Sallow
Rkchallenge # 10: Betrayal
B – eyond the walls of her room the noises continued. It was voices that drifted up to her bedroom, up the stairs, down the hall and discreetly beneath her door to assault her ears. It was joy. Celebration. Laughter. Happiness.
E – veryone was there. Everyone except her. She couldn't celebrate this "joyous" occasion. She couldn't see the good in it. There was no happiness to be found in the party below her.
T – his hollow event marred her insides. It burned down her house of fantasy leaving her with the smoldering embers of a desperate future. Her wishes, dreams, hopes, wants… all down the drain. Nothing. All gone… and they were celebrating it.
R – eaally, he hadn't done it to be mean to her. He'd requested her presence a few days back and at first she'd been excited that Aoshi-sama wanted to talk to her. It became apparently quickly, however, that his news was not good news. Following the Obon Festival of the previous year, he'd taken it into his head that the Shinomori family should be continued… but not with her.
A – s stonily as she could, she listened that afternoon. Maybe it was cold hard shock that had kept her face blank that afternoon. She hadn't said a word to him. Since then, she'd retreated to her room, been lectured twice on her behavior and hadn't eaten a bite since. Her appetite had vanished. She knew she was weak because of it and bordering on dehydrated.
Y – esterday had blurred into today, all the days had done that since their "talk". Only today was Aoshi-sama's wedding. She hadn't gone, she hadn't left her room. Rolling herself onto her side, Misao pushed herself up on her arms and stood on weakened legs. It wouldn't serve to waste away in her bed. Once Aoshi-sama was gone, they would come for her, try to cheer her up, lecture her and everything else… She wobbled to the window and stared out, before struggling to yank it open.
A – s carefully as she could, she squeezed herself out the window and onto the tiled roof. She wondered if the others, her long dead comrades from heaven, watched wobbly navigate her way to the edge of the tiles. She jumped from the roof lots of times and though it wasn't pleasant on her feet or ankles, it wouldn't cause her any lasting injury. With a deep breath, she leaped off.
L – anding was every bit the jolt to her bones that she expected. Stretching her shaken body, she started to walk. She didn't know where she was going, she just wanted to leave. To walk away from this horrible, horrible place behind her that would never feel like home again. An ugly voice in her heart whispered that she couldn't make someone love her and she grit her teeth against it. She knew… oh, did she know that. Her bare feet ached from the rubble, but she reveled in that gentle pain. Somewhere in the depths of her she knew she'd never walk this road again.
AN: Not to be continued, written for a community challenge.