insecure, and just disappointed in letting myself become this much of a mess. What was I going to do?

           I needed to relax and calm myself down before I pass out again. It is almost like my body knew what was ahead and what was to come. This big reveal is making me a nervous wreck with myself. Would I even be good enough, ran through my mind too many times to count. If I was not to get chosen, then I believe I am not good enough. It is what it is, and whatever happens, just happens. It is something I will have to learn to deal with.

• • •

Today was the big day. The big party day for everyone all over to come to. I had to dress my best, the best jewelry, the best shoes, and try my best on my makeup, on which I never wore. I guess I do have enough confidence to know that I do not need makeup. I jumped out of bed and ran to take a shower, at which I washed my hair and body twice. I shaved my legs and exfoliated them. I hopped out of the shower and dried off my body, dried my hair off, and brushed my teeth. I was ready to find the perfect outfit for the perfect occasion, whether I left a winner or loser, queen or not, I was going to look drop dead gorgeous.

       I slipped on my long silky red, tank top dress with an x on the back, a single slit up the left side, black heels with gold on the bottom and across the straps. I put my round princess cut diamond ring on, along with a red ruby oval stone, I grabbed my red ruby necklace with diamonds around the ruby's, and a rose gold bracelet my dad bought me for my birthday last year. Every year my dad buys me the most expensive jewelry you could even dream to imagine, costing over hundreds of thousands of dollars. He only does it once a year on my birthday, because he simply is never there. Dad was always working on my birthday throughout the years. I glanced at myself in the mirror, and I stood their in awe for a moment. As my mind wandered off, my gaze grew stronger and stronger, and I looked deeper and deeper into my own soul. I saw myself as queen in that mirror. I saw my true self— Halley, Queen of the Phoenix Pirates.

         Not a day before this moment, did I ever stop to think if I were to run the Pirates. I never did think I was good enough. Now that I am getting older, it is my time to shine. Shine bright like a diamond I am. I do not want to boast or brag, or act like I am on my high horse, but tonight I feel the complete opposite than yesterday. I feel secured, respected, and very confident in myself. Tonight no one can bring me down, not even my worst enemy could.

        One last look in the mirror and I do a little spin and check my own self out, and walk out the door and down the hall. Downstairs everyone was waiting for me to arrive. I walked down the stairs into the foyer, all eyes were on me. Everyone was dressed accordingly, Dad was in his fanciest suit, Mom was in her best dress, and Bailey wearing her brightest blue dress, hers barely covered anything up. It was like velvet the way it caressed her body, it was loose and tight fitting, she looked beautiful in her bright sea blue dress. It looked like one of those princess dresses you see in all the movies. Aiden wore a dark navy blue suit, it was almost black, but when the light touched it the blue tint came through more.

I walked down the stairs and really thought everyone was counting on me in that moment. I felt as if I had a spotlight on me walking down the stairs. I quickly gathered my thoughts and shuffled my feet down the steps. We all exchanged our glances at one another, smiling and looking at each other.

"are y'all ready to go?" dad asked, glancing at everyone in the room.

"hell yeah," Aiden shouted, looking over his shoulder at Bailey, who nodded yes.

"yeah, let's go!" I exclaimed, trying to hold back my emotions. I wanted to be excited for this party but not too excited.

"yes dear, the limo is waiting for us outside," mom replied, picking up her purse and shaw sweater. She looked at dad and nodded she was ready to go.

We all walked out the door as Aiden held it open for us, we all picked up our dresses and entered the limousine. It was very spacious, it had lights and music playing on the inside. Along with wine glasses, shot glasses, and cigars. My dad sure knew how to party.

           I was headed to the biggest party of the decade. This crazy, big party, would definitely help me or could possibly destroy me. My stomach was twisting and turning, with my nerves all over the place. I just kept telling myself to maintain my composure until the very end, and even after that I have a reputation to uphold. Whether I crush tonight, or if tonight crushes me altogether.

               The limousine ride was approximately a two or three hour ride– by time we showed up to kick off the party, we were completely drunk. Bailey, Aiden, and myself thought it would be super smart to start taking shots, while mom and dad sipped on their wine and bourbon. But there is a twist, my dad drinks wine and my mom drinks bourbon, that is usually where they like to start if they are trying to get a buzz. We had a great time in the limo, we took shots, drank way too much, and listened to music the whole way there, while we jammed out.

          After about three hours since we left our house, we came to a long paved road it had no signs or nothing. Our driver slowly creeped down the road, going only about ten miles per hour. Everything started to look familiar, in ways I could not describe. There way nothing around me, but everything felt so familiar.

Soon after we had arrived at our destination and boy was it a big one. This place was bigger than my own house, and we live in a mansion. Our house has sixteen bedrooms, five living rooms, three whole kitchens, two garages, and nine bathrooms all in all. This super-mansion was nothing compared to anything I have seen before. I could see maybe seven or eight story's but it was hard to tell, maybe they had a basement or and attic, who the hell knows. But one thing I knew for certain, I will definitely get lost here if I do not stick close to everyone else. This place is extremely huge. The limo stopped and the driver came around to open my side of the door. The moment I stepped out the limousine, you could already feel the bass to the music in my shoes. My heart was throbbing fast and I was already slipping in my shoes. But then I saw my reflection again in the limousine back window, and my confidence was full again.