Thunder boomed in the sky and it shook the little girl to her core. Behind her was the mountain oozing fire. As the ground shook below her, familiar words flitted through the air.

" Filthy beasts!"

It echoed through the empty horizon. The girl stood as she looked at the saffron sky. On her right is a little boy who stood up to her waist.

" You don't deserve to be my child"

From whatever force it was, the girl seized the boy's hand and darted away. The sky turned plum red. They began running through asphalt roads surrounded by deep red streetlights. They came through a steep, narrow corridor surrounded by vile beasts laughing at her.

She turned to stop. The boy was out of her grasp now. She looked up to see a small ring of light amidst the dark sky. It was white then it turned orange.

Sunlight hit her directly in the face.

Sal opened her eyes.

She was expecting the darkness and stifling heat of the storeroom but instead she is still resigned in her room on the upper storey of the house. It should not be different anyway. It was still the same, filthy room she had been for the past years. The walls have always been drab, white walls turning gray from the absence of sunshine.

The room is a prison enough.

It felt strange. She was not punished this time.

The room is starting to smell moldy. Something she must have ignored. Strange patterns have also placed themselves on the wall. She traced a long line on her face where she was told a scar existed. Even Oleon turned away from her, the stranger, the ungrateful child.

" You don't deserve to be my child," she echoed.

The Signor has always been the one who kept order in the house. He barely came into her room. The Signor hates dirt, hates grime. And her room was nothing but a mess. She and everything in it.

It came less and less now but for once in a while, men in coats would come to their mansion and she would peek from the small window to see them in the garden. They didn't even know she was there. Better that way, the Signor said. She had been locking the door more often than she did. The Signor easily left when it was locked. It was not the thought of being unseen that mattered to her more.

She traced Oleon's name on the floor. He must have been ashamed of her too. The people in his school? They must have laughed at her letter. Ren's laughter was the only laugh she remembers. She picked up one sketch of her face. They were portraits of Sal's face Ren spent drawing. The details of her face were painted with such gentleness It was Ren who showed her what she looked like. He was her mirror.He wanted to hear him laugh again.

***

She inserted a white kerchief in the slits of the window a few days ago. It was a signal she used to send when she wants Ren to come. It has been days since the Lidelse's visit. Today, he took her signal. It was a siesta afternoon. Quiet and calm. Ren was there on the roof of the upper storey of the Casa like before.

Thumping. Something is thumping again inside Sal. Like before, Ren was seated near the cistern, peaceful and quiet as a cat. On Sal's neck hung the locket he gave her. She touched a finger on its metal lid. Not now, she will not give it up now. He stood.

" Ren," she called. It was only then that he walked to her window. Like he was waiting again for her sign. His feet walked on the roof like a bird on land. His gaze was heavy. It must be full of words and hurts she caused him. But when he was a breath away, Sal felt her heart jump again.

It felt wrong to react that way. She took his hand and placed it on the locket on her palm. In response, he lightly patted his left hand on Sal's hand. He gave it a long look.

" Do you want to hear a story?" he asked. Sal fought the urge to say yes. He used to tell her stories for comfort, the way a mother does to a child.

" I missed your voice." Sal said with bated breath.

It was only the window that separated them. Ren did not mind the steepness of the roof he was standing in.

" Close your eyes, " He was holding both of her hands.

"The little sparrow never knew flight, or the sun or even the clouds. For she was imprisoned in a small and dirty cage. Suddenly, a bright sound pierced the silence. It was from a bird with white and black fathers, dancing with the wind. It was beautiful, oh so beautiful. The little sparrow never knew flight, or the sun or even the clouds until that moment. She flapped her wings.They do have strength! She flapped her wings, again and again. Upon opening her eyes, The little sparrow was dancing with the clouds."

It was finished. He still held tightly to her hands. " You can open your eyes now."

And when she did, it was a surprise. Sal's bare feet was freely stepping on the roof of their Casa. It must have been impossible! To walk outside her room on her own.

