She clutched the doll like it was going to leave her somehow . I mean, that's how the rest of them left her .
They all died .
One after another, her family members got sick and slowly faded away . First it was her mother's sister then, her father and lastly her mother . Before they passed they cursed her, saying that she was a demon, a devil that plagued their family . And in some ways they were right . She did nothing for them . She didn't know what to do . Nobody had told her how to take care of someone that was dying . She hardly knew how to take care of herself since she was only 15 years old . Most of the time in the orphanage house she would stare out the window and imagine what her parents might have looked like if they were still alive . Would they love her? Would they have wrinkles from the smile they gave her when they saw her ? Or, would they treat her like their own and not like a monster ? As the day beckoned, her memories became hazy and she fell asleep with tears in her eyes .
"Aldreera! Have you not finished folding the laundry?! Do you need another punishment to put your head on straight?," Her Godmother rushed into the wet laundry room and began to scold her . Aldreera rose to face her with head hung low, feeling deflated . "All the other ladies finished hours ago and you have yet to get through half of these piles."
Aldreera scanned the room with a timid expression. One mound of clothing could fill about three large wash baskets⊠and Aldreera had four of these monstrous piles laid out in front of her.
"But GodmotherâŠ," Aldreea began to mumble but, her Godmother cut her off saying , "This is the last straw Aldreera . If I find that these piles of clothes are not finished by the morning then, I will have to send you back to the orphanage ." There was a small pause in between before Aldreera's Godmother turned around and began to walk out . Aldreera looked down at her worn out and tattered flats . Tears began to form at the creases of her eyes and soon fell onto the tan leathers of her shoes creating dark spots where the droplets had fallen . This was not the first time she had given into the desire to cry but, those times were few and far between . All Aldreera could do was stare at her feet for the longest time before lifting her head . As she did she saw a shine amongst the mounds of colorful cloth . Aldreera looked quizzically at this mound until her curiosity got the better of her . Falling to her knees to get a better look she moved a stocking out of the way and then another to find a beautiful sapphire pendant, wrapped with gold wiring and glistening like the clear dew in the morning sun . Her tiny fingers were itching to grab a hold of it but she hesitated. From whom did this beautiful jewel come from ? As she pondered the question another maid from the house entered into the laundry room, disturbing her thoughts . With an unconscious reflex Aldreera pulled the stocking over the jewel again before the maid noticed anything out of the ordinary . The maid looked at Aldreera with questioning eyes but continued with her duties.
"Evening ," Aldreera said with a small smile while standing up to put less attention to what was covered . The maid looked at her with a glare and then left the room, head held high and proud .
At times Aldreera felt that she wasn't even a part of the family of the house but a slave ; something lower than a maid . None of the servants cared about her and would continually glare with any chance given . Aldreera could deal with it though . She rather the servants look with contempt than envy . Most of the girls here would do anything for the chance to shine in the limelight , even for a moment . Whether it meant "accidentally" killing their masters or stealing their jewelry to buy a higher status . Either misconduct would eventually lead to death but , there is always a slim chance of escape .
When the maid left Aldreera quickly sat back down and lifted the stocking again to show the marvelous jewel . It looked like it hadn't been touched by human hands until now with Aldreera's being the first. Her little fingers wrapped around the gem that was the size of her palm and brought it closer to her face . Staring into it she could see her reflection, one that would make anyone frown upon the sight . Her hair was an unkempt and tangled brown mess with little feathery wisps sprouting from her hairline that she liked to call 'fly-aways' ,or rather , the little strands of hair that weren't long enough to be put into a bun . Looking further, she found her bright green eyes staring back at her but, the most noticeable thing was the dark circles that emphasized her recent lack of sleep .
Aldreera stood while still looking at her reflection . She was so entranced in the gem that she failed to watch where she stepped . Tripping over a small mound of clothing she began to fall but, before she hit the floor she clasped the jem with both hands and used the heel of them to brace her fall . Thud !
Aldreera pushed herself up while continuing to guard the gem . As she assessed herself, blood began to seep from her fingers and plink onto the marble . Opening her tiny hand she realized that by bracing the fall with her hands she had squeezed too tightly and some of the sharp edges to the gem cut into her palm .
Glancing at the gem to make sure nothing was amiss , Aldreera placed the necklace into her small dress pocket and started her long journey to her room . During all of this Aldreera had made up her mind . Pushing the fly-aways out of her eyes she headed to her room knowing that she would be sent back to the orphanage come morning . But Aldreera didn't care . The only thing she was worried about was how she could pawn this jewel to the highest bidder and escape the prison she found herself in . Because⊠Why couldn't she ? This time she wanted to decide her own fate . And let no one else stop her . That was the plan . To become something more than just a maid and stepping stool . She made up her dream before going to bed . Writing on a piece of paper along with a reminder , to pack an extra pair of stockings into her suitcase before the morning .