I entered the hospital ward and see Kim and Vickie painting their toenails.

"Girls!" Brie exclaimed and skipped towards them. "Oh that magenta totally suits you."

They greeted us with a smile.

“The Princess is in the house”, I whooped and twirled to the soft music playing on the Mp3.

“You're happy." Vickie nodded at me while looking at Brie who made herself comfortable on the floor. Kim made clucking noises at Brie.

“Why wouldn't I be?” I asked, checking out the colors of the nail polish scattered on the bed. “How are you feeling?” I squeezed​ her palm gently.

She nodded, “Slight headache.”

“Oh well, we just happened to watch the showdown that happened in school,” Vickie smirked, “It was high time you showed her who's boss.”

I gave her a small smile. I honestly didn't come here to talk about my life, I need a distraction. I sit on the chair and watch them talk.

“And the fact that Drake and Darrell entered the scene was lit.” Brie exclaimed giggling.

“Yeah.” Kim smiled.

“I've been meaning to ask. What's up with you and Drake?” I asked Kim.

Before she could reply, Vickie exclaimed, “I know right? He even sent her flowers.”

“Ooh, you got an admirer, Kim.” Brie giggled.

“Ugh, come on guys. He's just being nice.” Shades of pink coloured her cheeks.

“That blush says another thing.” I grinned. She threw her pillow at me.

“Stop it.”

“Okay, okay.” I twirled my hair with my finger, “Drake and Kim sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G.” I sang.

Brie slap my leg, “Don't piss the patient off,” She warned. It was obvious she was trying to keep from laughing. Vickie threw her head back and laughed.

“So I heard Nolan is back from the Netherlands.” Kim smirked.

My grin fell into a deep frown as I nod. “Saw him this morning.”

“You make it sound like a bad thing.”

I shrug. “The fluid is too thick.” I point out to Vickie before grabbing the tv remote and tapping the on button. Surprise surprise they were talking about the picture and 'Nolan's extramarital affair'. Yay! Just what I need. I changed the channel to a documentary channel.

“Aw come on, why did you change it? This is boring.” Brie whinned.

“There is nothing interesting about Nolan to watch. I practically live with him.”

“Yeah but you tell us nothing about him. Like what does he do in the evenings?” Kim asked.

“He sleeps.” I rolled my eyes, to which Kim gave back a sour look. I changed the channel to Telemundo. “How's this?”

“Turn off that television. You gotta tell us more about that guy.”

“He is a jerk, a proud one at that. He likes to tease me, always startling me, selfish idiot.” I frowned and sighed. “He likes to cook and wear white. You have to see him playing golf, or riding his horse or working. He takes stuff very seriously. Ugh such a  monochromatic dude, he keeps things in order all the time. There are times he is nice and sweet and then the next he is just so rude. It's like he wants to be  perfectionist like his father. Each time I think I'm closer to him, I realise I'm not and it hurts. All the time. Being with him sometomes makes me feel not worthy. He does everything right, it annoys me sometimes.”

“That's not the most annoying part. The craziest thing is that I don't know who I am anymore. Am I a Princess, am I just a just a girl dolled up, am I Anna or am I just a immature fool that doesn't know right from wrong?”

I shake my head and look at my friends. They looked at me shocked.

“Anna-” Vickie started to say then her phone rings. After a few minutes talking into the phone, she turned to us. “Sorry guys, I gotta go. My parents need me home.” She grab her purse bag “I'll see you guys later.” She gave each of us a hug before exiting the door.

“Huh,” Kim murmured, “there she goes.”

“So um Anna, do you really feel this way?” Brie asked.

I wrap my arms around myself and nod. “It's okay. I'm okay.”

She looked like she wanted to say something but Kim shushed her. “Cupid's Arrow is up. Tune it in, Anna.”

“Eww.” Brie scrunched her face in disgust, “How you two watch that movie without sleeping is beyond me.”

I chuckled as I changed the channel. The intro song started playing and Kim and I sang aloud. True to her words, Brie fell asleep on the chair next to me. After five episodes of Cupid's Arrow, I yawned.

That movie just kept up with its suspense. The female protagonist, Claudia, is a waitress by day and stripper by night. Antonio, this wealthy dude got her pregnant on a one night stand. When she told him about it, of course he denied it and Claudia aborted the baby. She finally meets a man who admires her and wants her for a wife, but as it turns out, he is a friend of Antonio. Antonio ruined the engagement by telling everyone Claudia is a prostitute. Whatever happens next, I can't wait to see.

“You know, Claudia could have just kept the baby,” I said.

“Yeah but she could barely feed herself talk less of a baby. Lots of things were at stake, things were going to change for her. That would be hard.” Kim argued.

“But still, there could have been something else she could have done.”

“Don't you think there is something else you could do? Anna, you are brave, goofy, defiant, you don't let anyone decide for you or define you-”

“But my family?”

“I'm pretty sure they want you to be happy even us, your friends, want the best for you. Do what you have to do. Make the right choice.” She gave me a warm smile.

“How do I know if it's the right choice?” I asked unsure.

“You always knew what the right choice is, it is up to you to admit it, face it and shape it.”

“Have you been watching that Samurai movie again?” I give a teasing smile. I watch her shrug laughing. A nurse entered and attended to her advicing her to rest. I told Kim I would stay for a while longer as she started to nod off.

I think about what Kim said and sigh. What is the right thing to do? How do I bring myself out of a mess I created? If only I could leave my identity for a while. An idea formed itself in my mind, the queenwould be livid if she found out. But it's just for a while, I could go and come back unseen. I take Kim's face cap and grip it tight.

