Much time has passed. I now spend my days locked in my room, rarely leaving. I no longer eat. I take no pleasure in life, in living.
My world had been Will. His smile. His eyes. His laughter... it was gone now. He and Elizabeth are to be wed this very afternoon.
I dread the ceremony.
I feel...cold. Yes, cold. Cold and dead. Dead and bleak. The healthy blush has drained from my now gaunt cheeks.
My eyes no longer sparkle with a passion for life. Their once deep pools of brown have turned gray. Gray and lifeless.
Under my eyes are now dark circles, constantly reminding me of my sleepless state. I care not.
I no longer smile. It has been exactly four months since a laugh last escaped my now thin and chapped lips.
My breath comes in ragged gasps.
My entire being is taunt, ragged, gray, drab, and lifeless.
Young men have long since ceased calling on me; people shun me. My appearance is that of an old, dying woman- not that of a blossoming young woman of fourteen.
I care not. All I ever cared for has been taken away. He is Elizabeth's.
"Miss?"
I heard a timid knock on my door.
"What do you want?" I called out, my voice void of all emotion.
"Your father has sent a dress for you, for the wedding..." Anna trailed off nervously.
Bitter tears rise unbidden, and I struggle to keep them at bay.
The wedding.
"Come in."
Anna opened the door, her face betraying her fear.
I sit, my eyes dull and unfocused. I numbly allow Anna to help me to my feet and dress me. She pulled off my thin and ragged black dress, and slid a corset over my head and shoulders. She reached to tighten the strings, but stopped and gasped.
"Miss!"
I do not respond.
"Why, you're, you're...you're nothin' but a sack o' bones! Even the corset that once it you, quite snugly I might add, is too large for you!" Anna dropped her head, embarrassed. "Beggin' your pardon, Miss."
I, however, made no move to answer.
Anna managed the best she could, pulling the corset strings as tight as they would go. When she finished, the corset still hung loosely around my gaunt and withered frame.
Sighing, Anna shook out a beautiful pale blue silk gown with a disgustingly low neckline. I abhor low necklines. But I did not protest.
Anna pulled it over my head and fastened the millions of miniscule buttons running up my back.
I then allowed myself to be led over to a chaise and I sat, motionless.
Anna sighed, exasperated by the sorry state of my hair. It had all but turned gray and fallen out. I cannot remember the last time I picked up a brush or comb.
Anna slowly began to detangle my filthy locks, trying to make the best of her situation by humming a cheery song under her breath.
***************************
An hour later, I stood before my full-length mirror and gawked at my reflection. I was startled by what I saw. Though I was still more than fashionably pale, the light rouge Anna applied to my cheeks and lips had quite lit up my face. It was a sharp contrast to my dull eyes.
The dress truly was beautiful- showing just enough to leave men eager for more but not so low as to make me appear a whore.
My mussed hair had been brushed free of tangles, smoothed, and coaxed into a faint shine. Anna's skillful hands had pulled it back into a loose elegant bun, and several long curls had worked their way free of the pins and fell over my shoulders, framing my delicate face.
I looked every inch a beautiful governor's daughter.
Except...well, except for the lifeless expression in my eyes.
"Will," I breathed sadly.
"Miss?" Anna asked, puzzled. It had been a while since she last heard me utter a word.
"Never mind," I responded listlessly. "Thank you, Anna."
Anna smiled, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Poor Miss...you've had it hard."
She leaned forward and gave me an awkward hug.
I stiffened, shocked at this uncommon display of kindness. Suddenly, I could no longer contain it- I burst into tears, and cried unashamedly against Anna's shoulder.
Anna held me like a small child and whispered soothing words to comfort me.
"It's alright, Miss..."
************************************************************************
My world had been Will. His smile. His eyes. His laughter... it was gone now. He and Elizabeth are to be wed this very afternoon.
I dread the ceremony.
I feel...cold. Yes, cold. Cold and dead. Dead and bleak. The healthy blush has drained from my now gaunt cheeks.
My eyes no longer sparkle with a passion for life. Their once deep pools of brown have turned gray. Gray and lifeless.
Under my eyes are now dark circles, constantly reminding me of my sleepless state. I care not.
I no longer smile. It has been exactly four months since a laugh last escaped my now thin and chapped lips.
My breath comes in ragged gasps.
My entire being is taunt, ragged, gray, drab, and lifeless.
Young men have long since ceased calling on me; people shun me. My appearance is that of an old, dying woman- not that of a blossoming young woman of fourteen.
I care not. All I ever cared for has been taken away. He is Elizabeth's.
"Miss?"
I heard a timid knock on my door.
"What do you want?" I called out, my voice void of all emotion.
"Your father has sent a dress for you, for the wedding..." Anna trailed off nervously.
Bitter tears rise unbidden, and I struggle to keep them at bay.
The wedding.
"Come in."
Anna opened the door, her face betraying her fear.
I sit, my eyes dull and unfocused. I numbly allow Anna to help me to my feet and dress me. She pulled off my thin and ragged black dress, and slid a corset over my head and shoulders. She reached to tighten the strings, but stopped and gasped.
"Miss!"
I do not respond.
"Why, you're, you're...you're nothin' but a sack o' bones! Even the corset that once it you, quite snugly I might add, is too large for you!" Anna dropped her head, embarrassed. "Beggin' your pardon, Miss."
I, however, made no move to answer.
Anna managed the best she could, pulling the corset strings as tight as they would go. When she finished, the corset still hung loosely around my gaunt and withered frame.
Sighing, Anna shook out a beautiful pale blue silk gown with a disgustingly low neckline. I abhor low necklines. But I did not protest.
Anna pulled it over my head and fastened the millions of miniscule buttons running up my back.
I then allowed myself to be led over to a chaise and I sat, motionless.
Anna sighed, exasperated by the sorry state of my hair. It had all but turned gray and fallen out. I cannot remember the last time I picked up a brush or comb.
Anna slowly began to detangle my filthy locks, trying to make the best of her situation by humming a cheery song under her breath.
***************************
An hour later, I stood before my full-length mirror and gawked at my reflection. I was startled by what I saw. Though I was still more than fashionably pale, the light rouge Anna applied to my cheeks and lips had quite lit up my face. It was a sharp contrast to my dull eyes.
The dress truly was beautiful- showing just enough to leave men eager for more but not so low as to make me appear a whore.
My mussed hair had been brushed free of tangles, smoothed, and coaxed into a faint shine. Anna's skillful hands had pulled it back into a loose elegant bun, and several long curls had worked their way free of the pins and fell over my shoulders, framing my delicate face.
I looked every inch a beautiful governor's daughter.
Except...well, except for the lifeless expression in my eyes.
"Will," I breathed sadly.
"Miss?" Anna asked, puzzled. It had been a while since she last heard me utter a word.
"Never mind," I responded listlessly. "Thank you, Anna."
Anna smiled, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Poor Miss...you've had it hard."
She leaned forward and gave me an awkward hug.
I stiffened, shocked at this uncommon display of kindness. Suddenly, I could no longer contain it- I burst into tears, and cried unashamedly against Anna's shoulder.
Anna held me like a small child and whispered soothing words to comfort me.
"It's alright, Miss..."
************************************************************************