Freedom

Freedom

Prudence sat lightly down on the window seat in her room, looking out the open windows of her Victorian home. The stars sparkled with a pronounced shine that made her eyes brighten with happiness as the moon's soft light set her face alight with a ghostly complexion. If someone outside the window were to listen closely they could hear a gentle lulling melody. They float from her mouth and fly pleasantly through the air. She sat there, many a night watching and singing to herself in the summer night. Some people might ask why but, she didn't dare tell a soul. If she did, then what would be left for her? She only had one other hope among the stars and her own soothing voice; only one other thing that she could depend on... and if she spoke out, everything would be taken away from her. Not only the soul with which she held her hope, but her own life.

"Prudence." The woman who was called turned toward the voice, low like a cat's purr yet as calm and refined as to seem nearly emotionless. She had come to know it well. "It's time for dinner." The low voice spoke again. He was the only person she trusted now. She would trust this man with her life, and yet she still hated it in this old marble home.

The door closed behind her before she stood and settled the skirt of her dress. Many days she wondered if she would ever grow, ever be able to control her own life. Many civilians took the time to remind her of her cruel life, of her descent.

"Someday soon..." Prudence whispered to her reflection as she gazed at herself in the mirror.

Clasping her hands together, Prudence descended the stair case to the main hall at which point a servant would escort her to the dining hall. Her hands gripped each other tighter as she neared the dining hall. Another evening with the man she loved and another she wished she had never come to know. Another meal she wouldn't finish because of the sour taste it left in her mouth. Prudence took a deep breath and waited.

"Milady, please enter."

As Prudence entered the dining hall, her eyes scanning the brightly light room she let herself lose a bit of composure. The room was donned with a new layer of royal red that brightened the room and made the cream colored marble appear as bright flames. The equally red curtains were cast aside to let in the night breeze that she loved so much. Sitting at the food covered table was the man who had taken her freedom so long ago as well as the man who she couldn't hope to lose.

"You did this for me?" She spoke, her voice shaking from the strong emotion as they nodded. From then on she knew she would be okay with her captors. She knew she would be safer with them than with anyone else. While she still hated this new home and on man in it, she still loved him.

"Only for you." It was then she knew. This is what real freedom was.