Side Story (4)

Cassandra woke up earlier than the others. She had a habit of waking up at dawn to check on the children, fetch water at the well, and start her day with a warm bath, back in the orphanage.

But when she opened the bath in their room, she was astonished to see that the faucet in the tub could pour hot water already. 

She excitedly hopped in and started washing herself. The grin on her face widened as she smelled the aroma of the bath liquid she poured into the warm water.

'Even maids can bath like this!' She thought. She was used to bathing with a hard soap after an arduous fetching and boiling of water. She remembered her bath would become murky from all the sweat and ashes she got from starting a fire. 

But now, her body had enough sleep. And a warm bath was already waiting for her, needless to be prepared with so much effort. To her delight, the inner child in her was freed. She played with the bubbles and hummed a joyful song.