WINDOWS TO THE SOUL

Challenge 7 "the imaginary forest"

It's been about a week since I started Living with William and since then I've had no time to read. At first, it was fun, but being brought to various places to legalize my adoption was tiring.

William had gone into the city for some personal business. It wasn't crucial for me to know any details. That said I wasn't precisely mortified to hear that I would have some time to myself. After all, I had made a promise to myself, one that I had intended to keep, today seemed like a good day. At first, I just briefly looked at the library, but today I would fully immerse myself in it and explore all of its Treasures.

I opened the door to the wing of the house, William seemed to have a very Grand collection, but upon closer inspection, I suspected he was the type to buy books on impulse not actually to read them. Most of the books had been unopened and the ones that were touched seemed to be about subjects relating to philosophy, or something he might have just glanced at. I was not discouraged though it just meant I'll be the first one to peer into their contents with the intention of finishing them.

I was content with reading on the floor, so I found myself a relatively cozy spot and piled 10 of the ones that caught my eye, and set myself to read them all.

To me, little time had passed, I must have been there for some time as the sun had begun to set.

"Are you hungry" as usual Madison startled me, but less than last time I think the idea of getting used to this scared me more.

"if you are, dinner is ready," Madison said laughing at my reaction

"A little later please, I am at a good part."

She smiled "then may I sit with you"?

Honestly, I would have preferred if she had left me to my book alone, but I didn't want to make her mad, so I told her she could stay. After a while the silence made me feel self-conscious, thankfully Madison broke it. She asked about me and my past, but I wish she had picked a different topic. I had spent my entire life in the orphanage. It took me minutes to condense my childhood  to her, and I don't think she was satisfied with how short it was. Realizing that it would probably go back to being awkward and silent, I quickly asked her how she and William had met.

"Women of Williams family were not expected to spend their day caring for children" Madison smiled at me.

"When the lady of the house was ready to have a child one of the maids would become pregnant too, it had become something of a tradition from before formula was easily available. " her smile seemed to get smaller.

" When William's mother passed, my mom became a stand-in for her. So as an answer to your question we've known each other since we were infants I was born a few months before him." she sounded a bit proud of that last part, like a big sister.

I didn't realize their relationship was so close; I just assumed William only needed one house worker. I was interested in hearing more, but the growling of my stomach managed to beat me to the question.

" How about we get something to eat?" she stood up and smiled down at me.

" yeah, I got to a good stopping point," I said that, but honestly I had intended to read more.

Like always Madison made my taste buds experience Sensations I didn't think possible. After dinner, I realized that I didn't know much about Madison or William. Since she had already told me some, I asked more about their childhood.

Both Madison and William were raised together. For the majority of their childhood, Madison had no understanding of social classes or the vast divide between her and William. However Williams' stepmother, who by her own admission was not a very kind of woman, made sure to make this very clear to her once she started her maid duties.

"She treated me like dirt, no that's not quite right she was at least willing to step on dirt"

These were her exact words. Despite this William and his sister were both kind to her. She explained that on the day of her mother's funeral William's stepmother made a very offensive remark to Madison, and William was less than pleased and made quite the scene. After that, he moved out, and he brought Madison with him, they have been living in this house ever since then.

"Although in all of my years of knowing William with the type of man he is, I never thought that he wanted children."

"Really?" I already knew that. William was weird, he doesn't sugarcoat anything even the things that he should. He was very straightforward about his intentions and why he adopted me.

"Though I was sure he would have chosen a young male to be an heir."

It felt like the mood shifted. I turned 12 recently and I wasn't cute anymore at least not like the younger children. I had no disillusions about adoption, I even made my peace. When William said he wanted to adopt me, I was too shocked to react.

"But I'm completely different! "

My head shot up a bit.

" I don't think William has a mind to replace you." She pulled up my chin as she fixed my hair. "Trust me, you have no clue how far he will go for something  he wants." Madison made a point of to look me in the eye

"I didn't want to think about that at all." The sinking feeling in my stomach  is much more real.

"It won't happen."

"But wha-?"

"But nothing."

Madison looked sure and more sincere than anyone I had ever met.

"I thought Willie would never considerer having a child."

She turned to me with an excited grin, I was distracted When she began to hug me which was incredibly startling.

" What are you doing?" her arms wrapped around me like snakes, the intense pressure stealing my breath.

" Who me? I am hugging my niece."

"What?" Her grip did not seem to be letting up no matter how much I squirmed.

"Like I said, William never for a moment considered having children, but I've always wanted an adorable child to look after. I would have preferred a baby of my own, but taking care of someone as Charming as you? I can't say I mind, and this way we can have conversations like this."

"R-Really? You're that happy" I can barely get the words out of my throat.

"of course, I wouldn't have it any other way, and if you would like you can call me auntie."

" Really?"

"Yes-yes really how many times do I have to say it" she stopped hugging me for a moment so she could look me in the eyes again. " wait a second are you crying?"

Without thinking, I hugged her Instead of answering. She let out a light laugh as she hugged me back. We sat there for what seemed like hours as she patted my back.

"thank you, Madison"