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Chapter One
Warmth crept into the room as the first rays of dawn peeked through the curtains, lending a comfortable radiance to the already familiar surroundings. The outside world was calm and silent, almost as if it was pausing in anticipation of the events that were to come.
Laying the comfort of her bed Pandora started to wake up gradually, her consciousness returning slowly like a distant echo gradually growing louder and clearer. Thoughts began to form, drifting hazily through the remnants of dreams that lingered at the edges of her mind.
Pandora breathed softly as she felt the heaviness of sleep gradually fade from her body, as if she were slowly waking up from a deep nap. All her muscles tensed and tautened as though warily probing the domain of awareness, confirming she's waking from sleep.
Her eyes slowly opened, bringing the room into focus, the colors and shapes sharper and more defined. Pandora was reassured by her room's familiar sights as she glanced around the room when her eyes had fully opened.
The color of the room was perfect for her, since light pink is her favorite color. Pandora remembered that her father insisted on a simple color like white for her room and that she had to persuade him to allow her to have this color.
She could also see the bookcase brimming with her favorite novels and atlases.Another item she had to convince her father to allow her to have because he believes she should focus on acquiring skills in cooking and cleaning for her future spouse, rather than studying Traveling or Astronomy. She could see the soft glow from her bedside table lamp, and her white wooden wardrobe filled with her favorite dresses with her matching colored vanity close by it; with jewelry laying all on top. She could hear the gentle ticking of the clock hanging on the wall, all of it welcoming her back to the realm of the waking world.
A yawn slipped out of Pandora's mouth, a leftover from her sleep, as she moved under the blankets, enjoying the cozy embrace of the covers keeping her warm. The refreshing morning breeze flowing through the open window touched her skin softly, serving as a gentle reminder of the world that lay just outside her room.
With a deep breath, She threw the covers off her and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, planting her feet firmly on the floor. The sensation of the soft carpet beneath Pandora's feet grounded her in the present moment, anchoring her be in the current moment.
She was honestly thankful to have woken up early that morning, as her elderly maid Agnes usually took care of it. Agnes had been in Pandora's life since she was a baby, serving as both her mother's maid and hers. Pandora adored Agnes, but she disliked the way she would abruptly wake her up in the mornings by bursting into her room and singing old songs loudly, claiming they were her favorites from childhood.
