The Hidden Diary of Ophelia Ridley

3

1 June 1988

Dear Diary,

One might think that this summer holiday would be fun for me. After all, this is the last summer before I become an adult. One might think that these months would be full of happiness, friends, and adventures.

Making memories to cherish before I leave.

But it's not.

I have no friends, my family is dysfunctional, and this summer will be filled with mind-numbing chores and secret plans to escape.

My previous summers haven't been much better.

I've never even been able to look forward to the school year because I've  never actually been to school.

Father is a certified tutor, so it's always been me and Daniel completing worksheets and reading books that were assigned. I suppose, secretly, I've always wanted to be like Molly Ringwald in those American films. The Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink. You know, the pretty girl who goes to school everyday with her friends and ends up meeting the perfect bloke?

Instead, I was stuck sitting across from my father, whose nose hair situation was out of control, and Daniel. 

Daniel wasn't always so bad. We used to be chummy up until about a year ago. As kids, we used to play together, tell jokes and sneak into the boring adult parties his parents hosted. Even if he was slightly older than me, we got along because he was the only person around my age. 

After he finished schooling, it got lonesome. We would spend some time together but it was never long because his folks were pressuring him to act like an adult and prepare for the family business, which basically consisted of bossing people around and sitting behind a desk all day.

Meanwhile, Daniel's parents no longer required dad to tutor, so he was back in the stables which allowed him more time for drink. Mum still made me do schoolwork, though. I would be earning my certificate next year for schooling, if I stayed.

I remember the day I told him how it was terribly lonely without him. I meant it in a friendly way but apparently he took it as an invitation to propose to me in front of both of our families during tea. 

I knew it wasn't a joke, as Daniel and I never joked in front of our parents but I waited for someone to step up and tell him that it was a ludicrous idea and to get off of his knee. I was only sixteen. 

Instead his mother just told him it was a "splendid" idea and his father patted him on his back, congratulating him. My mother was practically weeping with joy as she clung to my father and it seemed as if the entire world had gone unhinged.

The worst part was, nobody even waited for my answer. They just assumed I would say yes. Naturally, everyone was fuming when I informed my mother that I did not want to pick out china patterns for the wedding and told Daniel just exactly where he could shove his proposal.

My mother screamed at me all night about my refusal to marry and scolded me about my "disgraceful" mouth.

Daniel has asked me a few more times since then and I've turned him down every time.

I thought he understood what I wanted in life. Being a trophy wife was not in the agenda.

He was my only friend and now I'm all alone and miserable.

I need to get a start on my plans for escape. 

~Ophelia ♡