Winners of the January Art Competition!
by Shinique Walker
by Samira Noori
by Zuleyka Fermin
by Jocelyn Reyes
by Jorge Martinez
Excerpt from Void in the Neverland by Tahiba Rahman
Chapter 1: “The Desire for Freedom”
"Princess it's time to wake up. Today is a new day."
I could hear a faint sound calling out to me. That soothing and calm voice sounded like my maid, Sharon trying to wake me up from my slumber as usual, like every other day. All of a sudden, I felt the sun's rays shining, making my eyes squint. I don't want to wake up. I still want to sleep in peace, stuck in dreamland within the depths of my mind without any interruptions.
"Princess, wake please, or else you'll be late for your morning sessions!" Sharon exclaimed.
I want to stay in dreamland a bit longer, but it looks like that won't happen until it's night again. I still feel drowsy, but I stood upright, sitting on my bed, awakening from my slumber. My eyes are squinting, making my vision blurry. My body wants to collapse onto my relaxing bed, but I try to fight off the urge to go back to sleep.
I stand up from my bed facing Sharon, my vision returning to normal. "Good morning, princess Estelle" Sharon greeted, smiling at me.
I smiled at her. "Good morning to you too, Sharon!" I exclaimed in excitement. Sharon always brightens my day.
Sharon is wearing the usual household maid outfit. Her hair is shoulder length, but she has beautiful black hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin.
"After breakfast, I'll recite your schedule."
Hearing her mention my schedule makes me upset, "You don't have to recite the same schedule every day. I memorized it already."
Sharon shook her head. "It's tradition to recite the schedule every day to the heir or heiress of the kingdom, and you'll be the queen someday. I'm sure you're aware of that princess."
"Okay, let me go take a shower first. You may leave." Sharon bowed down. "As you wish."
Sharon left my room, and I was left alone in the vast space. I loved my room, but it's too spacious for it to be a single person's room, which made me feel isolated. Anyway, I should get changed out of my pajamas and attempt to survive another day.
I open my closet, take my favorite royal blue dress, and leave my room to walk to the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, I brush my teeth and take a morning shower. I love morning showers. It's so relaxing. Then I changed out of my pajamas and wore my outfit for the day.
I take my bunny patterned pink pajamas with me and leave the bathroom.
Then out of nowhere, I notice Sharon giving me a warm smile. I step back a little in shock, not expecting her to come. "Sharon...you surprised me…how did you know I was here?" I wonder at her uncanny ability to always know my exact location even though the mansion is large and spacious.
"Because you usually finish showering around this time, princess. Let me take that for you. I'll put it back in the closet."
I hand Sharon my pajamas. "Thank you, Sharon."
Sharon smiles. "No problem, I love serving you, princess. I'll meet you in the dining hall."
Sharon walks away, heading towards my room's direction, while I walk down the stairs towards the dining hall's direction. Usually, when I eat breakfast, I eat alone in the dining hall. It's pretty rare for my parents to join me for breakfast.
I walk down the stairs, but I stop when I notice the household maids bowing down to me and greeting me all at once—two groups of maids standing in separate rows with a red carpet running along down the middle. "Good morning, princess Estelle!" The maids exclaim in unison with a bright smile.
Even though I've been living like this my entire life, it still feels awkward being greeted like that. "G-Good morning, everyone" I mutter nervously, overwhelmed by the massive amount of maids.
As I walk down the carpet, I head to the dining hall. I appreciate the maids respecting my authority as a princess, but I hope some of them realize that beneath it all, I'm just a normal eleven-year-old girl. Sharon is the only maid who treats me like a normal girl to some degree.
When I arrive at the dining hall, I'm hesitant to enter because after eating breakfast, my mundane routine will begin. Also, I don't want to see my parents. I prefer eating alone, but Sharon talks to me sometimes when she has time to spare, but those occasions are pretty rare since she is busy taking care of my parents and me. After all, Sharon is the household's head maid because she's the most skilled and experienced compared to the other maids of this household.
I ignore all of the doubts flowing through my mind and vigorously open the door, entering the massive dining hall. My eyes widen in surprise when I notice my parents seated next to each other, eating breakfast. They usually don't have the time to eat breakfast at the mansion because they have to attend formal business meetings with the other kingdoms.
I hear the door creak open, and I see Sharon enter the dining hall holding a plate of food with the support of one hand. "Ah, you've arrived, princess. Today is like a family breakfast, isn't it?" Sharon asks me with a broad smile.
I nod, forcing a smile. "Yup, I'm happy that my parents joined me for breakfast today!" I exclaim in fake excitement.
