Chapter 47; As My Mate

The cool night air wrapped around me like a soothing balm as I stepped out into the gardens, leaving the weight of the dining hall behind. The stone path beneath my feet was still warm from the sun's rays earlier in the day, but now, the air was crisp with the first signs of autumn. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the sprawling garden, and the scent of jasmine clung to the breeze, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp soil and leaves. I inhaled deeply, trying to ease the tightness in my chest.

I walked aimlessly for a few minutes, the soft rustling of leaves my only company. The garden was one of the few places I still found peace, its old oaks and flowering shrubs familiar and comforting. This was my second favorite place to be when I was younger besides sitting in my room reading books and journals. I was never prepared for the life we had moving to out old cabin home close to the woods. It felt like overnight, we had lost everything after mother died.