'' Blonde"
It's been a week in This house, and everything feels upside down.
I'm waking up at dawn, getting used to a schedule I never asked for. That damn cat, Montricia, keeps appearing out of nowhere—though lately, she's been slightly less demonic. We're becoming friends,..I guess.
Aunt Serena helps me in studies,they got the right course for me. We sit in the study with books that smell like dust and rules. I'm not allowed to leave the property, and honestly, I think that's more about control than safety.
Uncle Ethan shows up for dinner—sometimes late, sometimes earlier—but never says much. He barely looks at me. I know he's busy, but I can't help but think he doesn't like me and of course he's the one behind all these restrictions.
Aunt Serena, though, is sweet in her own way. She bakes me brownies—actual warm, gooey brownies and not gonna lie, they're so good.
This morning, I'm wearing a pale blue dress—frilled, with a queen anne-neckline, too polished for a lazy day in. My hair's down. Montricia trots beside me as I head toward the main door. She's gotten better about jump scares—now she just silently follows me like a shadow with whiskers.
I scoop her into my arms and swing the door open.
A cool breeze rushes in, brushing my cheeks like a welcome I haven't had in days. The sky's its usual grey—cloudy, still, kind of beautiful in a sad, quiet way.
The garden is as spacious as Aunt Serena promised. Wide, carefully trimmed and not a fallen leaf in sight.There are no flowers, just manicured grass stretching out to the low white fence that boxes us in.
Maybe it's not the flower season.
Do flowers even have seasons? I can't remember anymore.
I walk slowly along the fence, Montricia purring lazily in my arms. Her ears flick. She's looking at something.
I follow her gaze and see a boy—maybe my age—dragging a red cart down the street. He's tall maybe around five feet eleven, with golden blond hair and striking sea-blue eyes,scrolling on his phone.He stops when he sees us and grins.
Then he makes a goofy face at Montricia.
She meows in disapproval and it makes me chuckle. She really is a grump.
"Hey! Your cat doesn't seem too friendly" he calls out, walking toward the fence.
I glance back at the house. The windows stare back, silent. No sign of Aunt Serena.
I don't answer.
"I'm Cade,I live in the other neighbourhood." he says casually and waits for a few seconds,expecting an answer from me and then in order to push away the awkwardness he continues "Wanna buy something from my cart?"
I look down at it.Video games,some gadgets and comics,some things looked like they belonged to him but then in the right corner i see..jars.
"What's in the jar?" I ask.
Cade brightens. He pulls one out and holds it up proudly.
A butterfly.
Delicate, purple, fluttering weakly inside the glass.
"Took me forever to catch this," he says. "Do you want it?"
I hesitate, then nod. "Yes um, pass it under the fence."
He kneels and slides it toward me carefully. The butterfly's wings flicker nervously against the glass.
"That'll be two dollars," he says with a cheeky grin.
I freeze. I have no money.
He studies my face, then shrugs. "It's okay. You can pay me next time I pass by."
He starts walking away, dragging his cart behind him. Then pauses.
"Bye… uh—?"
"Odessa," I say, a little more softly than intended.
Cade flashes me another grin and walks off down the street like it's the most ordinary day in the world.
I stand there, jar in one hand, cat in the other. And for the first time since I got here, I feel something strange.
Warm.