Dark Prince

"So you said your great-grand father was a blacksmith"? Acey was working on a little family tree assignment- as per usual, something that just must be assigned each year.

"Yes, a very well known one in fact, I've only met him once, but he was truly like a father to me..."

"Oh..." The sudden turn in the conservation took me by awkward surprise. "So you don't have a..."

"Yes, Ava I don't have a father. Hey don't feel sorry for me-," Acey pushed me lightheardtedly with her shoulder, "-he died many many, MANY years back. I still miss him, but what can you do but continue living right?"

I turned my head quickly towards the window as an abrupt tear formed in my eye. Acey's pain, her sorrow. I felt it like a shattering earthquake. Get it together. get it together! I hastily wiped my eyes and looked back at Acey with the best smile I could muster.

For some reason, she was intently looking over at me with great interest and an almost smirk. But she quickly looked away. Was I imaging her smirking just now? I didn't think she would be making a joke about her father like that- would she?

"All of us have our own troubles, don't we? My absent father is just one of mine."

"Well, you're very brave Acey, I couldn't imagine a day without my father."

"I'm only brave because of friends like you. You know, I'm glad you came to this school this year, or else I wouldn't have even a friend..." She looked sadly at the hardwood floor. Shoulders hunched- yes that smirk must have been a figment of my imagination.

"But you're quite popular, and you know pretty much everyone of every grade of our school. How is it possible that you needed another friend?" Even as I asked the question, I knew I shouldn't have. The story, the fresh wound- it was already appearing in her eyes and somehow already hit my soul.

I didn't want to hear it- Acey's sadness overwhelmed me as it was already.

"He was my best friend..."

I spun my head aruptly towards the clock on Acey's beautiful rosy pink wall.

"Um, I'm sorry Ace, I've got to go, you know help at the hospital- volunteering, can we finish thsi conversation another day? So sorry but it's so late already." In a hurry I picked up what like a thousand papers that were sprawled across the room and shoved them into the first binder in my brown-leather shoulder bag.

"So sorry Acey!" I'll catch up with you later ok!?" My voice was alreayd cracking. I could just hold the tears in.

Acey nodded a yes still looking at the ground, and waved goodbye.

Shutting herfront door, I began to relax and breathe easier. I could still hear my heart pounding in my ears as I rested for a few minutes with my back against the front door of Acey's suburban mansion. That was the first time I lied to Acey. I couldn't believe what just happened let alone comprehend the situation.

I decided to go to the hospita early- maybe helping others is just what I needed to ease my guilt and worries...



"Hi, I'm here to volunteer." I greeted the blonde secretary at the eggshell white front desk.

"Hi Rosette's daughter! You're here quite early, your shift doesn't start for another hour or so-" She stretched to look over her shoulder at the clock.

"Yeah, I know, but I-uh...I love helping people!" It was a lame excuse but it was true.

"Okay, well then you get to work with one of the other volunteers then. He's the black-haired boy you'll see around the hospital if you have a question, he'll know the answear or where to find a nurse, understood?

"Yes."

"Here-" a pile consisting of newpapers, and ragged home decor magazines fell in front of me in an orderly file.

"Hand these out to everybody on this floor and bring back the old ones."

"These are new?"

She giggled. "Don't be silly, of course we re-use them."

"Okay, I'll get right to it then."