Walking down the dimly lit corridor was my usual venture, day in and day out. Except tonight was different, because we had someone knew amongst us. Someone I had yet to set my eyes upon. I was tasked with bringing him things he should need for the night, some food, towels, cloths. The food was horrid. But all we had.
"Sorry I'm late! I would have brought this sooner but Mrs. Scrubitt had me running ragged for her." My eyes landed on the back of the mystery man's head, seeing his gaze averted to the window in front of him, looking out in longing for what life could be like free of this place. At least, that's what I do. I'm always about town, running clothes back to people amongst town in their nice homes. I wished more than anything I had one.
"Don't be sorry. You seem to do a lot of things around here." I gently sat his things down on the routine desk in all our rooms, wanting more than anything to go to bed after such a long day. It never ended around here it would seem though.
"You have absolutely no idea. I'm Rosie by the way. I'm assuming you didn't read the contract." He slowly turned towards me, and my eyes practically averted to my feet the moment our gazes collided from sheer embarrassment from the rising blush on my cheeks. He's so cute! I'm not used to ever feeling such a way. Mainly because I distance myself from anyone willing to give me any kind of attention. My little sister Noodle and I were constantly treated differently around here, always pushed more. Our bills were the highest, $30000 each in fact. My own mother payed Mrs. Scrubitt to take me after my father left her for Noodle's mother, not wanting to see my face, her exact words. Then eventually, Noodle was dropped here and we found out we were sisters from our twin necklaces. I don't remember much, sadly from being so little when it all happened. But here i am now, all grown up and doing everything I can to protect her.
"I'm Willy. I'm afraid I didn't. I study specifically in chocolate. Not so much the fine print." I couldn't help but warmly smile at him, the sad, little half smile on his lips making me feel incredibly terrible for him.
"Well unfortunately you're stuck in the staff courters like the rest of us. But, at least you got a bed!" I had one myself of course. But it wasn't much of anyone anymore from so much use. But poor Willy's luck wasn't the best, seeing as the minute he tried to test his bed out, it completely collapsed underneath him, not surprising me in the least.
"Are you okay?!" I immediately helped him to his feet, trying my best not to show how many butterflies were currently fluttering in my stomach at this exact moment. Noodle would gladly tease me for this.
"Of course. I uh, didn't expect that somehow." I couldn't help but chuckle from his clear sarcasm, finding humor in what others would find to be a horrible moment. Finally, our eyes connected and I couldn't believe the mere feeling coursing throughout my entire body, almost like a jolt of electricity. Like a spark of..... hope?
"Well there is running water. But cold and colder are the only options." We simply laughed together from the sad reality of what we were facing, not wanting to exactly be miserable anymore than I could imagine being.
"How in the world did you manage to end up in here?" I softly leaned up against the desk with a deep sigh of longing, thinking of when times were simpler. Which was never to be honest.
"My mom dropped me, much like my sister was dropped when she was little. I just want to figure out why? Why us? Why pay so much to leave me? And surly my sister was the same. But I can barely venture out except for dropping off clothing. So I guess I'll never know." My eyes averted to the ground, something I do a lot when I'm particularly nervous, considering I never talk about my life. But I just felt..... safe. For the first time in a long time. Something about Willy made me feel comfortable enough to talk about the matter.
"I think you'll figure it out one day! And if you're thinking it's some silly dream, no dream is silly. It can happen." I finally looked to him with a little smile matching his own, and somehow, I felt a spark. A spark of hope, excitement, joy, longing for the truth. I just want a better life for my sister and I. And maybe, just maybe, it could happen.