LONELY HEARTS
Esmé's life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes entwined with Eiser, a son from a powerful family. Haunted by loss and trapped in a loveless marriage, she battles to connect with a man who conceals his emotions behind a wall of sile...
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NEW HOME, NEW PEOPLE
“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” — T.S. Eliot
The evening light waned as Esmé stepped carefully through the dense forest, the last of autumn's leaves clinging to the trees, ready to give way to the winter that loomed just over the horizon.
In the vastness of the forest, she felt a quiet kind of freedom.
After a long journey through the trees, she finally reached the village-a small, peaceful collection of cottages nestled between the mountains and the woods.
A few villagers lived here. The people were quiet and kind and seemed to understand the need for space.
When Esmé had arrived, weary from her travels, she had asked for shelter, and the villagers, after a brief conversation, had given her the key to one of the small, rustic cottages at the edge of the village.
It was a humble place, tucked away from prying eyes, surrounded by towering trees and meadows that would soon be covered in snow.
The door creaked as she opened it, stepping inside.
The cottage was simple but inviting-wooden floors, a fireplace already stocked with logs, and small, tidy windows that allowed the warm light to pour in from the outside.
She smiled softly as she set down her bag.
This place felt like an escape, not just from the mansion, but from the life she had known.
The villagers had welcomed her without question, and she was grateful. They told her that she could stay as long as she needed-no strings attached.
Esmé moved to the window, gazing out over the small patch of land that surrounded the cottage.
The sky had darkened, the first stars twinkling faintly above, and the crisp winter air seemed to promise something-a fresh start, a new beginning.
Tomorrow would be the first day of winter.
Snow was expected to fall by morning, blanketing the world in white. Esmé could already feel the chill in the air.
Winter was coming, and with it, her new beginning.
•••
Esmé slipped on a thick, knitted scarf, a woolen hat, and her warmest boots. Her clothes were simple-just a soft, thick sweater and warm long skirts-but practical for the cold.
The chill in the air kissed her cheeks as she stepped out the door, and she smiled to herself as she felt the snow crunch beneath her feet.
The village was quiet in a way that felt peaceful, with only a few villagers out, walking through the streets or tending to their homes.
