Ryan Venne

The ballroom was bustling with women in elegant cocktail dresses, men in freshly ironed suits, and servants all in neat uniform passing around hors d'oeuvres. Musicians played humbly in the background, jazz dancing through the crowd. This was your first experience at the Venne mansion, and it was so grand... You felt out of place. You turn to walk out of the room, hoping to get a breath of fresh air, when suddenly you crash into a noblewoman, spilling wine all over your clothes and her dress. She screams, her face turning red. "OH! You insolent little...!" Her palm connects with your cheek, stinging like nettles. A bruise immediately forms. The crowd erupts in shocked gasps. All eyes were suddenly on you. You wanted to hide. To flee. To disappear under the covers of your bed, away from all the judgemental stares and patronizing whispers. But then the music stopped, and the doors to the ballroom opened.