The Wind Is Quiet , When You Are Gone .

Chapter 12

She was Exhausted from Trying to be Stronger than she Felt

When Chihiro awoke the next morning she couldn't remember a thing that happened the day before. It was just like someone erased the day from her memory. She rushed herself up out of bed thinking she was late for the wedding, but as she was beginning to get ready she realised she wasn't in her usual bed. Instead, she was in a tall room, not anything like hers, the walls where white as snow with small ice-blue details. The room smelled like Goyo and was freezing cold as if the walls were ejecting Winter air. 

Then a barrage of memories hit her. They were only half memories, fragmented and swirling through her tired mind. Hesitantly she turned her head, half afraid of what she would find behind her. Sure enough, Goyo lay there. Even in his sleep he looked angry. As if his dreams had wronged him unforgivably. Suddenly, his breathing quickened and Chihiro turned quickly and caught a glimpse of something glittering in the mirror.  When she looked closer she realised it was a person, with hair white as snow, and eyes as cold and andry as Goyo's. This being looked sad, empty and lost.

With a gasp she reached for her hair and the mirror copied her every move. There was no way to deny what she was seeing. She began to shake and fell back onto the bed. When she looked around, she realised she was looking into Goyo's icy orbs. Her husband. How she hated that.

Thankfully, the door swung open, distracting her from Goyo's stare. Of course, it was Dahlia, she always appeared from nowhere and with the best timing. Goyo then directed his glare at her but unlike Chihiro, she seemed unfazed. "Breakfast?", she enquired with a smile aimed at her alone. "Yes please," Chihiro answered quickly before Goyo even had a chance to reply. Without hesitation Dahlia left the room and left the pair to themselves. 

As soon as the door closed Goyo stood up in a domineering stance, "I'm the one making decisions around here, and you better keep your pretty mouth shut." Chihiro looked up with fear in her eyes as she watched the hand in the corner of her eye move closer. Next thing she knew, the cold floor was rushing toward her. Her face fizzed with pain as she lay in stunned silence. She then heard Goyo's footsteps fade into the distance as she pulled herself back up. Her head spun sickeningly. Her vision tarted fading. She felt as if the floor she lay on was crumbling beneath her back, as if the coldness was so strong it could break anything in its way, Haruko told her over and over again that she is the key to Goyo's power, she couldn't believe it and yet, there it was. 

Then the door opened again, pulling her away from her thoughts. Dahlia's content face came into view and Chihiro let out the breath she had been holding. Dahlia's mouth set into a firm line when she saw Chihiro's face. Her eyes glinted dangerously as she took in the damage. Under Dahlia's unnerving examination, Chihiro uncomfortably turned to the mirror. She ran her eyes over the pale poppy bruises that were forming across the side of her face. Dahlia shivered and went back to her usual self. "Lets get you dressed" she said in her bubbly voice. Chihiro blinked in disbelief, was Goyo really capable of what the people gossiped about? Was he really so selfish and cruel? She pondered this as Dahlia brushed her hair in long, gentle strokes. Although Dahlia didn't say anything about what had happened, she was acting strangely. Almost as if she was trying to comfort her without speaking. But there was no comfort to be found when the future was becoming clear and it scared her.