Ren smiled so bright that the skin around his eyes wrinkled. He removed his shoes and wiggled his toes. Why, he must have been imitating her. He then guided her sight to the city beyond them, onto the never ending sky.

" I thought I will never see this." Sal exclaimed. The world outside was beautiful. The air was free and birds chirped and flitted on one side of the house. From the view above, she can see a handful of people below. All busy in their own goings about. They looked like ants in their smallness as seen from above. It was wonderful.

" Free. You are more free when you are like this." Ren's feet shamelessly dangled. Sal imitated him. It seemed like it was only yesterday when she would steal glances at him during his family's visits. They were not allowed to see each other until the wedding ceremony. To the knowledge of the Cuore, only the yellowing veil is the face Duren knows of Sal. Their meeting was by chance. A chance Sal was forever thankful.

"Can we stay like this forever?"Sal asked. Her head was nestled onto his shoulder. Ren even adjusted himself for her.Sal pressed her hand on the locket still on her hand. 'Should you stay with me?' must have been the right question.

Many times, she questioned if she should still own the locket. She straightened herself and traced a line on Ren's cheeks, going to the tip of his nose, to the little wrinkles beside his brown eyes, down to his nape with few premature graying hair. It was like dying if she did not memorize him

For a few moments from now, she would need to come back. The Signor personally checks on her. Forever watched. Ren only stared at her whispering a few words she could not process at the moment. He would tell her to lay off her burden. All of them. Ren still held her hand. Sal closed her eyes and angled her head a closer to his face. Little by little. Freedom. Ren. Only her Ren.

It was wrong! Sal heard the Signor's words in her mind. 'You don't deserve to be my child'. He will not like this. He would be angry.She wrestled herself away from him leaving him with the locket without a word. Restraining herself from looking back, Sal headed straight to her room.

"Sorry."

It was Duren.

***

It was past early morning and the lady hasn’t arrived yet. Strange, she would have already come and brought breakfast if this was any other day. Her stomach gurgled. Was it that late already? She rose from bed and glanced at the window. An inch’s space would be fine, right? She looked back and there standing by the door was the Signor. Since when has he been there?

Sal scrambled for a proper greeting, “ G-good day.”

The Signor remained tight-lipped as he roamed a few paces around the room. “ When I was your age, I woke up before the sun rose. “

At each moment the Signor stayed in the room inspecting her things, Sal would shout. He has barely been here before, and even the lady came for business and left.

“ The lady was late, I guess.”

“Excuses, I see. “ he muttered.” Do not rely on the lady, she will not be here for you today, or the days and years that will follow. “

Sal was at a loss for words. Does that mean she will stay in here alone for the rest of her life like a prisoner in a dungeon from the stories? And the Signor’s face will be the only soul she will see for the next years of her life? No. No.

At the sound of the door closing, Sal’s legs gave out. Then, she scrambled to check her things. Her notebook was missing from its spot on the table, nor it was in her hiding places.

For the next few days, all her needs were answered through a bell. Food was left on the hallway outside her door. Boredom has seemed to be the thing that will keep her going. It was the Signor's voice that briefly wakes her.

But he was present, at last. It must have been funny that Sal can still see Ren. He was the gallant prince saving a damsel. The little peace she has is slipping away. No carriage has stopped in the house for the pat days.It came one day. Upon her window, she can see a tall gentleman with his back to her. He was in every inch, a comely gentleman, except for he was holding a cane. Like the Signor.

When the gentleman shot a look at the Casa, Sal's heart sank. It was Oleon leaving for the University. He said he wanted to see her. He said he wanted to stay. Why cannot he do it?

Even just for her? He seemed to say goodbye as he trudged, almost limped towards the carriage. Oleon resembled the Signor, too much.

If she could jump out of that window and fly she would, but she cannot.

“Sorry,” Sal muttered Ren’s words to herself.