Prologue: My Silver-Eyed Miracle
Ella
I press my nose against the crack in the rough wooden door. The sweet scent of warm chocolate cuts through the usual musty smells of my attic bedroom—so tantalisingly close and so impossibly out of reach.
“I can smell the chocolate cake from here!”
I steel my resolve and announce my decision like a general under siege. “That’s it! I’m going downstairs, Toto!”
I turn to find my best friend’s eyes wide with worry.
“I know you’re scared… What if they catch us? They won’t! Mom and Dad won’t bother looking, especially with Eliana around, and I so, so want the cake, Toto!”
I pause for a bit, glaring at him now. “Come on! It’s my birthday! If you don’t speak up, it means you agree!”
He returns my look with large, uncertain, and judgmental eyes. “It’ll be okay, Toto, I promise. Let’s go!”I grab Toto—and impulsively hug him—it’s our last night together. Mom’s kicking him out tomorrow.
I tiptoe out of my room, carefully jumping over the squeaky landing. I walk down the stairs with Toto, making a game of it—to keep him from getting too scared— and race toward the drawing room, where my parents have set up a beautiful buffet.
I stare, transfixed, as the colors and smells assault me. So this is what I’ve been missing.
My mouth waters. My stomach grumbles so loudly that, for a moment, I’m sure everyone in the other room heard me. I barely pull back from lunging at the cake, sitting right there in the middle of the table in all its chocolatey goodness.
The steamed-veg torture Mom inflicted on me for dinner seems to have suddenly disappeared from my stomach—no, from the universe itself.
I frown as I hear Nanny’s stern nagging voice: “Girl, eat everything you are given and grow up a pretty woman.”
But seriously, if cake made one ugly, Eliana would look like a troll! She eats cake whenever she wants.
Sometimes I think everyone is out to scam me.
Whatever… It’s my birthday today. It’s not like anyone thinks I’m pretty anyway.
I don’t even realize when I reach the table and cut a couple of pieces, but I’m so excited I even forget about poor Toto, left by the door.
“What are you doing?”
I stop dead. Slowly, I turn around to face my doom. I blink. My jaw drops.
So handsome.
Leaning against the door, hand on Toto like he owns the whole world, a boy in a black suit—with a cut and flair that even my inexperienced eyes can tell must be really expensive, and a silver tie to match his silver eyes— waits expectantly for me to close my gaping mouth.
My heart thumps hard as I try to formulate a response. I rub my ribs as I glance at Toto, his accusing eyes clearly saying: I told you so!
“I was just putting aside a few pieces for safe-keeping, in case the party runs out!”
I wince. Even to my own ears that sounds weak. The boy raises an eyebrow at me.
I stare pleadingly at Toto… Maybe Toto can come up with a better excuse, but Toto remains steadfast in his refusal to say anything—the traitor!
His eyes narrow. “Are you trying to insult me, cake thief? Obviously you’re lying.”
Shocked, I sputter, “Of course not! I’m not a thief! This is my…” but I pause, as echoes of Mom’s sharp words ring in my ears: This is not your house, Ella!
I hesitate, before settling on a lesser truth. “…We were just hungry! Surely you can spare a couple of cake pieces!”
“Easy there, tiger! Why didn’t you just say so?”
I stare at him, unsure of his meaning. Would it really matter if I said I was hungry? It never does when I tell Mom…
He looks at me funny, like he’s wondering what I’m about. His expression clears.
“No one will miss a couple of cake slices, you know.”
I turn with my cake pieces before he decides his generosity doesn’t extend to allowing me that cake.
“Wait! Here! Take some sandwiches to go with the cake.” He stacks a couple of napkins with at least three sandwiches, a chicken leg, and some macarons. “They’re really tasty… the host sure knows his food.”
I stare at him open-mouthed again as he grabs my cake parcel, tucks Toto under his arm, looks around, then whispers, “Let’s get you out of here…”
He sneaks us past a couple of guests, and looks toward me, as if to ask: where now?
I turn in the direction of the stairs and lead him up to the balcony where the pipe along the edge leads right to my room.
He places everything on the table before seating Toto carefully on a chair and taking the one beside him. It’s a full moon tonight, and everything is visible.
I find myself sitting down instead of leaving.
“How old are you, kid? You could be punished if you got caught!”
My hackles rise immediately. “Are you planning to snitch?! I’m not a kid anymore! I’m thirteen! You’re not that much older than me! If I’m a kid, then so are you!”
He’s surprised. “Whoa there, I’m fifteen! How was I supposed to know you’re thirteen? You don’t look a day over ten! And carrying a plushie around is not helping your case!”
“I—Toto’s not just a plushie, he’s my best friend! Nanny got him for me. As it is, it’s our last day together… What are you smiling at?”
He shakes his head, grinning—our unlikely savior, with hair like silver in the moonlight. He looks at me expectantly, as if waiting for a comment.
“What?”
I feel a little small now that he mentions my size. I know I look different—Nanny says it’s because I didn’t get enough good stuff when I was a baby—but it’s easy to ignore most days.
Guess Eliana had it better—look how tall she already is!
The boy quirks an eyebrow again and gestures at the food, “Weren’t you hungry? Then eat.”
I flush. I completely forgot about the cake while staring at him.
Even though I hate boys—they’re a right nuisance when I encounter them—this one seems all right.
He’s so handsome. His smile is sweet, and his voice is nice and smooth, and it makes me feel warm inside.
