Married By My Father's Debt

id not come peacef

ere. Our house felt damp and quiet. Too quiet. I was starting to h

Dads handwriting. The words he wrote kept playing in m

everyone insi

f tea in front of me. The words just kept play

h. Maybe Dad was just being

rd a voice

ce. She had two slices of bread on a plate. She was wear

n. Amelia looked too young. Too young to be

e you been awak

d. "I could

neit

Put the plate in

not hu

that yeste

stared at me. "

m ti

been think

"You sound like yo

ally Amelia always smiled.. These past few da

e her stop worrying. The quie

barking. Life was still happening

"Are we going to

wing. "I do n

eyes were fixe

the h

wed. "Am

want t

sounded sm

n to me... Nothing is happen

." She looked up. "That is

t. I rubbed my forehead.

igure some

ow

closed it. I did not know

silence. "You do

my chest. I stood up.

kno

around. "I am trying to hold everythi

I meant it to be. Amelia

rry. I did not

er head. "I

y. Nothing fel

held her hands. "We are not g

ke she was trying to decid

e pri

as suddenly contr

I do not know anyth

if he's

n caught me

is proud and rude and controlli

eli

ready has some

You have been watc

seri

am

ay. "You are acting cal

cause yes I was sca

ing Dad. Terrified of the palace. Terrifie

ified of not being eno

red, " I

was qui

arms. "Then why ar

ebody has to

ot always

oat ti

d like Dad

promised Dad I w

romise to dest

"Since when did

"Since life be

t h

le. My tea was cold. Eve

arriage. Now Dad is gone. The company was in trouble.. I w

was c

e up again.

H

believed this marr

I had asked myself th

at. So why did his deci

together. Maybe people hurt the ones

that t

I answere

ip. "Would you r

felt h

not

ep sayi

really do

n I meant it to be. I s

was making

rom behind. That a

htly. Neither of us

ed, "I am scared

est h

lled her into a hug.

not kn

d

he king fo

can

is the

I did not know what power

head again. Do not trust e

went dow

oked at m

thi

not a noth

Dad left an

ression

t no

ld not tell her.. Amelia

to trust everyone

lence. Compl

ffic outside

. Then she whispere

ea

k the king i

ed. Tall. Controlled. Unreadabl

know what

ain slowly. "Maybe

ng between u

aw

d my mind more times t

disappearing a

ting the company and t

out forgetti

e quickly a

ve like that, "

try, " A

money?" I

ed down

s the p

tood the depth o

until real life ent

d softly "do you really think peo

didn't

he knew I

grew qu

a asked, "Do you ev

surprised m

nked

?" I

arely remember her, " Amelia said,

if she was here, maybe thin

dness settle

ght ab

talked a

e Dad hated

ause it h

r sometimes, " I

r her properly?

tle "

he like?" A

aintly des

ed loudly,

smile

y?" sh

ly " I

to complai

ed a laug

al l

e

e breathe easier for the

her dramatically "that

lled h

tart, "

ate "

ings felt almos

mo

ddenly became

sn't even want this mar

t stopped m

ned sl

ver considere

was being

e palace there was another

denly toward the strang

is smile and h

the way he

y shook the

ridic

ely rid

a not

face again,

ace?" I

ace, "

pillow. Thre

d properly

augh inside this heavy

ess

was enoug

ne day at a time

lia had gone to sleep I sa

e rested beside

t it for a

ne lit up bes

s a N

ai

at slowed

lowed quietl

eped

eped

ed thre

ps call

he phone call and

e king and the pri

my life, my fami

t and the palace were a

ince were all conne

to the prince

from the café

ps call

out the phon

s a N

ai

now who was

know what

had to be

bout the phone calls

bout the king and the

about my life, my

bt and the palace were

to be