LOVE UNSCRIPTED

Ariel's eyes fluttered open, her mind foggy and disoriented. She was met with an unfamiliar ceiling adorned with intricate molding and a dazzling chandelier. She sat up, rubbing her temples, having a slight headache trying to remember how she got there.

The room was grandiose, with expensive furnishings and artwork. The room was certainly unfamiliar and she could tell because she had never been in a room like that in her life.

"Where was I?" As she threw off the covers and flung her legs over the side of the bed. With a wave of dizziness and headache accompanying her move, she leans over the bedside table for support.

Ariel's mind was a jumbled mess with no idea of what happened the previous night. Was she with friends? Did she meet someone? And more importantly, how did she get here?

Ariel is trying to get familiar with her surroundings. A sense of alarm rushed over her. Was she kidnapped? "No, if this was an abduction, I certainly won't be brought to a place this luxurious, and I have nothing they could possibly want as ransom." She reassured herself as she tried to remain calm.

Her gaze was drawn to a vintage painting on the wall, stirring a sense of familiarity within her. She made way for the door, but it seemed locked, and so she reputed to the bed as she held her head.

The door opens tentatively to reveal a man in formal attire and holding up a tea tray. "Good morning, Madam Ariel. My name is Watson, the butler. It's my pleasure to serve you while you're here," He said with a gallant bow.

"Master Connel requests the pleasure of your company at breakfast, Madam Ariel. Perhaps you care to freshen up beforehand?" His eyes gestured discretely towards the door, indicating that her quarters were ready for her use.

Ariel's mind raced with questions. "where am I? And who's Connel?" she inquired. Watson replied with a smile, "I think Master Connel will be in the right position to provide you with the answers you seek. Please accept this tea for your headache. With that, he placed the tray down and shut the door behind him.

The usual weight she carried on her neck wasn't there. She felt naked in that area, reaching for her neck in thoughts that she misplaced the one thing she held dear to her heart- her locket. Emotions of fear and anxiety built up as she made a move to search for it in the room.

She turned over to the bedside and noticed her locket lying there-the very one she never took off, no matter the occasion. It had been a gift from her. Pleased she has worn it ever since. She touched her neck, and it was then she realized the clothes she had on were unmistakably not hers, With a feeling of irritation the satin brought to her skin.

Ariel's eyes wandered to the small golden locket on her dresser. It was an old family heirloom, passed to her by her grandmother. As she picked it up, memories flooded her mind.

She was a little child again, sitting at the kitchen table with her family. Her parents were arguing about bills and finances, their voices hushed but urgent. Ariel's stomach growled with hunger and she felt a pang of guilt for wanting food when her parents were struggling to provide.

The memory stung and Ariel's eyes pricked with tears. She shook off the feeling, returning to the present. The locket still clutched in her hand, she felt a surge of determination and strength.