“They need to respect you, but still love you a little.”

“I Walk into the Room as if I own It.” | Anna

By Minna Von Walden

I walk into the room as if I own it. No one is beneath me, but no one is above me either, he makes sure of that. “Keep your chin high, but not too high. They need to respect you, but still love you a little.” He whispers gently in my ear. I smile back at him in response. He knows this is hard for me, but he insists I belong at his side.

He is dressed in a ridiculously expensive tux, perfect shoes. The dress he bought for me to wear tonight is a beautiful shade of navy blue that compliments my pale pink skin perfectly. A sheer piece of chiffon caresses the tops of my shoulders and falls in tucks around by breasts. The remainder of the fabric hugs my frame and flows into a gentle brush train at my feet.

I am the center of attention, almost, it’s him, always him that everyone ogles over.

He’s impressive, bold, confident, everything that a man in his position should be. He walks in with me on his arm and I do my best to keep my confidence, knowing my position by his side. He parades me around the sea of faces, introducing me to those I’ve never met and reminding those I have.

A routine hug and kiss on the cheek for everyone I encounter. I hate this.

I feel like I am playing the role of the queen of somewhere, but I am an impostor. I’m far from any royalty I’ve ever heard of. We continue our rounds, “Hello darling, so wonderful to see you.” Gushes the male of a pair of affluent faces.

Does his wife know why he’s so happy to see me? Perhaps if she knew, she’d announce it to the entire room.

We continue. I know far too many faces in this room, most any room he brings me too. Of course, everyone is here to celebrate his accomplishments with a grand party, just like all the others. He’s amazing, he’s successful, and he’s sickening wealthy. It’s a magnificent party, but everywhere I look, I see a familiar face. Faces I know, but not because he introduced us.

My life is a tremendous strain at times, especially times like this when I see a familiar face and the man it belongs to expresses how gorgeous I am and gives my partner a knowing wink.

It makes me angry.

I know what they are thinking and imagining. I know what they want and I know that I don’t want to be here. I hate this.

I walk around the room as if I own it. No one is beneath me, but no one is above me either, he makes sure of that.