PERFECT FLAWS

Heart conspiracy

Grandeur.

That was the word that filled my awestruck mind when the ginormous gate to the mansion which I presume belonged to Sheilagh's father, slid open automatically.

I'd known Sheilagh's parents were loaded, but this completely exceeded my imagination.

As Sheilagh drove down the paved road, I let my eyes and mind take in the beauty surrounding us. The road Sheilagh drove down was lined with beautiful palms on both sides of the path, which were almost three times our heights. The entrance gave way to a roundabout, with a water fountain standing majestically at the centre. The water trickling from the mouth of the stone dragon seem to glimmer like crystals under the sun. I had barely gotten a glimpse of the building itself before the garage ahead of us opened, automatically I might add, and Sheilagh drove in.

‘We're here!’ Sheilagh chirped, with a smile on her lovely face.

Still speechless, I nodded, stepping out of the car after Sheilagh. It was a fairly large garage, like it was built for a man who loved his car collection and knew how to flaunt it, but just Sheilagh's car was parked in it. I heard Sheilagh already walking so I followed after her.

The garage entrance shut after we stepped out and we were outside again. Now we were on foot, I had time to really take a look around. That was when I realised the fountain wasn't a dragon but a giant gargoyle, which I found quite odd, really.

Then the house itself. In fact, the word ‘house’ doesn't even do enough justice to describe the magnificient building that towered over Sheilagh and I. I just stood in front of it like a statue, wide-eyed and mouth open, staring.

The walls were painted a warm cream with huge stone pillars, giving the house a regal look while holding the other two storeys in place at the same time. Balconies protruded out to the front and side of the house, with several huge glass windows.
Tall pines decorated lined the front of the building, giving it that homely feel.

I caught Sheilagh staring at me with amusement dancing in her eyes and I looked away, feeling a tinge of shame.

Of course I'd gawk at such beauty. I'd never seen anything like it, let alone lived in it. If Sheilagh felt out of my league before, now the distance was as far as the moon from the earth, after getting a glimpse of the life she was used to.

‘You okay?’ Sheilagh asked. I still couldn't meet her eyes and just nodded.

‘You haven't said a word since we got here...’ Her voice trailed off with a questioning edge.

Now I knew I had to say something.
‘I'm,’ I cleared my throat, squaring my shoulders with false bravado.
‘I'm alright, Sheilagh. Let's go.’

We walked through the porch into a dim lit hallway, stone sculptures casting eerie shadows were on both sides. We stepped into the living room and it was impossible to not notice how large it was. What caught my attention was not just it's impressive size, but the fact that it was...empty.

Literally, no jokes. There was absolutely nothing in the living room.

The white walls laid bare, the polished floors shone and when I looked up, even the chandelier was missing.

‘We're...redecorating.’
Sheilagh said, suddenly grabbing my wrist and pulled me up the stairs to her room, before I even said a word.

There was a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach and I couldn't help but wonder what was happening with this family. First the empty garage, then the bare living room. And then the look on her face whenever she caught me staring...

It was no coincidence. It couldn't have been.

Sheilagh came to a stop in front of a door at the far end of the hallway, her hand lingering over the handle. She looked at me, with her mouth slightly parted like she wanted to say something but decided against it when went on to open the door.