____
Quote:

ʟɪғᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ɢɪᴠᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ, ɪᴛ's ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ
ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ.

_____

Prologue:

The road was bumpy, the big unfamiliar carriage wheels rolling over rocks and clumps of dirt as two big, scary, dark brown horses pulled us along. Darkness had swept over the land some time ago, making me shudder. I couldn't see much of anything, which frightened me. I didn't like the dark.

A sniffle escaped me, the sound muffled by the road as I watched the shadowy dark trees slowly pass by the small carriage window. To me they looked like long black arms trying to grab me and take me away—monsters you could see only at night.
I quickly tugged the small curtain over the glass of the window, making me feel slightly safer. If I didn't see the looming shapes, then maybe they wouldn't hurt me.

I felt lonely in the back of the moving carriage by myself. I wanted my mommy and daddy here with me. Thinking of my parents made me sad, and even though I tried to stop the tiny water drops from escaping my eyes and running down my face, a few did anyways.

I wondered what my new home would be like. Would the Aunt and Uncle I had never met have any kids I could play with? Would I have my very own room? I hoped so. I had never had one.
I didn't know any of the answers to my questions, but I guessed sooner or later I would get them.
Shifting slightly on the old leather seat, I made myself more comfortable. I fell asleep shortly after, listening to the steady rhythm of the horses' hooves clopping on the dirt road underneath us.

•••
I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep, but suddenly the carriage jolted and I tumbled off of the musty seat in my sleepy state. I squeaked in surprise, landing on the dirty wooden floor.
Getting up slowly and rubbing the dust from my knees and hands, I realized with great delight that there was now light streaming into the curtained window, lighting up the small stuffy cage I was trapped in.
Despite my puffy eyes from crying so much the last few days, a small smile crawled to my rosy lips at the sight and touch of sunshine on my skin.
I pulled back the curtain just enough to peek out.
What I saw made me gasp in awe. A massive gray stoned house stood in front of me, with dark brown Pillars as thick as tree-trunks and Windows so clear and sparkly, you could see the mirror image of everything surrounding it.
A field of yellow, orange and red flowers dancing in the summer breeze stood next to it.
With the morning sun streaming down on them, they seemed to glisten. Beyond the field of flowers there were many trees and bushes squished together, like a magical jungle of sorts—vines hanging from the hundreds of branches.
A fading red barn stood at the far end of the yard, and by the looks of it, it wasn't being used.
My young eyes traveled all over the spacious yard and land beyond, never having seen anything quite like it in my ten years of life. I was use to city life with traffic and busy streets. Not Cinderella carriages, fields and barns.
I hoped my aunt and uncle had a car. I didn't like riding in a stuffy old box with wheels that was pulled by gigantic horses.

I didn't know how long I simply stood there in wonderment, thinking over millions of things in my head, but at some point the carriage door opened and an unfamiliar face greeted me.
I stayed rock still, looking at the hard faced woman before me.

"You must be Nicky." A fake friendly voice boomed. "I'm your Aunt Ruth, and you'll be living with us from now on."

I nodded weakly in response.
She stood there for a moment, as if waiting for me to say something, but when I didn't, she went on to say:

"Well come on child, we mustn't stand here all day."

Her lankly arms reached towards me and I felt her cold fingers around my wrist as she pulled me nearer and helped me down the carriage steps.

"Your Uncle Bill has already taken your bag to your room." She continued as we walked towards the big house.
I stayed quiet, not knowing what the days and months ahead would hold for me.
One thing my Aunt Ruth had mentioned made me believe that somewhere in the future, everything would be alright—because I would have a room of my own.

                        •••