Chapter 10:
After breakfast I did as I was asked and sat patiently in the lounge. Unlike other days I didn't curl up with a book from the shelves, I instead sat tucked up on one of the couches staring absently into the hearth, which now sat quiet and unlit, unnecessary in the morning light. Its cold dead presence was in such sharp contrast to my nightmare last night. It had seemed so prominent, so full of purpose in my mind, yet the reality that stood before me was mundane and muted.
Something about myself also felt off. As if in similar fashion something that burned within me was extinguished. I waws full of such fire in my first few days here, but now any flicker I could muster was so easily doused. All that was left was a creeping sadness that sat with me now.
As I was lost in my feelings, I registered the sound of someone approaching. I felt a hand get placed gently on my shoulder as Lena walked around the couch to take a seat beside me. She was alone, and looked slightly more somber than she had been at breakfast. She seemed to realize something was wrong and looked ready to console me.
"Christina darling, are you alright?"
