Dark Winter by John Hennessy

been crying. There was a knock on my bedroom door.
     
    “GO AWAY!!” I screamed.
     
    “I’ve got chocolate.” The voice belonged to my father.
     
    “Go away. I mean it.” I didn’t.
     
    “You don’t mean that, Milly. Can I come in?”
     
    Wiping my hair from my eyes, I said, “Sure.”
     
    My father came in, armed with chocolate. “Here, Mills.”
     
    Another pet name for me.
     
    “You know, my name is Romilly. If you didn’t like it, why did you choose it for me?” I spoke with an indignant tone that I didn’t like in myself. I was still crying.
     
    “Your Nan liked it. Your mother and I like it.”
     
    “Oh.” God, I miss Nan. She always brought me chocolate, and it was never to make amends, because she never fell out with me.
     
    “Can I sit down, Romilly?”
     
    “Of course.”
     
    Dad didn’t say anything for a while. I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I blurted it out.
     
    “I shouted at Mum.”
     
    “So I heard.”
     
    “So, you’re here to reprimand me?”
     
    “Maybe not. Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
     
    “Hasn’t Mum told you?”
     
    “Yes, but I want to hear it from you.”
     
    “That doesn’t matter. You’ll listen to what I say, then just ignore it.”
     
    “I promise you, I won’t do that.”
     
    “Mum won’t let me stay in the wood-cabin. But it’s more than that. I’ve never, ever had time on my own. I feel I’m growing up. I want to try it out, and I want you and Mum to have a break from me, you know, for yourselves. I know it hasn’t been easy, bringing me up.”
     
    These words I spoke with heartful emotion. I meant every word.
     
    “Milly, don’t you understand? What good is a break for me and your mother, if it doesn’t include you?”
     
    The next words I would have to choose carefully. Nan had told me in her last few years that it was most important I was at Rosewinter on my sixteenth birthday. I couldn’t betray her last wishes, and somehow, I had to convince Dad to let me stay on my own there. Even though I didn’t know what to expect once on my own, I felt confident I would be alright, because well, we had spent many summers in the wood house, and they were great times. Nan’s prophecy might not come true after all.
     
    “Milly? Did you hear what I said?”
     
    “Yes, and I think you and Mum, on a break would be great. I totally agree. And I will be fine. Thanks Dad.”
     
    I hugged my father, and yet I knew the subterfuge wouldn’t last. He was a very smart man.
     
    He looked at me as if to say What did I just ask?
     
    “Milly, I don’t recall agreeing to anything. Now just why is it so important that you stay at the wood house this year? You are barely fourteen years old.”
     
    “Fifteen, now,” I reassured him. “And I will be fine. I can’t offer you a reason, because, well, I don’t have one. Except –”
     
    I broke off. I wouldn’t be lying, but still…
     
    “Except what?”
     
    “Except that, Nan really wanted me to go to Rosewinter, and I know you and Mum think I’m crazy and maybe I am, but honestly, truthfully, she wants me to go there. I really don’t know why. In any case, I would like to go.”
     
    My father looked at me with concern. “Milly, I believe you. But your Mum would not be pleased if you used Nan’s words in that way.”
     
    “I’m not lying!” I screamed. “I loved Nan, why would I lie about her?”
     
    “Because, well, you might let a boy stay there. And I can tell you right now, that won’t happen.”
     
    “Now you are sounding like Mum.” I sat on the bed, arms folded, defeated. If mentioning Nan, mentioning the truth didn’t work, what would?
     
    I studied my lace-gloved hands. “It’s this, isn’t it?” I said in an accusatory tone. “This is why you won’t let me go. Maybe I should just take my gloves off then, and to hell with the consequences.”
     
    “Milly, don’t do that. Please. If you really want to know, the