Rose
I was born with a mark.
Most children born with a mark are left to die shortly after their birth. Sometimes a family tries to hide the marked child in hopes of saving them. But eventually the power of the mark is always unleashed and the child is left abandoned in the woods.
Marked children are considered dangerous because they have great power. They can tame animals, start fires, and even control storms. Some believe that they are cursed, while others believe they are demonic. No cursed child ever lives to adulthood because the villages fear them.
I am a fraternal twin. My brother is normal but I am marked. I am not allowed to go outside. I am only allowed out of my room at night and I can never go near the windows. Nobody in town is allowed to see me. I spend most of my time alone. I long to be normal.
My parents do bring me things. Mostly toys. I have so many toys. I long to see the world outside. The world I have never been allowed into. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to be left in the woods. Why keep me if I will always be a prisoner? My name is Rose, after the markings I have.
It is like a tattoo that grows as I get older. When I was born, I only had one small rose on my back. At the time, my parents thought they could hide it. However, by my first birthday, the rose had multiplied and grown a thorny vine across my abdomen. Now I have roses growing down my arms and legs as well. My hair is a shade of red that my parents say is unusual and my eyes are a very bright green.
My twelfth birthday is in two days. My brother gets to celebrate his birthday with the village, but my parents faked my death when I was still a baby, so I can only celebrate with my family. I am always afraid that my powers will come out. I know that someday they will and I will no longer be allowed to live. Most of the hidden children lose control very early on, so they don't live as long as I have.
Maybe tonight I will finally have the courage. Maybe tonight I will sneak out. I am tired of this house and I long to feel the grass under my feet even though I have never experienced it. I long to run in the dirt, even though I have never been allowed to run. There are so many things that I have never been able to experience.
Maybe tonight will be the night, or maybe not. Maybe it should be a birthday gift to myself. I should pay attention at night and make a plan, after all, I am not sure if I want to be caught, or maybe I do. Maybe I would rather be left abandoned in the woods. At least there, I would be free.
That night, I waited until my parents went to bed, and I watched out the window. I am not allowed near the windows, but tonight, I have to plan. Tonight I have to take a chance. Nobody seems to go out at night. I watch for several hours and realize that only a few guards would be out. I do the same for the next night.
Finally the day has come. I woke in the middle of the day alone. My family are out in town. I start gathering things I would need if I were to escape tonight. I find a small bag, a torch, a flask of water, and a few snacks. I put everything together and hide it under my bed. I spend the rest of the day in my room waiting on my parents to return home.
It was almost dark when they arrived with my brother. He seemed to be in some pain as he was taken to his room. I watch as my parents bring all of his gifts from the village to lay around him. My mother covers him with a blanket and puts her light out, telling him to get some sleep.
"What is wrong with him?" I ask quietly.
"What are you doing out of your room? You should stay in there for another hour. Your brother has just been through his rites of manhood. It is a thing for all of the boys when they turn twelve. I will explain more when you are older. Now go back to your room until we call for you." My mother says sternly.
I return to my room for a what seems like forever. when it is finally dark, I hear my mother call for me. I leave my room in hopes of finally spending time with my family.
"Rose, I have something to give you." My mother says calmly. As I walk into the room I see she is holding something behind her back. As I get close, she holds out a pot with a beautiful flowering bush. "This is called a teacup rose. I thought of you when I saw this." Right away I went to the plant and stroked its petals.
"It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." I say in wonder as the small flowers seem to call to me. I feel as though I am already connected to it. I hold the pot in my arms and wish that I could have more. As I watch, the plant start to grow slowly. In a panic, I tell it stop, and I watch a part of the plant die. I look around and realize that nobody has seen me.
"I'm going to put it in my room." I say, getting worried. What if it gets out of control? I don't want anybody to get hurt. It has happened before. Sometimes when a child loses control, they hurt or even kill people. One child started a fire that burned down half the town once. She was only two.
I decide to keep the plant away from me until tonight. Maybe it would be best to play with it outside. At least then, I wont have to worry about somebody getting hurt.
