Before the beginning

The air was thick with tension from her heated argument with her aunt, and the emotions they had each released hung in the air like a jealous lover, clinging to them as they entered the house. Sophie’s grip on Rhys’ arm tightened, and he understood that she was feeling everything over again.

Rhys led her to a seat on the dining table, where Sophie’s aunt had already laid out their meal.

“Enjoy.” He muttered, picking up a fork.

“You should eat.” He said this to Sophie, noticing she had not touched her food. Her eyes were glued to the world before her, but he knew that she was far away. Whatever happened to her in the past was eating at her ever since their arrival at this house, and he did not know how to stop it.

The chair scraped the ground as Sophie stood from her seat. “I’m sorry.” She signed. “Room.”

“Sophie.” Her aunt called softly from the kitchen, where she had been. “Do not forget your manners.” She hissed.

Sophie huffed and sagged her shoulders, then trudged to join