Angrily, she tore down the office. I crashed through the desk until it was only wood and lumber. He wiped all his books from the bookcase and brought the bookcase down. In their room, she picked up all his clothes and tore out every photo that had his face on it—anything that would bring back a memory of him. She packed them all and dumped them on his grave, then lit a matchstick and watched it burn. It was better this way, she decided. His memory had no place in her heart, in her life, or in this world. She returned inside as the last of his memories burned and called on her maid. “My husband died from a fall.” She told her. “I will not tolerate hearing otherwise from the women in this village. And from now on, we will receive no guests. Barr the doors and windows, lock up the study, and bring the keys to my room. It is now a prohibited area.” The maid would have asked Madame a simple question, but she knew better. She nodded her head obediently and went to do as her Madame had

The moon bathed her in its light. He saw her now and thought she was an angel with the way she glowed. Her red hair fell over her shoulders, and the small nightgown she wore did nothing to hide the curves and the beauty of her perfect figure. He stood there mystified, memorized by her, and could not help but feel the feeling of longing that had begun to grow inside him, yearning only for her. He wanted, with everything in him, to go out into the light and sit with her beside the meadow. They would watch the water and talk, and then they would kiss. After that night, it was most of the things that filled his thoughts. Cradling her soft body in his hands, he ran his hands over her smooth skin. Often times he thought of the meadow—her favourite spot—and it was here that he imagined them making passionate love. Under the moonlight, on the moist ground, each of them did not mind the mud that would get in their hair or stain their bodies. They would only care about getting the most fr

Veronica seemed careless. She had put the child in the cot with Eliana’s child and turned to smile at her sister. Eliana hated the smile. Now, though, it was all she wanted to see. “Calm down, sister.” Veronica had said, pushing Eliana into a seat by the fire. She moved to the kitchen and began to prepare tea. Eliana remembered detesting how she moved around the house like it belonged to her. “Why are you here?” she had asked once Veronica brought the tea to her. The answer was there; she should not have asked. But the question had already left her lips, and it hung in the air until Veronica plucked it. “Like you do not already know. You know whose child that is.” Veronica responded, lowering herself into the recliner and looking into the fire. Eliana would have loved to be in that recliner. She eyed her sister contemptuously. She would like everything that her sister had—her face, her body, her beauty, Andre’s love—but the child. She did not want the child. What was she to

Her aunt’s room used to be upstairs – the room which Rhys now used – but because of Adrian’s illness she had to move downstairs. It was easier to take care of him and attend to his needs with their rooms being so close. She laid her aunt on the bed then felt for the woman’s temperature. It had risen considerably high and Sophie sensed a fever setting in. Perhaps the news really affected her aunt so much. Rhys came in shortly after, announcing that he had succeeded in sending everyone away. Sophie nodded gratefully. “Water and cloth.” Sophie signed and Rhys nodded. He went back out and returned almost immediately with a bowl and cloth which he set on the bedside table. Thanking him with a shirt nod of her head, Sophie took the cloth and soaked it in the water then laid it gently on her aunt’s forehead. “You see?” Rhys said with an amused expression on his face. “You do care for her.” Sophie scoffed. “She’s family.” She signed. Rhys nodded and took a seat at the far end of

It is close to evening now, so I must go back to the house. Auntie must have noticed by now that I am gone, and she would be livid. And uncle… He’s yet to return to the house. I can hear footsteps approaching, and it is quite close. Instinct tells me to run and hide. ... I am well hidden behind the wild flowers. I think. From the road, it would be hard to notice me. The sounds of the footsteps are getting closer and closer, and I hear something else. … There’s a man who has just passed without noticing me. It looks like it is my uncle, and he is carrying something. A body. I think he has found Alice. I must go home immediately. *** Sophie was asleep on the floor. She had slept off while consoling herself and her aunt. Sophie’s aunt stood on the ground where she had sat, wincing as her bones cracked. Her eyes strayed to Adrian’s form on the bed, and she scowled at him. She saw his struggles, his lips moving, and his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he tried to form words.