"The scratching of the quill smeared ink onto the paper. The smears shaped themselves into letters and the letters formed words, until altogether, it became a masterpiece."

PROLOUGE

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Kisses like soft drops of water etched her cheek. She smiled warmly up at her two older brothers. They were both two heads taller than her and quite a bit older. They were often rude, annoying, inconsiderate, and just plain disgusting, but they were her family, her only family.

She recognized the feeling of memories resurfacing and quickly stifled the thoughts. Home was here, no matter what may have happened in the past. Just seeing the joy on her brothers’ faces was enough to reassure her she was safe. As one they spun her around facing the kitchen table, placed on it was a small brown package wrapped in twine.

“Happy Birthday, Emily!” her brothers chorused. “Well go on, open,” they urged when she hesitated. Emily needed no further prodding to rush forward and pick up the package. She carefully, but hastily, undid the string and folded away the loose paper. The unwrapping revealed a gold painted frame, crafted simply and well. In it was a small family portrait done the year before, when her parents were still alive.

They were all smiling in the picture, Benjamin with his goofy grin and Alex with his toothy smile. Both were wearing flat brimmed hats matching their suits that Mother had forced them in to on the terms ‘no chores for a week.’ Emily was in an elaborate gown with too many frills and bows for her taste. Her hair had been carefully curled that day, it had taken hours and she had managed to burn her mother in the process.

Then her mother and father, Kelsey and Richard Lawrence, stood behind their children. Richard with his stern proud face and sharp features. He was slightly shorter than Ben, hence that children sitting down. Kelsey graced the picture with softer features, ones Emily would never seem to inherit. She represent the only ‘lady’ in the house, you could see it in the lightness of her eyes. The family seemed so real then, but not now, never now.

“Emily . . . ,” Ben started his voice too soft for her liking.

“Thank you so much, really, I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she said turning around to face them once more. She set down the frame gently on the table, smiling. Alex took it from the table and went to place it in her room. When he returned he gave her another kiss on the cheek and lightly flicked the thin leather necklace around her neck, an old brotherly habit.

“Thanks Alex,” she said her fingers tracing the string by her collarbone. “And you too Ben, it’s quite a way to celebrate age fifteen.” She sighed dramatically. “Well I guess I’m getting old I better get myself to bed before I drop dead from exhaustion.” Both boys chuckled lightly and began to escort her to bed.

“Now don’t go damaging that picture, Em,” Ben lectured as he tucked her into bed. “We don’t want you to forget us.”

“Why would I do that?” she asked, breaking out into a yawn half way though her words.

“I love you, Em, happy birthday,” Alex whispered into her ear.

“Love ya, Emily, don’t you go forgetting,” Ben said, also whispering. Her muttered reply was not heard as they made their way out of her room. ‘Don’t leave.'

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The brothers waited solemnly outside watching the coach draw closer through the dark rain. Dark drops splashed their faces and dripped onto the muddy ground. Waves of dirt parted ways as the single horse raced towards them. It was a black horse, a symbol of betrayal in their minds.

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing,” Alex, the younger of the two, asked.

“It’s the only way,” Ben answered, barely audible over the roar of the approaching party. He stepped forward to greet the man.

“Where is she?” the man said, dismounting from his carriage seat. They could not see his face covered by a heavy black cloak.

“Where’s the money?” Ben demanded coolly. The man grumbled under his breath but readily pulled out a pouch. Because of the damp you could make out the coins clinging to the interior. “Inside, in the back room,” Ben told him, sadly, once he checked the gold. Without hesitation the stranger barged into their broken house, the brothers stayed behind.

A minute later they heard a scream and then saw the man trudge out of their home, dragging their sister by her wrists in his midst. Alex looked down at his boots, unable to bear the confusion and pain written across his baby sister’s face. Ben held her gaze, trying to explain everything without a word. It seemed she understood.

“No!” She cried out, desperately trying to hold back her sobs. “You can’t do this!” her voice was muffled slightly but her words were clear in their hearts, yet still they did nothing. She was hauled up and into the back of the cart and locked in like a caged animal. Her small hands grasped around the wooded prison and she pressed her face up against them. They watched her leave like that; she watched her only family stand still while she was taken away.

“Do you think she’ll ever understand?” Alex asked, a tinge of hope leaking through his words.

“Probably not,” the brother replied stonily. Alex’s face fell and they both entered the house, it would never be a home, and prepared to leave, forever.