Amelia

"Where are my parents?" I ask my aunt Margaret as tears start brimming from my eyes. There's a celebration today in my school; every student's parents are coming today, and I have no idea about my parents. In my fifteen years of life, I've only seen their pictures. Margaret never tells me about them. But my patience has reached its high; I can't wait anymore, I want to meet my parents.

Margaret turns her face, diverting her gaze away as she utters, "Miss Amelia Dawn. Go to your school first. I'll come there. Don't think about such useless things."

Without giving a decent explanation, she goes outside of the room, leaving me alone there with my abrupt questions.

"Mom…dad…I only saw you in photos. Where are you? Why did you leave me alone here?"

As a tear rolls down on my cheek, the corners of my mouth are drawn downward, the intense amount of misery I'm feeling as an orphan; only I can understand that.

"I don't want to go to school, but I don't have any other option. I have to go."

I wipe my tears. There are many other things to do and I can't waste my whole life crying over this misery of not having parents. I rush outside the house to reach my school as soon as possible.

As I begin to cross the road, a lord honk catches my attention. I slightly turn my face and witness a truck coming toward me at full speed. I try to move my feet, but I freeze; I get stuck. Fear consumes my body, paralyzing all my senses. I try to move my legs but it feels as if I am glued to the road. Neither can I move forward nor backwards. Why am I unable to move?

I turn my face to see the truck again. Its headlights make my image blur and by every passing second, the distance between the truck and my body is decreasing. Adrenaline rushing through my veins; with a loud thud, the truck and my body get into a collision. Blood starts oozing out from my head, I feel a surge of pain and everything turns dark in front of my eyes.

My eyes catch a glimpse of the ceiling as soon as I open the lids of my eyes. There's a stunned pause. Complex designs and patterns are carved over the stones all around the ceiling. A huge gold plated chandelier, hanging on the ceiling, above me.

My brows furrow as I touch my whole body. "Am I alive? I thought I had died.”

I stare at the whole room. It is a beautiful room fit for a queen. Sunlight pours in through big windows, making everything glow. Colorful tapestries hang on the walls, showing scenes of forests and palaces. A big, comfy, round shaped bed sits in the middle, with white sheen curtains around it. Fancy chairs adorned with velvet and a shiny dresser with a huge gold plated mirror fill the room, white calestial flowers are adorning the room, making it feel like a magical place. I can't help but feel amazed by the beauty around me.

I drag myself out of the bed and step out onto the balcony, and I can't believe my eyes. I've never seen anything so beautiful. The buildings look like golden castles, sitting on the cliffs with walls full of detailed carvings. White flowers spill over the edges, making everything look soft and magical.

The cliffs are covered in green leaves and more white flowers that glow in the sunlight. Below, a clear blue river winds through the valley, looking almost unreal. In the distance, a waterfall flows gracefully down the cliffs, creating a mist that catches the sunlight, forming a rainbow. Beyond that, tall mountains rise up, their peaks touching the sky and bathed in soft golden light.

I stand there, silent and completely stunned. It feels like I've stepped into a painting or a different world—one where everything is calm, peaceful, and perfect. I never imagined a place like this could exist, and now that I see it, it feels like I've found a hidden paradise.

"Where am I? Which place is this? How can it be so beautiful?”

As I step to the mirror, I see my reflection staring back at me. I'm wearing a beautiful silk gown made of soft, flowing fabric in the color of white, and it's adorned with delicate embroidery and shimmering jewels. My long blonde hair is styled in loose curls that frame my face, and a small tiara sits atop my head. My eyes are the color of the dark blue sky, skin is smooth and flawless, like porcelain, with a rosy blush on my cheeks that adds to my natural radiance. I can't help but marvel at my own reflection, feeling like a true princess in every way.

“When did I start looking this pretty? My face never looked like this.”

As soon as I hear the sound of a lady's scream, I turn and gawk at her. The lady in front of my eyes, wearing a stunning gown that flows around her like a waterfall, made of the finest silk and adorned with lace and embroidery, steps forward to me. I step backwards.

“How could that be possible? You have awakened,” she says. Her eyes pop out of her sockets as her chest moves up and down in a cadence. Nothing seems comprehending to me. Who's this lady? Is she going to kill me?

