Suddenly a jolt shook his body. He rushed over to his nightstand that sat beside his bed. On top of it was a lamp that does not turn on or off and several hourglasses that were colored; Red, Blue, Pink, Orange. He grabbed a hold of the orange one and flipped it over. The orange sand spilled to the bottom and he watched eagerly, counting the seconds underneath his breath. In three hundred seconds, his life will begin.

     When the last piece of sand hit the bottom the music kicked on. It was a somber song that played throughout the mansion, every day, all day until the lights went out. His parents told him the music played because the House Servants needed something to listen to instead of the eeriness of the mansion.

     “We have a three story house dear. Wouldn’t you find it creepy to work in silence?” He recalled his mother’s voice saying.

     Deep down, he knew it wasn’t the eeriness of the mansion. It was him. They wanted to hide his existence so that if he yelled or screamed, no one would be able to hear him passed the music. Years ago the music didn’t play and that’s how she found him. 

     A young house servant with big blue eyes heard him from the second floor. He had slipped and fallen down after he mopped the floorboards. She had knocked on the door and asked who was in there. He was too scared to reply and so she went away. The next day, she came back and knocked on the door. He hesitated to reach out to her. He has never heard anyone else’s voice except for the voice of his Mother and the silent judging of his Father. To his awe, she spoke,

     “Hello? Is anyone in there?” she wiggled the doorknob and couldn’t open it.

     “Yes…?” his voice flew out, “Who is there?”

     “My name is Maria. I am a fifteen-year-old house servant. Who are you?” she questioned in a soft voice.

     “I am the son of Antabel and Leonidas Evergreen. My name is Iesa Raquel.” He replied. The only reason he knew his parents’ names was due to the doctor. He referred to them as Celestial Antabel and Celestial Leonidas or sometimes as Celestial Evergreen.

    She gasped, “An Evergreen! What a surprise! Why are you inside that room? Don’t you want to come out and join the rest of your family such as your brothers and sisters?”

     It was the first time he had heard of having any other brothers or sisters. His parents never said anything to him about them. He always assumed that he was the only child in the house.

     “I am ill. Mother and Father keep me in here for everyone else’ sake.” He replied.

     “I'm sorry that you are so sick. You must be really lonely.” She hit a sore spot. Loneliness was his best friend that drove him insane and still is to this day. Regardless of the music or the laughter from outside. Loneliness finds its way in.

     “Hey, why don’t I bring you a book to read? It’s called Heaven Knows My Darkness. It might not be interesting but it’ll kill the loneliness. I should know...Anyway, I’ll be back around noon to give you the book!” She giggled and he heard her footsteps move down the corridor. 

     He took a minute to wonder what on earth just happened before laughing. He had never laughed before and it felt strange. His stomach jiggled and his face began to hurt from smiling too much. Although it was odd, he liked it.