When I wake up, I'm in my bed. It is dark so I must have been out all day. I look over to Ann's bed, but she's not there. Of course not, she left us to be a governess. I roll over. I'm not upset. She chose that life. She could have been someone, but she chose to leave and she deserves whatever she gets.

There is a knock at my door. I jump up to answer it. I wish with all my heart that it's Kartik, but my mind knows it won't be.

It is Felicity. She's in her nightgown, and her hair is down and flowing. I sigh. Maybe if I had half as much beauty as Felicity does, Kartik would have stayed.

"Gemma, what happened today?"

It's like someone has punched me in the stomach. "He left."

"The Indian boy?"

"Kartik."

"Fine, Kartik. Why? What happened?"

I go back to my bed and put my head under the covers. "Go away, Felicity."

"What's gotten into you?"

"I said go."

"Fine!" she huffs. "Don't come crying to me when you realize he's not coming back for you."

Her words leave a fresh cut on my heart. I peek out in time to see her shut the door furiously behind her.

I've lost everyone. Everyone I've ever loved. My mom. My dad. Felicity. Ann. Kartik.

Kartik.

He left me. He stole my heart, and took it with him wherever he went.

He has my heart.

I stare at the ceiling. It's a very bland colour. Something my grandmother would approve of. That's how I'll live. I'll be bland like this ceiling. My heart and all the desires in it have left with Kartik and they're not coming back. He's not coming back.

I sigh again. Felicity is right.

Morning comes to soon. The sun glares at me through the windows. It says, Gemma, get up. Kartik was just a boy. You're a lady! You can't stay in bed.

I groan and roll out of bed. I lace up my corset, and pull on my dress. I put my hair up and look in the mirror. I am a mess. My eyes are red and puffy from crying, and my hair is falling out of place. I don't care. Nothing matters anymore.

I go down for breakfast and everyone stares at me. The younger girls whisper and point.

Let them.

I sit down by myself. Felicity sits with Cecily and the others. They giggle loudly and completely ignore me. That's fine with me. I'd rather be by myself.

There is only one place where I belong.

The realms.

I will go. Without Felicity and Ann. They don't deserve to come with me, not after they abandoned me.

You were awful to them, my mind says to me.

Shut it, I say back.

I finish breakfast and go off to French. When I get there, the only seat left is right in front of Mlle LeFarge. I take a seat and Mlle Lefarge starts the class.

"Bonjour, mes filles! Comme c'est un beau jour, non?"

There is are murmurs of what sounds like agreement. She smiles and continues with the lesson.

I stare out the window. It is bright outside. It's as if it's taunting me with its cheerfulness. My mind wanders to Kartik. He's probably outside right now, chopping wood, or making something with his hands. He's so good with his hands. He would be shirtless. His muscles gleaming with sweat and glinting in the sunlight. Each time he moves his muscles would-

"Mlle Doyle!"

I am startled from my daydream. I blink up at Mlle. LeFarge. She's frowning at me. The rest of the girls are giggling behind their hands.

"Oui?" I manage.

"Où êtes-vous ce matin?"

"P-Pardon?" I stammer.

"Où êtes-vous ce matin?" she says slower.

"Pardon?" I say again, a blush rising to my cheeks.

She sighs exasperatedly. "Miss Doyle! This is exactly why you don't understand French! You must pay attention!"

She shakes her head and dismisses us.

I scramble from my seat and make my way outside. It seems as though I'm closer to him somehow. Like no matter where he is, we're standing on the same ground. We're feeling the same sun. We're breathing the same air.

I inhale deeply.

A/N - Hope you like it! Definitely more to come! :)