My other side

12

It takes me a few days to regain my strength. I do not have time to think of Wiliam and he probably doesn't have time for me. And that's for the best.

In one evening, I am just closing the horses into the stable and bringing them food and water. Just a normal evening. As I'm about to go and eat my dinner, I hear a voice from the window above me.

,,Zsofia!"

I look up and it's Wiliam. I try to not let it effect me in any way. I'm not happy for seeing him. I'm cold about it.

,,Meet me tomorrow morning. Father won't be home."

I look at the ground and walk to the house without saying anything. I'm not sure I'll meet him. He has caused me enough suffering already. But should I cause him suffering too? He didn't intent to do it, after all.

My dreams start to haunt me again at night.

I meet Wiliam in the morning and then I go into the house. Inside, it looks like a paradise. Purple clouds everywhere and a table. A table full of food. I run to the table, but the table starts to get further and further from me. Then I look up and see who's pulling it away. It's Vincent.

I wake up, breathing heavily. Vincent won't be home tomorrow. I hope Wiliam isn't lying about this.

I go outside, since there is no reason to stay inside if I won't be able to sleep. Sitting under the tree, just looking at the stars seems like the best thing I could possibly do at that moment. Even if it's boring.

,,Enjoying your free time?" Leo is sitting next to me.

I smile ,,Enjoying it while I can."

,,Just please tell me you won't meet that boy in the morning." he warns me.

,,I will. Because I don't want to be impolite. But I'll kindly tell him that I don't want to meet him again. He's just a waste of my time."

,,Now that's what I like to hear. You finally gave up your silly little dreams."

Something snaps in me and I'm not myself again. I quickly stand up and face him.

,,I did not give up my dreams and I never will. Just because you were too much of a coward to stand up to them, doesn't mean that I am too."

,,When you stood up to Vincent, he almost starved you to death as a punishment. Don't be so reckless."

,,There will be a day where I will be starving Vincent to death. And you can't prevent it!" I try to kick him, but he dissapears.

I will meet Wiliam in the morning. Leo won't prevent me from doing that.

Morning comes. I harness a horse for Vincent and watch him leave with Amanda. Then I patiently wait for Wiliam to come.

He finally comes outside, his eyes full of guilt ,,I'm sorry, Zsofia. I tried to prevent my father from doing what he did to you. I told him to punish me instead, but he told me that if I try to talk to you, he will keep starving you. I'm really sorry."

,,It's alright. It's not you who starved me. Is your brother here? He doesn't like me either."

,,The maids are taking care of him. Come on." he starts to walk inside the house. I just stand there, confused.

,,You want me to go inside?" I ask.

,,Yes. Now come on." he gives me a smile that I just can't say no to.

I finally enter the house and it is like nothing I've ever seen before. The ceiling have huge golden lamps with candles and paintings of different paople. They are probably the ancestors of the Gortham family. There's a huge staircase in the middle that leads upstairs.