Sophia: Prologue Part One

The ivory keys easily gave way underneath her fingertips as her hands gracefully moved from one end to the other. The sound it produced was a perfectly fine echo of her pained heart, each note another chord that struck and reverberated through her chest. Only twenty years of age and the girl felt as if she had lived an entire lifetime, and in a way, it was true. As her kind eyes gently shut, her notes were held longer, and the sound became quieter. Soft, plump lips pursed together, and her dark brows ever so slightly drew in to form a faint crease between them. With her heart pounding and her stomach clenching tight, she felt herself on the verge of breaking.

One hand slowed down and stopped altogether, then then the other. When they dropped into her lap, she opened her eyes and felt moisture sitting on her dark lashes, moss green eyes staring ahead at nothing because all she could see was her wretched fate. She was to marry to secure her family’s wealth, but she felt it would be the end of her. The man she genuinely loved was gone.

“Sophia.” A young boy barely above nine years of age stood at the doorway with his handsome school attire, only missing his hat. In his eyes, there was an understanding far beyond his age that always gave her such pride.

Sophia pushed back her rich, dark brown locks of hair behind her lace-covered shoulder and stood to walk over to him. Nearly at her shoulders, the young boy looked back up at her with concern and she forced a smile on her face as she sniffed. “Collin, you’re such a handsome young man, but you’re missing your hat.” She brushed his dark bangs to the side quickly and then smoothed out his sleeves with a quick pat. “You don’t need me to accompany you there?”

The boy shook his head, “No, sister. But… are you- are you going to be okay?”

With a weaker smile, Sophia nodded and then took a step back. “Of course. Everyone has a moment like this when they get the chance to think too much.” Her eyes settled on a spider plant nearby, “It’s just… that things will be so different, more than I ever expected.”

Seeing her jawline tense up again, Collin cleared his throat audibly to get her attention. “You’ll be a Duchess, and one day, Que- “

“And you think that matters to me?” Sophia suddenly spat, quickly realizing the position she’d placed her brother in. “Collin… I am so sorry. I- I wasn’t trying to be so short.”

Collin shyly looked back up at her, “Maybe not what you wanted, but we’ll still be together, right?”

With an intake of breath, her chest feeling tight again, Sophia held her hands together in front of her. “Yes.” Why am I lying to him? “I’ll see to it myself. After all, I’m your sole guardian now.” He will be in the care of a matron until he comes of age. How could I confess this now?

“Then… there’s something to look forward to. A bigger home!” Collin offered her one of his rare smiles and it nearly broke her composure. “I’ll get my hat, and I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Mhm!” Sophia could not speak; she just kept her smile on her face until she had heard the front door shut minutes later. When her face went straight and she eased herself into a chair, she let her breath go while her eyes welled up rudely fast. I do not know if everything will be well, or if you will resent me for a lifetime, brother, but I can assure you I am doing what is best for your future. Her small frame shuddered, and she brought her gloved hand up to her face as her composure finally cracked.

- Thank you for reading! Please stay tuned for Part Two of the Prologue!