Once upon a time, there was no fairy tale. At least not for me. I use to believe there were princesses and princes, dragons and evil witches, but when reality took a hold on life at the age of seven, everything dramatically changed. By the way, my name is Millie Silver. I sit in the library of my house often and I can’t help but have a reoccurring thought cross my mind: where is my prince charming? I live in Monterrey, California in a multi-million dollar mansion. It is a dream house. This mansion has a gigantic pool, a library, a theater, a lovely kitchen, many bathrooms, and many more rooms. I also happen to have two maids. I’m living the life right? Sadly that couldn’t be anymore wrong. My father, who got us this house, died when I was seven. As for my mother, after my father died she began to always stay at a different man’s house every night of the week. Never the same man twice, except for a few that over paid her often. She didn’t work for anyone, so all the money she would obtain from those men were all hers. As for that dirty money, I never laid my eyes on any of it. The only positive aspect of this life was that I always had the house to myself.

    I am again in the library having lonesome thoughts but soon I come to my senses and get up to put a finished book away. As I put the book back in its place and grab another, I hear something in the kitchen. I walk toward the noise and discover my mother, Hilda, was there. She was very pretty. She had tanned skin, crystal blue eyes, strawberry blond wavy hair, and freckles that decorated her face nicely. She had the perfect body and a smile that could break hearts. She was gorgeous and had no business in doing what she did every night.

    I looked over to look at the clock which read that it was three-thirty in the afternoon. “Mom?” I said to get her attention.

    “Hello darling. Good morning,” she said as she looked in her purse for her key to her room. She is afraid I have sticky fingers for her money. She has nothing to worry about, but she had her trust issues.

    “It’s the afternoon,” I said biting my lip.

    “That’s right. Don’t mind me,” she responded with a giggle.

    “Mom are you on something?” I ask in stupid concern.

    “Don’t start this now Millie,” mother said. “Someone has to pay for this house and keep this family together.” Wrong. This house is already paid off. My father paid in full and the bills are paid through his company he left behind. He wanted to make sure we never had to struggle. She finished fussing when she finally found her key and proceeded to walk upstairs to her room. I stood there waiting for to her return. When she came back out she was laughing like someone told her a good joke. “I just came home to drop off my tip from last night,” she said waggling her eyebrows. She went back in her purse to replace her key while still giggling, but quickly ceased when she looked up and noticed a book in my hand.

    “What?” I said starting to get uncomfortable.

    “Damn it Millie. Get your head out of the damn clouds and put away your little books. There’s no time for reading when you can be out making your own money. For god sake’s your seventeen now. Get off your ass and start living. Honestly I don’t know what your father built that stupid library for,” It sounded like she was encouraging me to get out there more and have a fun young life. That wasn’t what she meant. I straightened out my shoulders to show her that I was standing my ground, when in actuality I became weaker and weaker the more she pressured me to go out and get money from sex. My heart ached when she would do that. “I am going out. I will see you-,” she said without finishing when she walked over to me and kissed my forehead. That’s when she snatched away my book and threw it in the trash. I was about to retrieve it when I noticed my mother staring at me with a raised brow and arms crossed. She wasn’t just a peer pressuring mother, but also an abusive one. In other words, if I saved the book she would hit me. When I backed away she smiled and walked out the door. “I’ll see you whenever I see you,” was all she said before she left once again.

    When I was sure she wouldn’t come back I got the book out of the empty trash and started my way to the library. The library itself was bigger than an average house. The walls were covered with books from top to bottom and many full book cases sat around randomly. Every time I stepped foot in this room it smelt like the cologne my father would wear. It reminded me of him. I find a place to sit comfortably to begin my book, but found myself distracted. I couldn’t help but just simply cry.

    The next day was an early morning. My only love and priority was school. The stereo typical high school girl couldn’t help but focus on boys. I didn’t have time nor the interest in flirting and relationships. Yet my best friend, Lora, loves doing just that. She partied a lot and has a bit of a unrestrained reputation. She dressed up for show every day and used many of the modern day slang words. Hilda much? Lora was different in a way. She strives to fit in with everyone else, which put her in the common category of every other high school girl. She did it well though. In actuality she was very smart and knew how to act right when she needed to. She had very good grades and respected her family at home. She lived with her mom, who always had money troubles. It was mind numbing for Lora, so she did anything to escape it. When I met her we instantly clicked. At the point of a best friendship I offered to try to help her and her mother, but she knew my situation and didn’t want to risk me getting hurt. So she refused.

