purnelle held a brown paper bag full of fruits close to her chest as she tried to push through the large crowd congregated around the main square. it was an impossible task as the masses stood their ground. they moved only to surge towards each carriage riding by, calling out praises and critiques to the deaf royals.
truth be told, purnelle never really cared too much for the royals. while her parents watched the crown meticulously, she thought very little of them. they were people just like her. just like them. just like the people who lived around them.
the world was ever changing. one day, you were in power, the next you weren’t. she believed people would always need leaders, and how they were chosen didn’t really matter. it was as insignificant as the people standing around her.
then, from behind, the young girl felt a shove. she stumbled forward, momentarily losing her grip on her bag. a shiny red apple popped out and tumbled to the ground. with a gasp, she tried reaching for it as it rolled away.
purnelle’s cheeks flamed.
she failed. it rolled into the road and into the path of the incoming carriage. the carriage wheel sliced sloppily through the apple, creating a disgruntling bump in its otherwise smooth sailing.
the navy blue curtains jerked open. there sat a young redhead grimacing outward to the crowd, craning her neck out of the window to see the issue. something — someone, probably — pulled the girl back. then, the carriage stopped.