“I am sorry. I wasn't intending to come here.” With a new determination in my eyes, I gawk at the door. "I should go to my house.”

I exhale a whopping breath and scoot out as I take a grip on my silk gown; my hair and jewelry leaping upside down.

"I have never been to this place before. It is strange. How do I find my way back in my own body?”

All the court ladies and soldiers begin to restrain my departure from the palace, asking me again and again to stop. They must be considering me as a thief. I should run away as soon as possible otherwise they'll kill me.

"My lady, please stop,” the court lady begs me to halt, but I, unacquainted with this populace, this realm, only thinking of ways to escape from this predicament and go back to my own domicile, but my marathon reaches to an end when I collide into somebody.

"Your Highness!" Court ladies and soldiers around me, bend down in obeisance. I remove the strands of hair from my face as my eyes discern the face of the man in front of me.

A lady wearing a fine silk gown, adorned with delicate lace and shimmering jewels, is looking into my eyes and tears are brimming into her eyes. I am stunned seeing her face. It's no one else but my own mother and that man is my father.

My father, wearing a red velvet robe, a golden crown adorned his head. Despite his commanding and regal posture, there is warmth and kindness in his eyes. How can it be possible that the person I never met is now in front of me?

Flabbergasted by the scenario, I take steps back as my heart races. It's hard for me to confide the moment I'm witnessing as a girl who only saw her parents in the pictures in her fifteen years of life.

“Finally, you've opened your eyes," my father murmurs. His eyes are scanning my face as tears shimmer in his eyes. He himself is stunned by seeing me. He embraces me in a tight hug.

As he pulls away from me, he retorts, “We waited for a long time to see you waking up. You've been sleeping since the day you've born.”

I've been sleeping since the day I was born. What nonsense!

“I’m on cloud nine today,” my mother says and flashes a wide grin. “Wantra's princess has awakened from her slumber at last.”

My mouth drops open wide; the words of my mother are hard for me to digest. "Is it a dream?" I pause and continue as fear rushes through my veins, "Mom, where am I?"

“We are in our palace," my mother replies.

I gaze at the whole place. The court ladies are dressed up in silk gowns. “It doesn't seem like Houston,” I murmur.

"Houston! What's that? It's Wantra, a small realm in the big territory of Aetheria,” mother says.

I am unaware of the place, circumstances, and the body I am in now. A few minutes ago, I was in Houston but now after the accident I am in a kingdom named Wantra—in someone else's body. A realm I've never ever heard of before. How could that be possible? Mom is a Queen. Dad is a King. I am a Princess according to everyone, but who am I in real life? Is it a dream or is everything true?

“Take her back to her royal chamber. A grand celebration would be held to celebrate the princess’ awakening,” the queen, my mother demands the court lady to escort me and take me inside my royal chamber.

What is happening with me? Is this a dream or am I truly a princess?

"Courtlady, can I ask you something?" I ask, breaking the ice, as we reach inside my royal chamber.

"My lady, why are you asking for my permission? You can ask anything."

I scuff my neck. I am thinking of ways to put the words correctly so that they can understand and not perceive me as a mad person.

"Actually, I want to ask what my name is?"

"Your name is Elara Stone, my lady," the court lady accosts.

I crinkle my nose, hearing that. “What kind of name is this? Who gave me this disgusting name?"

"Your highness gave you this name," the court lady replies.

I exhale a long breath out of my lungs. "Oh! Dad gave me that name. It's not weird then," I pause and fake a smile on my face. "It's such a nice name. What does it mean?" I ask in curiosity; at least I should know the meaning of my name.

"It means bright and shining," the court lady states.

A wide smile spreads on my lips as I get to know the meaning of my name. As I take steps toward the balcony, I grin calmly.

"Such a beautiful meaning. So, from now on, I am Elara Stone.”

I accept the name which is given by my father proudly as I gaze at the kingdom of Wantra through the window and I can see how happy this populace is. In just a few minutes, the whole realm has started a massive celebration due to my awakening. Do I matter that much? I don't know if this is a dream or if I am truly Elara, a Princess. I know one thing: I accept my destiny of being Elara and take an oath to give my whole life to take care of the public and this realm forever, which was unbeknownst to me a few minutes ago.