I sat at the edge of the bed, dressed in the black gown I hadn’t taken off in days. It had been two months since Mrs. Margaret Edgewood, the woman who had been like a mother to me, passed away. And I hadn’t left my room since the funeral. The outside world felt distant, like a memory that no longer belonged to me. My world had shrunk to the size of this room, this bed. I couldn’t shake the hollow emptiness that settled in my chest like a permanent weight. Grief had consumed me, and with each passing day, it grew harder to remember what it was like to feel anything else.The door creaked open, and I glanced up just in time to see Henry stepping inside. His face softened the moment he saw me, concern etched into every line of his expression. He walked slowly toward me, as though afraid that too much movement might cause me to break."Hey," he said softly, sitting down on the bed next to me. His presence was calming and familiar, and for a moment, I felt a small spark of warmth.“Hey,”
I was awoken by the soft clinking of china against the tray beside me. At first, the sound felt distant, like it was part of a dream, but as my eyes fluttered open, I was greeted by the golden rays of the morning sun streaming in through the curtains. The warmth of the light made everything feel soft like the world was wrapped in a comforting glow. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness, and then I saw him.Henry was standing by the bed, a small, proud smile playing on his lips as he arranged the tray on the bedside table. His eyes caught mine, and I couldn’t help but smile back. He had asked the maid to prepare breakfast for us, the thoughtful gesture warming me from the inside. The smell of fresh tea and warm croissants filled the room, making the moment feel even more surreal and peaceful.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Henry whispered, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to my forehead. His lips lingered for a second longer as if he was savoring the simplicity of the mome
“Anna! Anna!”The market vendors and shoppers, too engrossed in their own lives, are slow to react. Some stop and look, their faces showing concern, but none have seen a little girl wandering off. Margaret’s fear turns into desperation as she frantically asks anyone nearby, her words stumbling over each other in her rush.“She was just here! A little girl, about this tall, with dark hair—have you seen her?”But no one has. Anna is gone.Margaret’s security detail, usually discreet and in the background, springs into action. Within minutes, the market is swarming with suited men speaking into earpieces, their eyes scanning the area with military precision. The police are notified, and soon, the search extends beyond the market, into the labyrinthine streets of Los Angeles.But Los Angeles is too vast, too indifferent to the plight of a lost child. The city’s heartbeat, a mix of honking cars and distant sirens, seems to drown out the urgency of the search. The sun begins to dip below th
….. Leaving the train station. Mr. Idris drove her back to his farmhouse, a modest but welcoming home surrounded by sprawling fields. The drive was quiet, Anna staring out the window as the cityscape gave way to the open countryside. She didn’t say much, but Mr. Idris could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the kind that came not just from physical tiredness but from emotional turmoil.When they arrived at the farmhouse, Mrs. Idris was waiting for him at the door. She was a woman of quiet strength, with a sharp mind and a caring heart. Her brow furrowed in concern when she saw Anna, her husband leading the little girl gently up the steps.“Who is this, Idris?” she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and worry.“This is Anna,” Mr. Idris explained. “I found her alone at the train station. She’s lost and doesn’t know how to get back home. I thought we could take her in until we find her family.”Mrs. Idris looked at the little girl, taking in her disheveled appearance and the sadness in her
Anna's life in the Idris household was a mix of warmth and challenges. Though Mr. Idris and his wife had taken her out of the goodness of their hearts, Anna always felt a deep sense of displacement. She had fleeting memories of a different life, one filled with luxury and love, but those memories were like fragments of a dream she couldn’t fully piece together.Despite these feelings, she gradually adapted to rural life, learning to help with chores and finding solace in the small, comforting routines of farm life. Mr. Idris, understanding the importance of education, decided to send her to school. It was there that Anna discovered her passion for dance. What started as an extracurricular activity quickly blossomed into a full-fledged talent. Anna’s grace and expression on the dance floor were undeniable, and it wasn’t long before she was recognized as a prodigious dancer.As Anna pursued her passion, Samuel Idris was building his path. He had grown into a successful and ambitious man,
Anna Edgewood sat in the small, cozy sitting room of the Idris farmhouse, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was familiar, filled with the scent of fresh bread and the warmth of a fire crackling in the hearth, but today, it felt different. There was a tension in the air, a weight that pressed down on her as she waited for Mr. and Mrs. Idris to speak.She had lived with the Idris family for years, ever since she had wandered away from her wealthy grandmother in a busy market and found herself lost and alone in the vast city of Los Angeles.Mr. Idris cleared his throat, drawing her attention. His weathered face was kind but serious, his eyes filled with concern. Beside him, Mrs. Idris sat with her hands folded in her lap, her expression unreadable."Anna," Mr. Idris began, his voice gentle but firm, "you know how much we care for you. You've become like a daughter to us. But... there's something we need to discuss."Anna nodded her throat tight with anxiety. She had no idea what
The grand ballroom of the Edgewood Group headquarters was alive with energy. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden light on the crowd of elites, who were chatting, laughing, and sipping champagne. It was the event of the year, hosted by the formidable CEO Margaret Edgewood, a woman whose presence alone could command any room. Tonight, however, something extraordinary was about to unfold, something that would change lives forever.The highlight of the evening was a special dance performance by Anna, a young woman whose grace and talent had started to make waves in the city. Unbeknownst to many, Anna had been raised by a farmer’s family after being found wandering the streets of Los Angeles as a child. Her past was a mystery, but her future was bright, especially after tonight’s performance.As Anna took to the stage, the room fell silent. Her movements were fluid, each step a testament to the years of hard work and dedication she had poured into her craft. The audience was captivate
Anna sat quietly in the large floral room, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the wallpaper that adorned the walls. The room was exquisite, a reflection of the opulence that once defined the household. A magnificent chandelier hung at the entrance, its crystals catching the soft light and casting a warm, almost ethereal glow over the space. Despite the grandeur, there was a comforting familiarity to this room for Anna.As she sat in one of the plush armchairs, memories of Mr. Idris flooded her mind. He had been gone for some time now. Anna remembered how he used to sit across from her, his deep voice filling the space as he spoke to her with warmth and kindness she had rarely known before coming to live with him.One evening, shortly after Anna had first arrived at the Idris household, she found herself sitting alone in this very room. The sun had just begun to set, casting a golden hue across the walls and making the chandelier sparkle even more brilliantly. The room fel