February 6th, 2012

A day began like any other, though as I felt the wind hitch slightly, I knew it would be different. And I'll be damned if I let this day slip my mind, for the only cause would be because I had a little too much whiskey the other night. It was the day I found Castle, a show that would unmask a side of me I barely knew existed. One that had been in the dark and covered in dust for far too long. So I shook off my rust and opened up a dirty window in a little place I like to call home. Well, a safe house as you may call it, for my home was ripped from my hands many years ago.

I sucked in a deep, shaky breath of the downtown area of Green Bay, Wisconsin to erase the horrid memories of my life as young girl. Ah, the smell of the breeze that the Fox River gave off, combined with cool air of the Midwestern climate and slightest hint of pine awoke all of my senses, like a warm cup of coffee with vanilla and carmel. Ah, that was what I needed. Coffee, with a little Burban on the side to shake my troubles that I had had from the other day, including the ones that will follow.

I strided in my robin's egg blue, silk nightgown over to the kitchen, where a black coffee pot awaited me. The green linolium tile creaked in age under my feet. My house was getting old like me, still strong and bold, but weak in the bones. My strong fingers wrapped themselves around the coffee pot's handle and I watched in awe as the brown, hot liquid filled the the black ceramic mug, white steam arising. I stirred in the vanilla and carmel, then poured a quick shot of Burban into a glass before delvng into the warm pleasure of the drink that awaited me.

I sipped it carefully, as I watched the old, cream colored lace drapes blow with the few drafts of wind that escaped from a small opening at the bottom of the kitchen window. The window panes were painted a chocalte brown color, that was chipping a little now because of it's aging. I turned away from the window, to watch the sun light up the apartment. The walls of the living area were a burgandy red, like perfectly aged red wine that was worth more than me. The way the sun lit up the dark, aging apartment was unexplainable, yet I try my best. The warm sunlight lit up my green velvet chair that had an espresso side table next to it. The table had a black iron lamp on it with a cream colored shade that matched the drapes perfectly. A laveder lace tablecloth covered most of the little table, but my tan leather notebook with a gray feather quill covered the rest of it, along with a book of Patterson's.

I chuckled a little at the sad sight of the gray feather quill just begging to be used. I sauntered over to the velvet chair and sat down, setting the coffee down on the table while picking up the notebook and quill. I unlocked the clasp of the notebook, and just hearing the familiar click made me smile, for it was music to my ears. I dipped the quill in jet black ink, which stained the white end of the feather. The quill's tip came so very close to touching the paper, that it was almost teasing it, when sudeenly, my sister, Lizzie Ann, marched through the brown french doors that led to the man living area of my apartment and qusetioned, "And what exactly do you think you are doing?"

She stood there, in the doorway, hands on her hips, her brown suit hugging every visible curve of her body. Her dirty blonde hair was in short curls, that were no longer than her gold chandelier earrings. Those earrings were made of real gold and diamonds, no doubt. Her dates always bought her the prettiest things, which only made her become more greedy for them bythe day. I was never jealous of her though, but sometimes I wondered why. Her ruby red heels that matched her lipstick clicked as she tapped her foot impatiently waiting for my reply.

"Well, I was about to start writing, you see, but-

"No time for excuses, Charlotte, the phones have been ringing off the hook at the office and they request your attendance immediately."

She walked over to me pulling my tan trenchcoat of of the coat and hat rack and handed it to me. I sighed as I turned around, having her help my arms find the sleeves, not wanting to go to the office. "But Lizzie, the office is a ways away and-

"I said no excuses! No here's your hat and heels." She held out my fedora and black heels."Put them on and go, you're already twenty mintues late!" 

She tapped at her gold watch.

"Alright, alright! I'll go. I'll be home around four o'clock or so, so call the office if you need me."

"I have a date at six, and who knows how long I'll be gone, so I may or may not be home for breakfast."

I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I slipped on my black heels. Classic Lizzie. I put on my tan and black rimmed fedora to match my coat and heels and stood, trying to find my keys. I'll be damned if I had lost them again. Just then, the phone rang in the kitchen, I sighed, as this was only delaying me further. I walked over and into the kitchen, picking up the dark green phone. 

"This Charlotte speaking."

"Hello, Charlotte."

I knew that woman's voice from anywhere. "Emily? How good to hear from you! How are you?"

"Fine, fine but I have something I want you to do for me."

"Anything, you name it."

I heard faint voices in the background before Emily returned to the phone. The red-head spoke softly into the phone's reciever, practically whispering. "Look, I'm at the office and the boss will have my head on a silver platter by the end of the day if she catches me using the landline again. Just tune in tonight on your television, at nine o'clock on abc is a show called Castle."

"Castle? As in a medival, queen and king kind of Castle?"

"No, no, a person! A last name. But I can't talk now. I might call later."

"It was a pleasure speking with you again, Emily."

"Goodbye, Charlotte."

And with that, the line went dead. As I hung up the phone I pondered upon the thought of 'castle' being someone's last name, but shook the thought off as quickly as it had appeared. I simply ajusted my hat, found my keys under the brown coffee table, and shut the apartment door behind me after saying a quick goodbye to my sister. After that I had never given a second thought to the Castle show, that is, until I watched it that night. That one episode changed my life. That one episode dawned a new perspective for me. That one episode called The Blue Butterfly.