Medicine | King Baldwin

39

When Isabel returned to her own chamber, she felt like she could jump out of her skin with joy. Her heart was still racing from the incredible emotions she had just experienced. An unerasable smile spread across her face, lighting up her features with a radiant glow. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, reflecting the soft moonlight that filtered through the window.

She closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment to catch her breath. The events of the evening played over in her mind, each memory bringing a fresh wave of elation. Baldwin's words, his touch, and the tenderness of his kiss replayed in her thoughts.

She walked over to the window, gazing out at the moonlit landscape. The cool night air caressed her face, but she barely noticed it, lost in the euphoria of the moment. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the warmth of his embrace lingering on her skin.

Isabel twirled around the room, her laughter bubbling up uncontrollably. She felt light, as if she were floating on air, and every step she took was filled joy.

As she finally settled into bed, the smile never left her face. She pulled the covers up to her chin, her mind still racing with thoughts of Baldwin and the future they would share. The moonlight cast a gentle glow over her, matching the warmth that filled her heart.

Opening her eyes, Isabel found herself once again in the golden expanse of the wheat field, radiant in the same white dress. This time, there was no hesitation. She set her steps into a quickened pace toward the familiar dirt path, where she again spotted the childlike figure standing beside the man.

As she moved closer, the figures in the distance grew blurry, their outlines glowing in the light of the setting sun. The serene scene began to shift dramatically. Without warning, the wheat field around Isabel burst into flames. The fire spread rapidly, the roaring flames licking the sky and casting an eerie glow on the landscape.

Panic surged through her, but her resolve did not waver. She began to run towards the two figures, her heart pounding as it propelled her forward.

"Wait!" she cried out, her voice carrying over the crackling of the fire. She pushed herself harder, the urgency in her plea palpable.

The figures, however, started to move away, becoming more and more indistinct. She ran faster, her feet pounding against the scorched earth, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't close the gap. The faster she ran, the more distant they seemed to become, until they were nothing more than shadowy silhouettes against the fiery backdrop.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself to the limit. The heat from the flames was intense, searing her skin as she fought to reach the receding figures. Her heart ached with the desperation of her pursuit, the figures now mere wraiths, blending into the growing darkness. The once golden wheat field was now a blazing inferno, the flames consuming everything in their path.

Her surroundings were a chaotic swirl of fire and shadows, the air thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning. Despite the overwhelming inferno, her focus remained on the fading figures, her spirit refusing to give up even as her body screamed in protest.

In the end, the figures dissolved into the fire and darkness, leaving Isabel standing alone amidst the blazing remnants of the field. She fell to her knees, the futility of her chase weighing heavily on her. The flames continued to roar around her, but she remained, a solitary figure in a sea of fire, her heart aching with the unfulfilled need to reach those elusive figures.

She started coughing, her eyes snapping open as the smell of smoke hit her. Realizing this was no longer a dream, Isabel jumped up in the bed, panic surging through her as she scanned the chamber. The room was engulfed in red flames, casting a terrifying glow over everything.