Beyond The Thistles

the nunnery

Growing up, I had always known there was something different about me, a reason why the nuns kept me hidden, never letting me venture past the river outside the church.

I have been calling the small attic in the church home for as long as I can remember the nuns had always kept the large oak bookcases surrounding my room well stocked. The books had always been my only window into the outside world. I had always preferred romance books, but those were sparce as the nuns didn't think they were appropriate, but as I was only a day away from my 18th birthday I had managed to convince once of the younger sisters to sneak me a few for my limited collection. 

"Bonnie, it's time to get up," I hear sister Cynthia's voice through the door accompanied by a light knock .

" im awake. I'll be down shortly," I call back to her as I throw the blankets off of my body heading to my closet when I hear her echoing down the narrow staircase leading from my room.

The harsh stone floor is cold under my feet as the fire i had built before bed had lomg gone out so I make short work of selecting my clothes for today I pick out a sage green undershirt and warm thick brown dress the autumn winds had been picking up lately making the church colder than it had been in recent months.

Once I was dressed, I pulled my hair away from my face, twisting the top into a loose braid flowing the rest of my red curls to fall in waves down my back before slipping on my shoes and selecting a book for the day .

As I made my way slowly down the narrow stone staircase, I couldn't help but wonder if this would be how I spend the rest of my days hidden away with the nuns never to explore
The outside world and all it has to offer.

I'm dragged out of my thoughts when I hear the soft chatter of the nuns as I make my way through the door at the bottom of the staircase leading to the kitchen .

"Good morning, my dear. How did you sleep?" Cynthia asks me, placing
A soft kiss on my cheek as she hands me a bowl of porridge.

"I could barely sleep a wink. I was reading the adventure book that Sister  Monica gave me, and I couldn't bear to put it down until I had finished." I gushed remembering the story of the brave heroine who battled an entire kingdom for her true love.

Sister Cynthia tutts at me fondly, shaking her head at me before shooting Sister Monica a look who responded with her own guilty smile.

"Please do try and get some sleep tonight it's your birthday tomorrow, and we have something nice planned," she tells me, trying to sound stern but unable to keep the smile off her face.

"Of course I will," I exclaim knowing full well I will probably have my nose in a book well into the early hour's she obviously knows this too and just gives me another shake of her head as she hand everyone out their breakfast .

I took a seat beside sister Monica she was the closest to me in age only being in her mid twenties she had come to join us a little over 3 years ago and we had become fast friends she had long dark curly hair and had been the one to teach me how to tame my wild curls without pinning it down into sister Cynthia's favourite headache indusing bun.

"I'm almost out again" I whisper to her in regards to our secret contraband and she leans in closer to me.

"Have you finished the last lot already it's been barley a fortnight I told you to try and space them out" she whispers back sounding shocked as she looks around to make sure we arnt being overheard.