The Green Willow

~Adelaide

You know that thing people say? Like, "your whole life flashes before your eyes at that very iconic moment when you're about to die."? 

Yeah, that. I say it's not the same. I mean, it did happen, but not all of it. Just the most stupid parts of my life. The bunch of stupid decisions I'd made. 

Take for instance the heels I was wearing, even when my guy had previously warned me to run in sneakers. Or the ridiculously puffy wedding dress that just kept tripping me over. Or maybe even the biggest mistake of them all..... Letting anyone control my future instead of me. 

"Stop! Hold her!"someone yelled behind me. 

But I didn't stop. I couldn't even stop if I wanted to. Survival instincts were kicking in, and I just needed to be out and away from there. 

There was no way I was going to let them ruin me. Never. 

So I picked up my pace. Ran faster despite the massive air that seemed to obstruct my easy intake of air. I grabbed the layers of satin and lace, hoping it'd at least make the whole task — running.... escaping — easier. 

My chest kept rising and falling in fast pace as my throat burned badly. The cold wind did me no good by slapping against me hard, messing up my hair. But I still kept going. Running like I was being chased by wolves. Which....well, in a way, I was. 

Just a different breed without the fur and teeth. These ones were all about designer suits and fake smiles which were worn like jewelry. 

My life was crumbling.... crashing. And for the first time ever, it was because I chose it. 

It was because I decided it was time I stopped letting them dictate for me. 

I thought I was making a breakthrough. Just a bit more. A bit more. 

You're almost there Addie. 

Except, I wasn't. 

Because one minute I'm running, and the next.... It's game over. 

I didn't see the car until it was slamming into me. 

The headlights, the honk, the impact. And then.....yeah, it was pretty much just darkness after that. 

***

Okay, silly me. I'm pretty sure I confused you up there so maybe I should explain stuff. 

Let's do a quick rewind. Like, six years back. Before the dress. Before the deal. Before all the babies. 

It kinda started on my mother dearest's birthday. 

And I swear, I didn't mean to ruin it. Well, not entirely at least. 

But something about sitting around a ten foot dining table, surrounded by people I shared DNA — and nothing else — with, just made me snap. Like, hard. 

My fork scraped against fine china. Laughter buzzed around the table like static, disconnected from anything real. Kristina Royce, my dearest mother, note the sarcasm, sat at the head like a frozen statue carved from pearls and perfection. 

Her hair was unnaturally white. Her smile even whiter. And across from me, my twin sister Adeline sipped champagne like it didn’t taste like poison. I say that because it really is. 

I sat up straighter. My heart pounded in my chest. I felt the words bubbling in my throat.

Should I? Should I just forget about it and let them decide how my future would be painted? No. I shouldn't, and I definitely wasn't. 

Now or never, Addy.

“I got into Parsons.”

The room fell into silence, I would definitely hear it if a pin dropped. I felt every eye swing toward me like laser beams.

Kristina arched a brow. “Parsons?”

“The design school,” I clarified, though I knew they knew. They just wanted me to say it.

Adeline dropped her glass. “Fashion?” she scoffed. “You’re kidding, right?”

Did I expect my twin to support me? Uh.....no. The word 'support' is weirdly omitted from her dictionary. Almost didn't exist. 

“No,” I said, voice firmer this time. “I’m not.”

Father’s face went red. “We already agreed to start your training at Royce Holdings in the summer.”

“We? Does that include me, because I sincerely do not remember giving my opinions on the subject. I never agreed. You all just... decided.”

Mum’s voice was ice wrapped in velvet. “Adelaide, this is neither the time nor place to just...."

“It’s exactly the time,” I cut in. My hands trembled under the table, but my voice was steady. I'd been practicing this speech for weeks. “I’ve kept my mouth shut for years. I’ve done everything to keep the peace. But I can’t just keep pretending to want a life that isn’t mine.”

“You would throw away our legacy for what?” she hissed. “Sketchbooks and scissors?”

“For myself,” I whispered.

And just like that, I broke a family.

Nobody tried convincing me. It's probably because they knew nothing they said would make me change my mind, but Mom just ordered out butler to help pack my bags and then two hours later, I got kicked out of the grand mansion I'd lived in all my life. 

No dramatic goodbyes. No tears. Just my suitcase, a security guard, and...... a slammed door to my face. 

I stood outside the Royce estate with nowhere to go and no one to call.

Except her, though. Before I did anything though, I needed to get out of there. 

I kept walking, not even knowing where I was headed for. At some point, my heels were beginning to serve as very big cause of discomfort, had to take them off and continue on barefoot. 

I kept walking till the weight on my shoulder just became heavier with every step I took further. 

I leaned against the cool brick wall outside the bus station, my phone clutched tightly in my hand. My thumb trembled just slightly as I dialed Rachel’s number. It rang once, twice, and then....

“Hey, babe! What’s up?” Rachel’s voice came through, bright and upbeat, even over the hum of traffic.

“I… I need somewhere to crash,” I muttered, forcing my voice to stay steady.

Rachel didn’t hesitate. “You know where to find the key. Just let yourself in. I’ll be at work till late.”

I mumbled a thanks and hung up, shoving the phone back into my coat pocket. The tightness in my chest wouldn’t go away. Did I do the right thing by choosing fashion? Dropping everything else? It all felt so jumbled now, a knot of doubt twisting inside me.

As I walked, my thoughts looping around the same anxious circle. I kept trying to convince myself I made the right choice—pursuing something I loved, something that made my heart race. But why did it feel like I was teetering on the edge of something I couldn’t see?

Halfway to Rachel’s place, I stopped in front of a fashion store. The mannequins in the window wore sleek, daring outfits, like something I’d sketch in the margins of my notebooks. My gaze lingered, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe I hadn’t messed up. Maybe this was the right thing to do after all.

I forced myself to keep moving, my feet carrying me to Rachel’s building. At the door, I knelt and lifted the welcome mat, my fingers brushing against the familiar jagged edge of the spare key. I let myself in, flicking on the light to reveal the cluttered, cozy apartment.

Dropping my bag on the floor, I made my way to the small bathroom, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I looked so tired, eyes slightly red from holding back tears. I bit my lip, trying to muster some confidence.

“It’ll be fine,” I whispered, but the words tasted hollow.

I shuffled to the worn-out couch, pulling a faded quilt over my shoulders. As I sank into the cushions, exhaustion washed over me, dragging me down. The tension in my body eased just enough for me to let out a shaky breath.

I closed my eyes, hoping for a better future. A future that didn’t feel like it was crumbling under the weight of my choices.

A sudden vibration startled me, and my eyes snapped open. My phone buzzed on the coffee table, lighting up the dim room. I hesitated, dread creeping in. Maybe it was news, maybe it was someone telling me I’d screwed up. Because I knew my mother. I'd embarrassed her today in front of guests. Whatever explanation she would give was never going to be in my favor. I decided to just ignore it. I didn't have the strength for further dramas tonight. 

Because the ache in my chest begged for a break, just a little longer to pretend it would all be okay.

I squeezed my eyes shut again, choosing sleep over reality, at least for now.