Really Gone

A gentle breeze played with her hair. Just like the wind was wanting to wake her up but not wanting to startle her, like it knew what she had gone through the day before. Lifting up think tendrils oh hair. When that did not work the wind made a tendril tickle Shandra's cheek. Her eyes fluttered open. Yawning she slowly raised her head she realized that she had slept in Darwin's house. Unfolding her legs and stretching trying to get the feeling back in her flaking mud covered feet. Raising her arms above her head opening and closing her hands. Looking out the window at the field. 'Time to head back home.' Slowly getting up she walks out the house making sure to close the door behind her and made her way back to the forest.

She slowly walked up to their message tree hoping that he left the bag with the book in it. Something he could leave that was a part of him. Looking around the tree for the bag they usually hung. But all the branches were bare. 'Did he forget to hang it up?' Confused she walked around the tree. She circled it three time before she saw this vertical hole. Hummmm that looks like a good hiding spot. She carefully reached in and felt leather. But this leather was new not old and well broken in. She pulled out this beautiful purple message bag. He carved a crescent moon on the front flap of the bag. It was very delicately done. Darwin was truly gifted in craftsmanship. Then when she opened it she saw the letter he wrote. She turned and looked at the house again then she placed it back in the bag and started back to her home.

A couple weeks went by her routine was the same. Get up, eat breakfast, help clean, work in her secret garden, eat dinner, library, then bed. Get up, eat breakfast, help clean, work in her secret garden, eat dinner, library, then bed. Get up, eat breakfast, help clean, work in her secret garden, eat dinner, library, then bed. Every third day she would venture to Darwin's house to check on it and make sure it stayed dust free. Her life became the same loop as it usually did when Darwin and his father was gone trading.

Weeks turned in to a month, then the month turned into two months. She was getting so excited she was practically buzzing with happiness. Although she lived with many people they still kept their distance. Really she only have three people that she really talked to and one was always busy around the castle. She was just lonely and tired of being lonely.

The day that Darwin was supposed to return had come. Shandra jumped out of bed grabbing her new bag and headed down to swipe some breakfast on the run. It was not her turn to cook or clean but the head high priestess likes to have everyone eat together. She made sure that there was no way for her to be caught, this was her day with Darwin. She wanted to hear about the outside world and he always has the best stories. So she headed to the first line, next stop Darwin's and story time.

The days we're getting shorter and the temperature was starting to fall these were signs that he was coming back.

Returning to his house again she wanted to get there early to really do a last clean up and light a fire just so they had a clean warm house to come home to. Looking into the fireplace watching the flames dance like they were attending the winter solstice.

Feeling the warmth from the fire she turned to the window. 'The sun is setting. They should be home now.' Huffing to herself. She has this feeling growing in her chest. Why does she feel so lonely and it is getting worse. Turning back to the fire and her blanket. Unknowingly she started to rub her chest. This feeling she is feeling is not good, shaking her head to get the bad thought out, taking a breath and sat on the chair and let sleep take her over.