    “OMG Millie! Look at that sexy mofo over there. I just may have to get up in that. Millie you’re not looking!” This was often how my mornings went. We were at my locker and while I fished out my books for the day, Lora would scope out the surroundings.

    I shut my locker and said, “Yeah, I guess,” without a glance.

    “I know right. I don't know why you won't try to get with anyone. Your light skinned ass, with your Haitian and Russian mixture could pull anyone,” Jenny answered biting her lower lip.

    “Let’s go to Literature now,” I said pulling her by the arm in my direction and ignoring her. Lit. Class began and notes were being written. I took many of them and tended to fill up plenty of notebooks because this class was my favorite. As I took my notes I stole a quick glance at my neighboring student. He was cute, smart, sweet, and someone I didn’t have time for. Eric was probably the only boy I would attempt to put my guard down for. If anyone could be the one prince I wanted to save me, I would want it to be him. Take me away from the castle I am locked away in and cure the poison my mother loves to inject me with. Eric looked back and smiled. I smiled back then looked away quickly before he can see the blush I know my light skin would show.

    At that moment a boy came in the class. The professor, Mrs. Bennigh, stopped lecturing and introduced him. Lora looked up and sucked in a breath and started to bite her lip. Of course she would, he was beautiful. He had striking green eyes, a couple of beauty marks to decorate his flawless face, small plugs that gauged his ears to the perfect size in each ear, and tanned golden skin. He looked mixed like me. Those type of boys were the most dangerous. Mrs. Bennigh talked to him and pointed to the empty desk behind Jenny. “Hi,” Lora whispered as he sat down.

    “Sup,” he replied. Still smiling Lora turned back to her work.

    “Wait! Wait for me!” Lora yelled to me as I began to walk home after school ended. “What you ‘bout to do?” she asked when she finally caught up.

    “I’m going home Lo.”

    “I’m going to this little get together, I want you to come with me.” Lora and I fell into step as we kept going the direction of my house.

    “Sorry Lo, but I really do need to get home. Maybe next time.”

    “You mean like never? You always say that and don’t mean it. Come on you’re my best friend and I want to do best friend things with you.” Lora poked her bottom lip at and started whining like a puppy.

    With a breaking heart I said, “I’ll call you later.” Then I rushed off.

    I got home and began to make my way to my room. Unfortunately the marble floors we had didn’t make it easy to be quite, especially if your shoes had mini heals on them like mine did. I started to head for my room when I started hearing faint moans echo the hall. It was very odd because mother never brought men back to the house, ever. I started to rush off to my room when mother called me through her cracked door. I quietly curse my shoes and answer, “yes mom?”

    “Come here,” She said loudly making sure I heard her.

    “Mom, I’d rather not.”

    “Get your ass in here now!” I jumped and followed her directions. When I walked in, there was a man in mother’s bed and she was standing in front of it, butt-naked, looking at me with her hands on her curvy hips. “What are you doing home? Don’t you have school or something?” she asked in an aggravated tone.

    “School ended,” I replied. I notice the man glancing at me.

    “Oh so it ended, huh?” mother repeated with a thoughtful tone this time. Everything in my being told me it was time to turn and get out.

    “Yes. So I will be leaving to my room to do my homework.” I took a step back toward the door leading out of the dark, musty room.

     “Money, where is it? I want to see.” Mother held her hand out in front of herself. I looked at her bewildered and confused. “The money you earned today, Millie hand it to me. I want to have a look at it.”

    “I don’t have any money. I didn’t receive any. I-I,” I didn’t know what else to say. I was at school all day, but mother wanted me elsewhere with some man getting paid the way she would. What makes the situation worse is that mother knew where I was all day. All I can think to myself was: shit.

    Mother looked at a spot on the floor and then said, “No, you will not be leaving. I think you need to start taking care of yourself by earning your own money. So I’ve decided you may need a lesson. You will stay and watch and hopefully it will be some encouragement for you.”

    “Mom please. Please don’t make me do this,” I begged as I started to back up again.

    “Shut your mouth and sit over there!” she pointed to the spot she was staring at before. “Consider this as some motherly advice.”

    I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I was in so much shock and tears began to burn my eyes. Unfortunately I knew that if I didn’t move soon mother would hurt me. So when she yelled at me to sit down again I did as I was told. I wanted to cover my eyes and ears, but that would only make my situation worse. “Come my dear Henry,” she said to the man in the bed. Henry got up and went over to mother who was now bending over the bed. The tears that burned before was now running down my face. As I watch the scene before me, and mother’s moans echoed my ears, I couldn’t help but notice Henry staring at me and smiling.