Out of the cage

"Hey, wake up!"

I was awakened by a soft whisper.I turned in the opposite direction and tried to sleep, ignoring the call. I would have normally freaked out if I heard a noise, but I was too sleepy to care.

"Happy Birthday, Austin." I threw my eyes wide open and immediately sat up on my bed. Now my brain started recognising the situation. When I did, my soul left my body.

"Wha_?"

She silenced me, covering my mouth and looking towards the door. It's really her. She is in my room, standing in front of me, covering my mouth.

EMMA IS IN MY ROOM!

"How did_?"

"Let's get out of here." She cut my train of questions with a playful grin. She walked carefully among the mess on the floor and looked through my wardrobe. She picked me an outfit.

"Go change and get ready. You have 10 minutes. Hurry up!" She said in a hushed voice and pushed me inside the bathroom, shutting it close. My brain was not working properly as it takes time for my brain to start working in the morning. So I just obeyed what she asked. When did she become so bossy?

When I came back to the room, I saw it. I always wanted to see it, she is holding a real broomstick in her hands! The two favourite things I always wanted to see close: Emma and broomstick. I don't mind if I die right now, right here. She came to my room at 5 in the morning in her broomstick. Now she is taking me out. Wait a minute… Is it what you call a date? She is taking me for a date?! I could dance right now.

She gestured to me to get on the broomstick with a smile. No offense, I was so surprised to see a real broomstick. Anyone would have laughed at my face. I sat behind her. I am nervous for my first journey on a broom and I am so happy to see her. I don't know what my face looked like now. I don't care 'cause my heart is already running miles.

She took off. I held onto her so tight that I felt like I was going to crush her. She chuckled and when I opened my eyes, we were at least 100 feet high. That only made my grip tighter. She chuckled loudly and I smiled hearing her voice. She is not scared of heights. She increased the speed and I screamed to her to slow down. But she was enjoying this. One day I am going to get back. I swear.

Soon I came out of my fear and began to enjoy the trip. The cold morning air blew the hair away from my forehead and the rising sun came to our view. The sky is becoming brighter and I am sure we are the first ones to see the sun rise. The whole world was before us. I closed my eyes and felt the air in my hair. I breathed in as much air as I could. It felt pure and fresh. It feels like it's my first time breathing. We just jumped out of my home but I can't see my guilt anywhere. It felt right.

I opened my eyes to see her wavy brown hair flying in the air. She is a good flyer and she is brave enough to take me out. She is enjoying this as much as I am. She is smiling and her face is glowing. She is staring straight to the horizon and the broom is flying there. We are leaving all the curses and problems behind. There is nothing holding us back. We are no longer separated. Whe are leaving this cursed city behind, taking nothing with us, just us, together, forever.

She slowed down soon and kind of turned back. Is she going to drop me back home this soon? I don't want to go back right now. At least talk to me before it. I am tired of the paper planes. I want to have a real conversation with you. Hear my thoughts, Emma. Talk to me.

I looked down and watched the city. It looks so… ancient. Small houses all over the place. Seems like my house is the largest amongst all of them. It looks awesome and organised from up here. People have woken up and started their day. What happens on their day? Does everyone have a story like mine and Emma's? I don't think so. They all are programmed to go as per the directions given by the ministry. They don't have a story. As I am trapped in my room, they are trapped in their life.

Emma is different from them. She is having a life. She does something different each day and tells me about it. She doesn't want me to get bored with her daily routine. Maybe because she is not from this city. She was born in Silversteele. I don't know where it is. But from her story, it is the most amazing and extraordinary place. I would like to visit there . She is not afraid to break rules if needed, Don't care about prophecies. What hurts her is people. She can't stand cruel or mean people. Hence my parents are not in her friends list.

She landed down to a house. It must be hers. It was not a huge one like mine. But it had a very beautiful garden. The house was painted blue and from the outside there will be roughly 2 rooms inside. They had big windows and some creepers were on the wall. But it only made it more beautiful. It felt like home for me.

"Home sweet home!" She chanted and walked towards it. She put her broomstick in the yard and opened the door for me. I walked in. I was wrong. There is a living room, dining table and kitchen all in one. Two doors, maybe leading to bedrooms. There was not much furniture. Her house is the clear example of what a normal person needs to live. Her home is so welcoming and lovely. Unlike my scary and lonely one. What about if I stay here and never return? Can I, Emma?

"It's not as big as yours, I know. But it's enough for us." She said looking down to her feet.

"Being big or small doesn't matter, unless you feel you are at home. I can feel it here." I said, never taking my eyes off her. It felt like she might disappear if I took my eyes off.

She looked amused. Never expected me to be so cheesy, did she? She grew into a beautiful lady. But her eyes are the same and she has the same red cheeks. Her eyes hold the same innocence and care. Never knew hazel eyes will become my favourite.

It felt like yesterday when we were so close to each other. Her eyes hold the same emotion, love. What might my eyes hold right now? Can she see the ocean deep love for her? Can you see it? See it, Emma. Feel it. I am dying to be with you. To hold your hands in mine, to hug you close to my heart, to make you hear my heart's calling for you. See my love, Emma. Don't pretend you are blind to this. Please Emma…

I stepped close to her. She suddenly broke eye contact and clapped her hands. Maybe to wake both of us from the trance. I stood there broken from the trance. What was I even thinking?

She walked over to the kitchen and I sat on the dining table. There is a tension among us. I don't want it. I watched her as she opened her refrigerator and looked inside of it. She is moving around the kitchen, making a sandwich for both of us. I smiled at her involuntarily. Wish it happened every day…

She placed the plate before me and sat beside me eating her sandwich. We both had our breakfast in silence.

"Ok, listen." She suddenly said, making me jump. She just chuckled at me and continued,"I planned this day and it's going to be perfect, trust me. We have a whole day for us. I will show you the one and only Riverlook. You can see the people in disguise, of course. They are going to freak out if they see you. You have to go home for lunch, otherwise they are going to notice your disappearance. So…" She stood up from her seat, never breaking eye contact. This girl really has some nerve. "Are you ready for your first day out, Austin Tyler?" She bowed dramatically. "May I?" She held her hand out for me to take. I chuckled. She is asking my permission even though she knows it's always a yes.

"Of course my lady." I bowed and took her hand and she led me to dance. She snapped her fingers and the music played. I chuckled at the cuteness I am seeing right now. I am a terrible dancer but she just went along with the music. We danced around the hall. My one hand holding hers and other on her waist. I never smiled for this long. I just can't stop my face from smiling. She is having a great time. She is dancing like it's her last and I am like it's my first. She laughed, throwing her head back whenever I stepped on her foot. She really is the angel sent for me. She is doing this for me. She planned a perfect day for me. I never expected this. She is too good for me, isn't she?

The music went on and our dancing slowed down. She intervened her hands behind my neck and mine are still holding her waist. I pulled her closer to me and she let me, our foreheads touching. I relaxed to the touch and swayed around at a very slow pace. The silence was comfortable. Sometimes words are not needed to explain something. With the right person, silence is enough for a million words. I don't want this moment to end. Just us, together, in each other's arms. Why can't we be together? Why do I have to be the cursed one? Is there any way out of this?