Days go by. I meekly bring up the fact that I had gotten second place in the musical production contest that I entered in during dinner. "Wonderful, Sparrow! I knew you'd do well," my mother praises. The songbird sings upstairs, and I smile. Father sips at his tea and glances at me over his glasses. "I expected you to get first, Sparrow. I know you have the potential. You should try harder," he says. The songbird's melody dies out. I sober up and look at my food, no longer with an appetite. "Father, I tried really hard this time, but the first place winner's composition really was lovely," I assure him. "She deserved the first place title." Father looks at me again. "Sparrow, I already said what I had to say. I expect you to get the blue ribbon next time. Try harder," he says seriously, and then excuses himself from the table. Mother looks at me disapprovingly. "He means well," she assures me, and then leaves to go and speak with him. My songbird lets off a mournful tune upstairs, and I try to keep myself composed as I pick up the dishes.
Weeks later, I run into Ethan at the market. I avert my eyes as he stands in my way. "Ethan, you know that we could get into trouble--" I say quietly, but he throws his hands in the air. "Who cares? Who is going to tell your parents that we ran into each other?" He takes me by the shoulders and stares me in the eyes. "Sparrow, you can't let them control you like this. It's like you're living in a cage, like that poor bird of yours." I stare up at him, eyes wide. He steps away from me, looking off. "Never mind. I apologize." He hands me a small box with a ribbon wrapped around it. "I meant to give this to you earlier... but..." he trails off, but I know what he means. But you never got the chance after my parents forbid me to see you... I think to myself. I take it tenderly, opening the box to reveal a little golden canary on a dainty silver chain. He watches me for my reaction. I smile gently. "I love it," I say, and grin at him. He smiles in relief, and then brings me close in a hug. "Promise me that, one day, you'll sing for yourself," he whispers in my ear, and then turns away. I stare at him longingly, clutching the beautiful necklace to my chest.
I smile at my mother as I return home, the necklace hidden beneath my scarf. "Here's all the things you wanted from the market, Mother," I say quietly as I head for the kitchen. "Ah, thank you, Sparrow," she says, following me. "Where's Father?" I ask, unwrapping the scarf around my neck. "Oh, he went out to the market, too, to pick up a few things that I forgot to ask you to get," she replies as she bustles to put the things away. I freeze. "Oh?" I ask, trying to level my voice. Perhaps he didn't see us... And then the front door closes. "Sparrow," my father says, his voice dark. Mother looks at me and then goes to the front hall. "Nathanial? What is it?" she asks. I peek around the corner, eyes wide with fear. "Sparrow. Come here. Now," he says, anger boiling in his voice. I slink up to him, cowering as I look up in fear. "Father, I can explain--" I begin, but he holds up a hand, threatening me. "You and that Ethan boy met up today! Behind our backs!" he snar,s. I wince, backing away. Mother looks at me, eyes wide. "Sparrow! How could you, when we had already warned you multiple times?" she demands. "W-we just ran into e-each other, t-totally by accident!" I stammer, trembling. "Oh, really? Then why did he give you that necklace?" Father yells, and grabs the beautiful canary off my neck, snapping the chain. "No!" I cry out, and snatch it away. My parents stare at me as if I am a murderer. "Sparrow. Elise. You give that back to me right away," my father warns. Ethan's words echo in my head. Promise me that, one day, you'll sing for yourself. I stare up at them, clutching the necklace as if it has the power to protect me. "No," I say stiffly, the word foreign on my tongue. My father's cheeks go red, and he releases the tension behind his hand. It hits my cheek squarely, and my head snaps to the side. "You do not disobey your father!" he yells. Upstairs the songbird sings. "I do what I want now," I say, my eyes watering as my cheek reddens. I turn on my heel, and my father grabs my arm roughly. I shake him off, and stalk upstairs. I lock my door, throwing all of my possessions into a bag. I fling open the birdcage, and my little songbird darted out into the morning sky. "Get back down here right now, young lady!" Father bellows. I do as I'm told, my bag and the canary necklace in hand. I stare at them both, my eyes fierce.
Without another word, I leave the house, free to sing for myself, and freeing myself from my cage. Overhead, my songbird sings.
~~~~~~~~~~~
I didn't intend that to be so long....
But I wanted to use that caged bird metaphor... I dunno, it was interesting! I don't usually write things like this c:
~Mason
