Damaged

6. Dinner at Pa's

The following two weekends I worked on the barn by nailing up loose boards and painting the outside as well as the porch. I even took the time to go into the surrounding forest and have a picnic by myself. There wasn't much to do in this town and the beauty of it was the fact that it was peaceful and quiet.

Pa had practically invited the entire town to his house for dinner over the weekend. I was extremely excited at the fact that I had somewhere to dress up and go.

I took a few wrong turns but when I finally found the right path, it was pretty much a smooth drive. The house looked to be made in the Victorian era with the white pillars that framed the edges. My house was a footstool compared to this mansion enclosed my trimmed shrubs. I brushed off my Salmon colour dress, which was pared with beige sandals and purse, after hopping out of my car.

I greeted everyone I saw and searched until Danny came into view. Like everyone else, she wore basic jeans and a top. All hope drained from my body as I realized I was probably the only one that wore a dress here, or even wore make-up.

"Wow, what are you dressed for?" Danny giggled was she spun me around to get a better look in a mocking manner.

"I don't get out much." I admitted in mid-laughter. "Besides, I don't even own jeans."

I stayed by her side as we walked through everyone to get to the living area. I had no idea how everyone managed to fit in the house, but it seems like the whole town was here.

I unconsciously searched for ken as well, noticing he was with a little girl the entire night. She was the only other person wearing a dress, a light-pink one with dots randomly placed. She seemed absolutely precious with her ponytail and light brown skin. She seemed so innocent and fragile, forcing me to suddenly become aware of how tainted and broken I was.

I have done things, many unclean things that I couldn't share with anymore. Hopefully I got to take them to my grave peacefully because this was where I saw myself growing old. This was where I felt like I could build a life, and enjoy a fresh start.

Regardless of where I was, I couldn't be in the presence of such innocence without feeling dirty. Maybe that's why Kenneth turned down everyone that made advances towards him; he had innocence to protect. He didn't want soiled individuals destroying that, and that's exactly what I was, soiled.

"You look lovely." Emmett smiled when he spotted me dodging out the room. "You and Cindy are both wearing dresses," he laughed at the thought as he held me under one arm. I managed to get him rooted in one spot, and off route towards Kenneth and his daughter. "Did you say hello?" he gestured towards the little girl.

"To her? I don't think it's the best time." I smiled over at her as something I will never have.

"We're at a party, there is no better time. Kenneth..." He called loudly after he explained. I held my breath once more as he made his way over, his daughter in tow.

Kenneth took Cindy in his arm so she could be on our level.

"Hi, I'm Cinderella," Cindy introduced. Kenneth rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Cindy," he sighed, looking at her on his hip.

"Lucinda," she grumbled her real name with her hand extended. I took her smooth fragile hand and curtsied.

"Nice to meet you, Cinderella." I smiled.

Her eyes brightened up as she giggled and bowed her head slightly. "I like your dress." she announced, her voice as bold as her appearance.