There are two guards outside. If I could get rid of them... “Uh excuse me, could one of you get me ice cream? Chocolate chip, please. Oh and strawberry too.”

“Sure.” The female guard left. The male guard stood watching the patients and nurses that passed.

Hmm. I gasp aloud, pretending to hold down a scream.

“Your highness, what's wrong?”

“I saw a roach over there.” I said pointing at the toilet door.

“Alright let me call-” he started to say.

“Get rid of it. Who knows what other ones are there. Ugh this hospital is not clean... ” I continued ranting for acting benefit. With the way I increased pitch and acted scared, I say I deserve an award. While he was checking the door, I slowly back away to the exit.

“Your Highness, I see nothing,” He said.

“Check harder. If you aren't going to check it well and endanger my friends and I- I will stay by the door and make sure you are fired.” Bitch Anna is in charge of the cruise.

With him distracted, I put on the cap and run out. I have a minute or so to run as fast as I can before he notices. The thrill of breaking a rule makes me laugh and free. Outside the hospital, I take a cab. With the way the other guards appeared frantic, I know they have been alerted of my elope.

My phone vibrated in my hand, missed calls piling up. I switched it off and chew at my lower lip.

I drop off at a mall. I need to change out of this uniform. I purchased a white dress with pink floral designs, and put on dark sunglasses.

I wound my hair up in a ponytail after hiding my uniform in the pink bag I bought along with the dress. I bump into someone on my way out.

“Oh, sorry.” the person said. She sounds so familiar. I stood shocked staring at my mom. “Darling are you alright?”

“Mom? Mom, it's me, Anna.” I pushed my glasses down the bridge of my nose before putting it right on my face. She gasped wide eyed.

“What are you doing here? Where are the guards? Are you-” she asked.

“Clara!” someone called out,“Are you coming?”

Mom shook her head giving a smile to whoever was behind me. “I forgot I had to do something. Emergency. At home”. She pulled me with her to her car at the parking lot. I got in and put on the seat belt and she turned on the ignition.

“Wow,” I exclaimed, “You painted the car yellow.”

“Do you mind telling me what's going on?” she demanded.

“So I might have ran away... ”

“You what? Why?” We came to an intersection.

I started to tell her about all that happened at the hospital and at school. I tell her of my indecision to continue with my education and of the agreement I made with Nolan. I told her of my relationship with Henry and my confusing feelings for Nolan. She listened occasionally saying 'oh', 'what' and 'wow'. When I finished, I felt much lighter than earlier.

“So now how do you feel?”

“Alive.”

She sighed. “I've been a terrible mom.”

“No, you haven't. You are the best mom.”

“I didn't realize you felt that way. Maybe if I had worked harder and you didn't have to marry Nolan, then you would be happy,” she sighed. “What do you plan to do now? With school and everything.”

“I think I'm going to write that exam and apply for a university.”

She nodded. “And Anna, I think you should end whatever relationship you have with Henry. It's distracting for you. You need to rediscover yourself. You are my daughter, Anna Bill the artist, my stubborn child.”

I pouted, “But Vic is way more stubborn.”

Mom rolled her eyes, smiling.

“Mom, I have another thing to ask you.”

“Sure, darling.”

“I overheard you and dad talking one night and I heard him say you are not my mom.” I hurriedly said before I could change my mind.

The car screeched to a stop in the middle of the road and I lurched forward. Thankfully, there wasn't any car behind us. Maybe I shouldn't have said that while she was driving.

“Oh my God, I'm so sorry.” She took off the road and parked by the side of the road. “I... I ” she stuttered crying while gripped the wheel tight.

“Mom, it's okay.” I rub her back.

She shook her head and said, “I was going to tell you but I didn't know how. It's true that I'm not your birth mother,” she wiped her tears, “I'm your aunt. Your mom, Dawn, was quiet and loving and gentle. She loved you with all her heart, you were always following her.”

“One night, I was home with your dad and two years old Victor when the news came. There was a raid at the bank where she worked and she was shot. You cried for her for days but soon quiet down and called me mom. Your dad and I co parent you two and believe me when I  say, I love both of you with all my heart.”

I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about my biological mom. Sad, yes but I just couldn't put the rest in words. “What did she look like?”

“Just like you. You have her eyes and nose, the shape of your face. The rest comes from Thomas.” she smiled. “I'm so glad I finally told you. Maybe one day we could go visit her grave together?”

I nod and smiled, “Let's go get some McDonalds.”

Hanging out with my mom before I became a princess was always rare. Now I'm going to make the best of it. We ate  hamburgers, window shopped, sang along to the music on radio, browsed the latest movies, had a pedicure and took pictures. Lots of pictures.

“Anna, it's getting late. Shouldn't you get back?” she asked worried.

“I'm in so much trouble.”  I gasped at the time. It's 5:39pm. “And somehow I don't care.”

Mom glared at my laughing face and drove off to the gates of the palace. “Should I drive in?”

“Nah! I'll be okay. I miss you already mom.” I hug her tight, “I love you.”

“Love you too honey. If they lay a finger on you, just give me a call.” She said.

I smiled and grab my bag as I alighted the car. I waved watching her drive off. The guards rushed to me, expressing how worried they had been and let me in. Now how I'm going to get to my house is beyond me, I've never trekked from the gates before. A red mustang entered through the gates.

It stopped in front of me and the glass wound down. “Anna,” He said.

“Hey, Henry.”

Please tap that star.