I was running, I didn't care where I went I just had to get away. Away from the man who had tortured me all my life, away from a life filled with parties, and dinners, a life I felt I was trapped in. Ever since I was little my father was never home, I soon got used to seeing him maybe once a month. I was only 14 now, but I thought that was old enough to make my own decisions. He was always at some social dinner, or conference. Well, I'd say to myself, ' He is the king of earth, he has duties and responsibilities to his people', but in my heart I knew that didn't make up for how he treated my mother and I. He always said that he would be home as soon as he could be, always left us thinking he would be home for dinner. He never was. My mother went to a lot of the same meetings, and dinner parties with the other earth royalty, or even the royalty of other planets, but she always made time for me. She would leave parties early, or not go at all, just so she could be there to care for me. My father would have left me with some nurse if he could. I knew the way my father acted hurt her, but she never let it show. I was their only child, heir to the throne, prince of the earth. I had plenty of other children to play with, but none of them understood me. My favorite thing was when my parents held a party for the royalty of all the planets. I got to see my father then, and my mother was happy. I also got to see the other princes, and princesses. There was Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, who I had a crush on, Princess Lita of Jupiter who was always in trouble, Princess Mina of Venus, who was always talking about couples, and love, Princess Amy of Mercury, who was quiet and always had her nose in a book, Princess Raye of Mars, who had a fiery temper, and never seemed to like me much, Princess Michelle of Neptune, who was always around Haruka, Princess Haruka of Uranus, who was the tallest of us all, and looked very boyish, and Princess Aurite of Pluto. Then there were the princes. Aurite's brother Adam, Prince of Pluto, Greg, who was princess Amy's crush, the Prince of Neptune and Princess Michelle's brother, and me Prince Darien of Earth, the strange one who never talked. It wasn't that I was afraid to talk to them, just that I was lonely on earth, and none of them understood that. Their parents always had time for them, their dad never forgot it was their birthday, or missed the ball game at the end of the season where you hit a home run and won the game. Their parents were always together looking like happy young couples. It all seemed so unfair to me, these kids all grew up with people who loved and cared for them, and I grew up with a mother who loved me, and a father who barely knew me. I had run away from home quite a few times, but never for more than a day. Now I knew I had to get away for good, my mother was dying of cancer, and not even Serena's mom, Queen Serenity could heal her. My father was going to send me off to some aunt's where I would be properly cared for until the time came for me to ascend the throne. I couldn't handle it anymore, I was losing the one person who I knew really loved me, and I was going to be sent to live with an aunt who hated me, and used to beat me when we went to visit her. I couldn't handle it any longer, so I ran. There was a spacecraft going up that day, to another planet, I didn't care what planet as long as I got away from my home. I made my way to the arena where all the spacecraft waited while people came from all over to visit my mother. I ran to the first one I saw, it was a big blue and white craft with probably twelve rooms, and a cargo area. The ship was being readied for takeoff, the last passengers getting on, and finding their assigned quarters. The cargo door was open, so I ran for it and ducked inside just before some crew member came around the side of the ship and closed the door behind me. I found a suitcase stuffed with clothes, and hopped in waiting for the sound of engines being started. I didn't have to wait long, the ship took off, and I drifted off to sleep. When I awoke we were still in space, about five minutes away from wherever we were going. I looked out the small rounded window, and saw stars and planets falling behind as the ship flew past. Then I heard the ships' skis being lowered for landing, and I readied myself for the things in the cargo area to get bumped around. It was about five minutes after the ship landed when I came to my senses, and found myself on the floor of the cargo area. I jumped up, opened the cargo door, and ran off before I could be seen, and dragged back to earth. I ran off into the trees, it was dark out and I couldn't see very well. I tripped over something and was knocked unconscious.
When I came to I was lying on the ground in a clearing surrounded by trees. I was bruised and cut all over and I couldn't feel my nose. I also had a terrible headache. I remembered running from something, but I couldn't remember what it was, I couldn't even remember who I was! I got up, and looked around, what was I doing here, where was here anyway? Well I thought, there's no use just sitting here in the woods. I got up and started off in one direction, if I just kept going I'd have to get out of the woods eventually right? About six hours later I came to the edge of the forest, I was in a valley, beyond the trees I saw what must have been a small village. There were twelve houses standing in a circle with equal distance between them. There was a well toward the east, and three larger buildings to the north. I was so hungry that when I smelled what must have been dinner coming from one of the houses I ran to it, and collapsed in a heap on the doorstep.
I woke up to the smell of beef stew. Beef stew I thought, where am I? I opened my eyes slowly, so they could adjust to the light streaming in through the window to my right. I sat up and looked around, I was in a small bedroom with one window, a small dresser in the corner, and a desk by the far right wall with writing materials on it. I was lying in a single person bed with white sheets, with a black comforter covered in red roses. Then I noticed a woman standing in the doorway holding a tray with a cold soda, and a large bowl of beef stew. She was an older woman, probably in her mid fifties, plump and with a motherly look to her. She smiled at me and walked into the room, she set the tray over my legs and watched while I ate. I was starving and ate everything on the plate, when I was done I thanked her profusely but she waved it away.
~
"Who are you, and why did I find you laying on my doorstep half-dead?" She asked.
"I don't know who I am, or how I got here but I'm very sorry if I disturbed you." I replied.
"Oh how sweet, you poor thing I guess the first thing to do is call doctor martin over to have a look at you. You just rest here for awhile"
~
I listened to her retreating footsteps as they faded down the hall, then swung my legs over the edge of the bed to sit up more comfortably. I was still confused, who was I, what was I running from, and what should I do? I wondered. For now I guess I'll stay here, and see what happens. I lay back down in the bed, pulled the covers up to my chin and fell asleep.
