The Night Owl is back.

For many years, my sister, Rose, painted a picture with her imagination of the person she could’ve been. Or better yet, the person she should’ve been. She dreamt of storms washing her problems away, only to be faced with more rain in the next few days. She prayed to the Royals to help her find a way out. She even got down on her knees and asked for help. Only she seems to never make it out. The return was coming and she had plans to be free. Rose has never ever had real freedom, only dreams of the Peach Cream Lillied sky.

Such a superficial imagination she had there. Sometimes I question why she even has such a vivid imagination and hasn’t seen anything, especially at 17.

The only thing is, I feel that the Night Owl will be back soon, and she may not be able to face it. Rose is in her first year of marriage, and she doesn’t know this test is coming her way.

As the days went on, she realized something very strange. She made friends with the first owl I’ve seen in the haul. He soon disappeared and when he came back, she asked him many questions. I think I heard her saying, "Will you come back when I don’t want you to come? Will you leave the door open to let the neighbors know you're coming? Are you that pessimistic and disrespectful that you don’t even care about what they have to say? Are you going to leave me whenever I get an attitude for not getting my way?"

I am not sure what is going on. Every time the Night Owl comes, in order for the young ladies to become Queen, they face each test on their own. Yes, if you’re wondering, I’m 15, but us boys don’t get to experience the Owl. The Snake comes, and that I won’t figure out until I’m 18.

I know Rose and I are going to speak at supper.

Today she slid a thick note under the table. It’s such an odd poem, like fashion. She told me to slide it under the guest room at 7 am. Could the owl be there? I went on to read it anyway. Before the guards came walking in,they read, "I know what you’re thinking; you’re tired of hearing me cry and complain, but you’re the same person driving me insane. I need to run fast. You always ask why I’m scared to see you, like you didn’t ruin my image or my frame. If I had given up, I would have lost my fame, and who cares about fame when no one would hear me yell?You haven’t even told me your name! You read my body language, you saw me twitch, you knew I wasn’t okay. Please don’t come back. Please don’t come this way. "

The note was actually composed of a 3-in-1 fold-up. Rose was smart enough to know I'd be curious. It goes, "Dillan, this one's for you. Please read the next note and flush these two down the toilet when you’re done."

The next note read,

"Please, is what I’m saying every night before a new day. I want a new life for myself. I just pray the Night Owl doesn't keep coming to see me. I want to get up like an eagle and soar freely. I had better be gone. I see and feel pain whenever the owl is in my peripheral range. I hope to soar free, so I am spreading this message to you on my wings. They are not treating me any better, and I don’t think this is for marriage. The guardians are telling us lies. The owl visited way too many times and left me crying on my knees. I tried to get up. Only he knocked me down and embarrassed me. It makes me feel filthy because he watches me like a hawk. Now, as I come to my senses, Dillan, I think he only came to stalk! I think this is our dad! To see if I’m ready to be a woman! So I got up and I went in the mirror and I kept twirling and twirling and looking around to see what’s so good about me. I figured it out! Only now it’s time for me to leave the nest with no doubt. I’m afraid if I get too excited I might shout. Next thing you know, I’ll find another one of those owls in my new house.".

The next morning, after I got done reading those papers, I heard the gates open and I saw a fancy pink robe sliding across the halls as whomever went out. The color of the gown was Rose, and it was Rose who went out.

The Night Owl is who I’m training to be. Only the cost of being free is what scares me at 15.

I hope Rose is doing well. I love you, Rose. Until we meet again. I hope you recognize me. I hope you’re not my snake.