Masquerade Mystery

Fifteen year old Estella sat on the couch pretending to be preoccupied with her phone. But there was something else that was occupying her mind. Something much greater.

“You might want to get ready for the masquerade this evening, Estella,” her mother softly yet firmly said glancing at the clock on the living room wall. “It’s 6 o’clock now.”

Estella took a deep breath and shifted uncomfortably on the couch. The masquerade started at 7. She didn’t know why she so foolishly signed up to attend her school’s masquerade dance.

Perhaps she was feeling a little overconfident as if the evening of the event would never come. As if it were merely a fun hypothetical scenario. Or maybe it was from peer pressure. Her few closest friends were going. Actually, it seemed like every single student was going to the school’s masquerade dance. It was all that she heard about this past week!

“I don’t know, Mom. I think I changed my mind. I’m actually not feeling all that well now.”

“And miss such a fun opportunity?” her mother said seeing right past her daughter’s feigned attempt at sickness. “Estella, you seemed so excited for this event. You even picked out a lovely dress.”

It was true. Estella had initially been very excited about the masquerade dance. She had searched through every store and finally found the perfect dress to go with the masquerade mask that she previously bought. Just like the mask, it was scarlet with hints of black.

“I don’t think you’re sick. You’re just nervous,” her mother continued. “I think that once you get settled in at the party and meet up with your friends, you won’t feel so nervous anymore. However, if you don’t want to go, that’s completely up to you. Just remember, when will be the next time you’ll get to go to a masquerade ball and wear your costume.”

Estella bit her lip as she stood up. Her mother was right. “Alright. I’ll get ready now.”

Estella opened her closet and carefully took her dress off the hanger. She was about to change into her dress when instead, she sat down on her bed. She caught sight of her feathered mask that sat on her dresser.

Suddenly a wave of emotions overwhelmed Estella, and she lowered her head onto her pillow and sobbed. She truly was excited but her great nervousness and shyness was all too overshadowing. Sure, her friends would be there, but all of them at some point would surely be mingling with others at the party. Conversing with people she rarely or never spoke to was nerve wracking! Estella was certainly not the type to just mingle with anyone!

“Estella!”

Estella picked herself off of her tear-stained pillow. Had her mother heard her sobbing?

Quickly wiping away any evidence of tears, Estella hurried downstairs.

“Yes, Mom?”

“Someone delivered a lovely bouquet of flowers addressed to you.” Her mother still held them in her hand. They were a bouquet of coral colored roses with baby’s breath.

Estella could not believe it. Things like this never happened to her. “Who was it, Mom?” she demanded.

“I don’t know. By the time, I got to the door, they had already left. My guess is that they wanted to remain anonymous. Maybe it was a secret admirer.”

“Mom, please,” Estella scoffed. Who on earth would have a crush on her? However, she couldn’t help but to wonder. Was it a secret admirer or was it more simply a surprise from one of her friends. Either way, she now felt incredibly excited.

“I’m just guessing,” her mother smiled.

Estella caught sight of the living room clock. 6:25. If she was going to make it to the dance by 7, she had to hurry.

Estella glanced over at the fireplace where a bouquet of dried flowers hung by the mantle. Now that she thought about it, that bouquet of roses would look lovely hung upside down and dried right beside the bouquet they had now.

“We should hang them up and dry them out and put them right beside the ones we have up now!” Estella exclaimed as she hurried up the steps with newfound confidence. Who knew something as simple as flowers could turn her whole mood around in such a positive way?

As swiftly yet as carefully as she could, Estella put on her dress, fixed up her hair and put on her feathered mask.

Maybe. Just maybe she’d run into and discover the person that had sent her that bouquet of flowers. Or maybe like who lies behind a mask, that would remain a mystery.