Live Again

Pearl gazed out the window at the clouds. The warmth of the sunlight kissed her skin as the plane tilted to the right. There was something about the clouds that calmed her, even given the chaos that surrounded her on a daily basis.

She was born into this life; jet setting around the world, her regular, everyday life was only a fantasy to most people. She knew nothing else, but she wanted so much more.

Money was never her issue. It was her privacy, her protection. It was the fact that financially she was more than set, yet she hadn't really lived.

"Can I get you anything?"

"Out of this life," she wanted to say. Instead, she replied, "No, thanks. We'll be landing soon, right?"

"Yes, before you know it."

"Thanks, Eddie," she replied. If he looked closer, he would have seen the sadness in her eyes.

Her parents were well-known performers, each a descendant of Hollywood royalty. Pearl was famous before she took her first breath. Other famous offspring treated her differently. They could sense that she was unique. She didn't flaunt her money like they did. She wore expensive things, but she could care less about them.

Just once, she wished things were different. She heard about stories of other teens going to regular school, hanging out at the mall, amusement parks and going to prom. Simple things that everyday people took for granted. If Pearl tried doing any of the above, it would have been all over social media within minutes, if not, hours.

One day, she got an idea, and she reached out to her stylish, Frankie.

Frankie pressed the button to her rotating closet to choose an outfit for her. She watched him for a moment, then tapped his arm. "I need you to do something for me. Don't tell mom. Don't tell dad. Don't tell anyone. Please!"

"Now, you know, I can't do anything without your parent's permission," Frankie replied, waving his finger in her face.

Pearl thought about his response for a moment, then suggested, "If you do this one thing for me," she said, "I'll make sure you're paid double this week!"

Frankie put his hand on his hip. "Just how are you gonna do that, young lady?"

Pearl smiled. "Let's just say, the money I earned from being on mom's world tour isn't going to waste."

Frankie squinted his eyes at the teen. He worked with her since she was born, styling her from head to foot, making every look memorable and paparazzi worthy. Yet, he didn't just work for her; he watched over her. He loved her like she was his own daughter. He noticed how people admired her beauty, her style. He watched how people loved her genuine heart, or as much as they could experience it from afar. He wanted to keep it that way because he knew this world was a dangerous place for a well-known, wealthy teen. Even so, he said, "I'm listening."

***

Pearl gleamed at the sight around her. Neon lights from the rides lit up the night sky. The excited squeals of children as they bumped into each other on the bumper cars made Pearl chuckle.

Frankie looked at every child, every parent, every person within sight. "Lil' girl, I don't know how you talked me into this!"

"Relax, Frankie, we're going to be fine. I just flew in from another country. It's not unlikely that I'm in bed with the flu!"

"You better be right!"

"Look!" Pearl exclaimed. "The bumper cars' line is short! Let's go."

She ran towards it before he could object.

Within five minutes, she got to the front of the line. The male worker at the entrance stared at her for a moment. That's when she felt the knot in her stomach. "Please don't recognize me," she thought.

"Free to go," he said.

She couldn't believe it. That's something she'd never experienced before. To be seen like everyone else, not a spectacle, not a shiny object to constantly be admired or judged. For once in her life, she was just another teen, at a fair, having fun. Frankie's disguises were working great!

After the roller coasters brought their stomachs into their chests, after the tea cups made them dizzy, and the optical illusion house played tricks on their minds, even Frankie couldn't deny that this secret excursion was well worth it.

***

Pearl closed her bedroom door softly. She reached to the left side of the wall to turn on the light, but someone beat her to it.

"Mom!"

"Pearl, where were you?"

She froze, mouth agape, unable to speak.

"Well?"

"I'm sorry, mom," she said, "I just needed to get away."

Just then, Frankie came into the room behind her.

"Frankie," Pearl's mom said, "Thank you for looking out for her."

Pearl's eyes lit up with surprise. "Wait, you knew Frankie was in on this?"

Frankie rolled his eyes. "If you really thought I was gonna keep a secret like that from your parents, child, you're out of your mind!" He nodded at her mom then left the room.

"I don't get it," Pearl said, "You knew about this the whole time?"

"Baby girl, listen to me...I know life is hard. We're constantly under a microscope. Everything we do is in the public eye whether we want it to be or not. You didn't choose this life, it was chosen for you. So, if you needed a moment to experience life as someone else, just to feel alive, I support that because I love you."

Pearl embraced her mom as her tears fell. "Thank you mom. I love you too."

MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR:

May this story be a reminder that it's okay to take a break from reality, just to feel alive again.