And he saved us from being found out.
I would never hear the end of it from Toto if we got caught. I shudder slightly at the thought.
I memorize the look of the pastry and quickly stuff my mouth. I melt into the chair and moan in pleasure at the taste. I try to savor it as much as I can—it’s nothing short of amazing!
“You really like cake, huh? You’re eating like it’s the first time you’ve tasted one.”
I stop short, but don’t know what to say. It is my first time eating cake, but for some reason, I don’t want to tell him that.
I don’t want him to think I’m pathetic. But I also don’t want to lie. Before I can come up with something, he continues—
“Well, if Toto doesn’t mind sharing, then I’ll have a bite from the second piece. Do you think Toto minds?”
I shake my head dumbly. I’ve never shared anything with anyone before.
He isn’t taking away my piece, but eating one alongside me.
What’s more, he isn’t even making fun of Toto like everybody else.
I study him as he eats, enjoyment clear on his face as he smiles and nods. “That’s really good. I get where you’re coming from.”
I observe him mutely as he grins and grabs a sandwich, popping it into his mouth. Something feels different…new.
Warm in my chest, tingling everywhere else.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Whew! All this socializing gets tiring sometimes.”
We eat in silence for the most part while I steal glances at him.
I catch a drift of laughter that sounds like my mom’s. My chest tightens, and I wonder if I should leave while I’m ahead, but he draws me back into conversation, sometimes admiring the grounds or commenting on the party.
He says the party is held in honor of the daughter of a friend of his father’s. Apparently the girl—Eliana—did really well in school, and they are all celebrating.
My throat tightens. There is no mention of me.
“Eliana and I are the only people under thirty at this party. It’s quite odd, really… I mean, where are the other children?”
I shrug, not knowing what to say.
He grins. “Eliana is good company, though. Confident, charming, intelligent.”
My eyes sting, and the lump in my throat is so huge, I can’t speak.
He lifts a macaron off the napkin and eyes it critically. “Still, I generally really dislike these ‘shindigs’. They only talk of money and the great accomplishments of their families. No one bothers to get to know each other, you know? Unless it’s for leverage.”
He pops the macaron into his mouth and chews thoughtfully.
I shake my head, and keep my silence. It dawns on me that he probably doesn’t even know that Eliana has a sister—that it’s me.
No one has ever shown any interest in getting to know me. I feel a pinch of something like sadness, but I push it away quickly. Best he doesn’t know.
If he tells Eliana or my parents that I broke curfew—I shudder. That could spell trouble.
We finish our tiny meal. My chest feels heavy at the thought of leaving. I don’t want my birthday evening to end just yet.
He gasps in mock shock. “Well, well, Toto sure was hungry! Even the crumbs have disappeared! Are you sure he’s a plushie and not a black hole?”
I fling a rose I find at him, and he pretends to be injured and faints onto the chair. A chuckle escapes me as I start disposing of the evidence of our raid in the corner dustbin behind the vines, murmuring, “Hilarious,” as I go.
He grins as he eases into the chair once again.
The sound of footsteps on marble nearly makes my heart stop. I shrink further into the vines, heart beating so hard my head feels light.
“There you are! Are you hiding on the terrace to escape your mother?!”
My eyes widen in horror as I sneak a look around to find Eliana standing with her back to me, facing the boy whose name I still don’t know.
His grin turns a little wicked as he glances my way. I’m sure he’s going to expose me.
I frantically shake my head, widening my eyes pleadingly, desperately hoping he doesn’t reveal my presence.
He frowns a little, nods subtly and turns to Eliana. “Well, I’ll be… Aren’t you observant?”
Eliana replies in her sweet, shy voice, “Not really. I think her aura is so fierce even my mom is scared of her, and my mom is scared of nothing.”
He laughs. “I got bored waiting for you, so I stepped out here. The sky looks pretty.”
They step toward the railing, and I can see Eliana’s profile now. She is still a child, but looks so mature—much older than me… and so beautiful.
They look lovely together. The thought surprises me.
I check his expression, but he just looks pleasant. He leans on the railing, slightly away from Eliana. Maybe there’s nothing to worry about.
An ache blossoms in my chest—deep and unfamiliar— and I rub at it absently. I don’t know what’s wrong, but maybe I should get Nanny to check it out.
They chat in low voices I can’t hear before turning to leave. The boy turns her around, away from me, and lets her lead him out.
I watch his back recede— suddenly bereft. I know I am losing something precious and I’m helpless to stop it.
I wait in my corner—out of view and forgotten—when suddenly, right before he steps out, he turns. He flings Toto at me, pulls a finger to his lips as if to say shh, winks, and leaves like it was nothing.
I can’t help the smile forming on my face as I catch Toto, frozen in my corner, unable to believe the turn of events.
That night, as I climb the pipe to my room, I can’t help but exclaim in silent delight as I hold Toto tightly, “Best birthday ever!”
I should’ve asked for his name.
I turn around and close my eyes, a silent prayer on my lips. My fingers flex on Toto’s soft form.
If only one birthday wish can come true—really come true— then let it be this one:
I wish to meet him again. I’ll ask his name. And I promise… I’ll do my best to hold onto him.
—---------------
Seven years later, standing in front of my silver-eyed miracle—his eyes alight with fury —only one thought fills my head.
Even wishes that come true should have disclaimers:
Terms and conditions apply.
