The People of Dewbrook

Chapter Nineteen

The following day, Caroline felt lovely, what with the beauty of spring everywhere around her - the strong aroma of the fresh untrimmed grass that had begun to reach her knees, the gentle golden rays of the sun illuminating the emerald leaves of the blossoming trees, birds and butterflies singing and dancing in the air without a hint of care, and, most notably, the tranquil flow of the river that separated the Wells manor from the nearby forest, which was more foreboding in its nature than the rest of her surroundings, but she was not going to think about it, at least not then.

Her troubled mind left that for the night instead, when every single bit of the world around her went silent, except for the occasional cricket's chirp or wolf's howl that reminded her of reality. She stood over the river like a ghost, holding a letter in her hands while staring at it intensely, hesitating to throw it into the water as if in fear that a part of her soul might be taken away. Her eyes welled up with tears as she gazed upon the magnificent night sky, the moon and its stars glistening on the obsidian surface like crystals laid over the soil of a cemetery. She marvelled at how majestic and haunting the world could be, all at once.

She stood there like a traveller without a compass, not daring to throw the letter. Romantic and cruel images flickered before her eyes in a kaleidoscopic manner, uniting in them countless emotions and experiences, igniting in her heart the flame of life and allowing it to burn wickedly. As she stood there for what seemed like an eternity, her eyes filling with tears to the point of insanity, she wiped her face with a flick of her hand, knowing that something had to be done. Clasping her hands, she tilted her head towards the sky, beginning to speak softly:

"My dear Alistair, I know that it does not appear to be that way, but I must confess that my grief over your sudden death remains profound. Some traces of my young love have never left my heart, and your passing is the passing of a dear friend whom I had grown to appreciate with all his virtues and flaws, a spark of hope in this cruel, uncaring world. You have always been by my side, and I promise to always be by yours.

Even though I am not a good person, even though I have many traits that make me the villain that I am, thanks to you, profound humanity will always be awakened in my heart. You are the kind of person that never goes forgotten. I cannot describe how grateful I am to have known you. May you rest in peace, and I hope this letter finds you well, superstitious as it may be. You deserve better words than these, after all. You deserve many things that you never could have gotten... So many things..."

With the last words she had said, she burst into tears again, unable to withstand any more of her sorrow, burying her face in her hands. She knelt on the ground like a ragdoll, helpless against the despair that overwhelmed her veins, forced to watch hideous pictures that the world had engraved into her mind over the years, having known misery for a long time. She cried in a way that she very well knew was pathetic, but it was the only true release from her diseased inner world, a release no one was supposed to see.

Little did she know that Harold had been watching her all along, a weak smile appearing on his face due to the beauty of her sadness, telling himself that perhaps she was not as evil as he had previously viewed her. Then, the moment she abruptly turned around, believing to have heard someone, he disappeared as if he had never been there in the first place.

Letting out a deep sigh, Caroline went into the house again. She remembered that she had Rosemary to take care of, which was a delight, for the young lady was a pleasure to have as company, even with the lingering threat of her demise. Her innocence and sweetness were a wonder to behold, and she was also lovely to talk to, especially when not discussing matters in the real world. She loved to tell her stories, for the miss was a great listener, and to a person like Caroline, there was nothing that mattered more in regards to conversation. Then, she entered the house without hesitation.