Dust

With Maria and Greta gone, the manor felt lonely and very awkward. Felt like she was the only one in it, she and his men.

His avoidance of her worsened to the extent that he never went out with her anymore; somehow, she felt useless just sitting and speaking to Lina. This wasn't the life she had planned for herself.

Getting up in the morning was a chore; she hated seeing the rising sun, reminding her she was still in the manor.

She knew he was punishing her, withholding his attention so she wouldn't feel substantial enough.

And she had felt that, along with the hope that he might snap one day and throw her out.

No matter how long that was going to be, she was going to wait for it.

She snapped out of her thoughts when Lina tapped her shoulder, dragging her out of her usual overthinking.

"You look pale," Lina noticed.

They were outside in the garden; Lina was plucking herbs in her little square garden that Maya had just discovered. Maya didn't need to be told that this was the herb she u