Thirty-four : The Long-lasting Pain

Author's POV

The scene that Lucian entered the room to find left him heartbroken and worried. The back of Anne’s head was buried between her knees as she knelt on the floor, snuggled against the wall. She was crying out inconsolably and trembling.

“Anne?” He called but there was no response.

He hastily walked over to her side, softly cradled her, and carefully placed her on the bed. Her small stature and pale skin gave her a ghostly appearance. She had been imprisoned in this space for days without food, and she had seriously dehydrated.

He said sternly,

“Ladies, kindly see that the children do not enter this room. I don’t want them seeing their mother like this,” Lucian shouted out to Gemma, Kiama and Daisy who were still outside the door with Marie and Madeline.

“Okay Lucian,” the ladies responded.

“Tell everyone the funeral has been postponed. I can’t leave Anne this way. She needs me too much now,” Lucian said.

“We will,” Kiama responded.

As he observed Anne on the bed, frail and