Nicoletta Dupree
December 05, 2007 6:11 PM
Sweet Sixteen by Nicoletta Dupree
The soft screeching of an owl served as an alarm clock for Nicoletta. Looking over, she gave a groan. It wasn’t just any owl. It was her parents’ owl with a letter for her. Pushing back the covers, she tiptoed to where the bird was perched. Once in her hands, the owl didn’t bother to wait. She stared at the envelope, knowing what was in it. It was ironic that it should arrive today of all days, as it was her birthday and not just any, but her sixteenth. It should have been a time of celebration, but that was not to be.Nicoletta placed the letter on her bedside stand. She would open it later, in private. Going to the closet, she went through the small amount of clothing that she had brought with her. She wanted something that would represent the oppressive mood that was already forming in the air. She pulled out a gray long-sleeved t-shirt and a large black hooded sweatshirt, which was meant for a man. When she put it on, it reached to nearly her knees and could nearly have served as a dress. She adored it. The cuffs of the gray shirt were pulled around her hands while the sweatshirt’s rested at her wrists. She threw her hair up into a messy bun and forewent any makeup. Looking in the mirror, sad blue eyes stared back at her. “Welcome to the rest of your life,” she told the reflection.
The rest of the day went by exceedingly slow. She just wanted classes to be over for the day, so she could go to a concealed place where she could read the letter. The other reason she couldn’t wait for classes to be over was due to the looks that she kept receiving. She wished they would just stop. So, she wasn’t wearing makeup? So, she hadn’t really fixed her hair? Big deal. She was sure there were more interesting things to gossip about. But then, she had never gone this far, even at the beginning of the year when she had begun wearing mugglish clothing. She had still tried to look her best, but today, today, she just didn’t care.
When the last class finally let out, she rushed to her dormitory room to grab the letter and a coat. She made a stop in the Hall to grab a cupcake and she was on her way to the Gardens, which were still blanketed in snow. She adored the snow and it greeted her like an old friend. Making her way through the maze, she found an empty bench, not surprising given the weather. Brushing some of the snow off of it, she sat down. She quickly ripped open the envelope. Now, that the piece of parchment was in her hand, Nicoletta hesitated. This was it. This made her disownment real. Taking a deep breath, she unfolded it.
Nicoletta Marie,
With a heavy heart, I write this to you, my dear daughter, for this will be the last thing that will ever connect us and yet it is to be the most painful one. From the moment that you were brought into this world, from the moment your tiny hand latched onto my finger, you became my world. I wanted everything for you, only the best. All I asked in return was that you married someone worthy of your status. Yet, that was not enough. You had to break my heart by defying me.
Perhaps, I was too lenient on you. Do you think your escapades last year went unnoticed? Allow me to answer for you. No, they did not. I thought that I would allow you to continue seeing that disgraceful boy, hoping you would get it out of your system. And for a moment, it seemed you had. Then, to my chagrin, I received a letter from you stating that you want to marry for love. I could not believe what I read, but there it was, the most ridiculous thing to ever come from you. I expected more from you.
Can you honestly tell me that such a degenerate is worthy of you? You are of the utmost breeding. You are beautiful and intelligent, my darling daughter. You have class and status. You are able to have everything. He is nothing. He was only using you. He will only continue to do so. Lucien will be able to take care of you. He will provide for you. He will not drag you down to his level for he is of your level. Lucien is worthy of you.
I want you to consider this very carefully, Nicoletta. You will have nothing and want for everything if you turn your back on the traditional ways, and consequently, your mother and I. Is this really something you want for yourself? I will give you one week to consider this. At the end of one week, if I do not hear from you, I will assume that this is what you have chosen and as stated before, we will no longer be connected. Otherwise, I am willing to forgive you everything and we can act like this never happened. Lucien will stay your betrothed, which will please him. He was very upset with your decision. If you want to marry for love, then that is just another reason you should marry Lucien. He loves you.
On the basis that you do not take my offer, then these are my parting words to you. Nicoletta, you are no longer a Dupree for you are no longer my daughter. As far as I am concerned, I have no daughter.
Delano Dupree
Her hands shook in rage. How dare he. She broke his heart? It was his choice to throw her out of the family, not hers. He could have changed the rules instead of bending to them, but no, it was all her fault. And Lucien loved her? She gave a snort of disbelief. What a joke that was! He didn’t care about her at all. If anyone had been using her, it had been Lucien. He didn’t love anyone, but himself. In Astronomy, they were taught about how the planets revolved around the Sun. Lucien, obviously never took Astronomy, because he thought the Sun revolved around him.
Her thoughts continued on like this until the realization of what had occurred set in. She was disowned. She was free. But at what price? She may have been angry at her father, but she would never see him again nor her mother. Worse was that her brother, her twin, would begin to ignore her. That cut deep, but she knew he had to. There was so much at stake.
Hot tears began to trail down her cheeks. Her head dropped to her lap, her shoulders shaking. The letter had fallen next to the forgotten cupcake meant to commemorate her birthday. Happy Sweet Sixteen.
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