Marriage

Ariel stared and stared out the window, at the enclave beyond, noting the laughter of the people and how easily it would be to join in their carefree laughter--if she could forget everything she had been through all these years. Admittedly, it was beautiful. The pine trees, the snow, the massive gardens with so many women and children taking walks in. She could get used to waking up everyday and being a part of all of it, but she knew deep within herself that she could never be one of them. She belonged somewhere else. She belonged to someone else and here wasn't home for her. He was home. She peered down at her gown of gossamer and the voluminous folds of the skirt she wore. It was a deep purple and it was pretty. One would look at her and think she was a princess from some other realm. But, she hated it.

She hated the tightness of it around her chest and how her breasts spilled out of the bodice, surely to please whoever's eyes beheld her. Williams', since he was the only one who was