Sharon walks to the table and puts the plate down onto the table. "Breakfast is ready."
I take my seat and start to eat using my utensils. "For breakfast, I made you a freshly baked quiche and herbal green tea."
I'm glad that Sharon puts the food further away from my parents' so I can sit far away from them. I suppose I have some amount of luck today. The dining hall is vast and with only me and my parents present here besides Sharon makes the atmosphere tense and awkward. It makes me want to suffocate and choke.
I take a sip of my tea. Then I stare at Sharon with a clipboard in her hand. "Today is October 11th, 2045"
I listen while I sip my tea. "Morning sessions will be dancing and singing lessons. The dance lesson will start at 10 a.m, and the singing lesson will start at 12 p.m."
Sharon announces my schedule by stating today's date. Morning classes are my favorite, and the afternoon sessions are generally like being homeschooled. I wish I could attend a school like other children, but I have to be sheltered, and my tutors state that my curriculum is more personalized and advanced than children of my age. My tutors also said that they couldn't possibly hope to understand. I don't know why they won't understand, nor do I know the reason for my tutor's words since I find the lessons to be easy, boring, and dull.
"That is your entire schedule, princess."
My brain refuses to retain the same information that has been repeated to me every day, so I stop listening halfway. "Understood, thank you for your service, Sharon."
Sharon smiles widely. "No problem. I'm happy to be of assistance." Mother gives a sinister grin, "Estelle, be a good girl like usual." Father glares at me. "Don't disappoint me."
My mother is the embodiment of the image of the perfect lady in appearance and mannerisms. She is wearing a long flowing purple dress with a brown cardigan. Her brown hair is tied up in a bun. She has golden-brown eyes, and her skin is porcelain white. The kingdom likes to call her the most elegant woman of the entire social hierarchy, but I think they want to exaggerate. Despite her image and influence, I like to call her a fake lying witch, and she's an expert at manipulating people to follow her orders like a dog on a leash. I'm not an exception; she treats me the same way as she does to everyone else around her.
My father is the embodiment of a parent figure that never once pays attention to their child and only knows how to work. He is wearing a suit, even at breakfast. He has brown hair, blue eyes, and his skin is tan. He has a muscular appearance even though all he does is paperwork and sits on a chair. Also, he has anger issues and is pretty violent when someone doesn't match his expectations or listen to him.
I finish eating my quiche. "I'm ready for my lessons, Sharon." "I wish you the best of luck, princess."
I lightly smile at Sharon. "Thank you."
Sharon takes the plate. "Sharon, we need to start heading to the next meeting."
"I won't be able to accompany you for some time today, sadly. I hope the meeting will end sooner today" Sharon whispers in my ear.
"I hope so too" I whisper to Sharon.
Sharon gives me a bright smile. "Anyway, I'll be heading out to help your parents, but the other maids should be able to assist you."
I nod. "Thank you, Sharon; you've already done so much for me."
"Sharon, the limo should be arriving soon. Prepare our schedules and meals in the meantime. As always, I expect you to show the guests proper hospitality."
Sharon bows down to my parents. "Of course."
Mother glares at me. "Sharon won't be watching you, but be on your best behavior." "I will," I answer robotically.
Sharon and my parents leave the dining hall. I sigh in relief as my parents' weight being around for breakfast today makes me want to collapse onto the dining table. They ruined my breakfast meal today. I couldn't even hold a single conversation with Sharon other than just glancing at her and having small talk.
I stand up and leave the dining hall while ignoring my pounding headache as I walk towards the ballroom for my dance lessons.
After my morning classes have ended, it is time for the homeschooling classes to begin. I hate the homeschooling classes because the teachers are mean, strict, rude, and vile. Additionally, the work is too easy and boring. If you want to learn effectively, you have to be invested in it, but my parents and the tutors don't care about my interests. Some even admitted to wanting to tutor for me for the money or directly state that they hated me.
I sigh in annoyance. I have to experience this nightmare every day. I want to live like an average child. I've never seen normal children's lives, but I read about them, and Sharon told me some stories of a typical child's lifestyle. It sounds so enjoyable and carefree. I want to experience it, but I can only dream about it in my sleep.
As I drag my feet towards the direction of the library where the afternoon classes all take place. Suddenly, I stop when I notice my parents approach me, and Sharon is standing behind my father.
My mother leers at me with a letter in her hand. "Take this letter and read it immediately Estelle" Mother demands.
I take the letter from her hand and examine the content for a few seconds. The signature reads "Eizenberg," and my eyes are wide with shock. "Is this...real?" I question myself. I am in denial. How could I possibly receive an opportunity to attend Eizenberg?
