Upon her arrival in Goatswood, the Widow Physician found a small rental and began the task of setting up a small practice. Having been there only a few nights, all seemed quiet and her facade firmly in place. A hollowness settled in the pit of her stomach as she gazed around her small room and tried to block out the howling winds through the cracks in the window casements by humming softly. With much pain in her heart, she settled down at her desk to write...
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Dear Father,
You must know I've gone by now and I wish to write and apologize. You may never read this, in fact, I can see you standing and tossing my letter in the fire... but on the slightest chance that you may see fit to glance at these words on the page, I will continue.
I hated to leave. I didn't wish to leave and my heart aches with the loss of you, mother and my sisters and brothers. Please forgive me for being unable to stomach what went on and would have gone on if I would have stayed. I cannot be disposable and will not suffer the life of a woman who will watch her husband live a thousand lives without her. I wish what you and mother have and if I cannot... then I would rather live alone for the rest of my days.
Please know that I'm safe, father. That I plan to devote my life to the path that you have guided me towards. The Villiage I call home is quaint and small, where the people seem to know one another well. I've met quite a few lively characters, one of whom is a local healer of sorts and I feel certain she will hex me if I stray far into her territory. (a smile curved the physicians lips as she thought of Lauren and the evil stares she was given) There is also a rather gruff carpenter that lives near who has been kind enough to fix the small problems with my new office as well as carve a sign to hang outside. I wish you could see it, for I feel it would make you proud.
I miss you and mother and from the depths of my heart, I wish I could have been strong enough to stay and be the proper wife you wished me to be to my intended. Please forgive me...
Your loving daughter,
Arielle
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Arielle quickly folded the note and hurried to the train station, paying a few coin to a traveler going to London for him to mail from there.
Much was left from the small note she'd penned and would remain so, if she wrote again.
She didn't say she'd taken the widow's veil to keep her heart from getting broken again.
She didn't speak of the way the villagers treated her - as an outsider and not one to be trusted.
She didn't speak either of the frightening howls that filled every night, leaving dark shadows beneath sleepless fatigued eyes.
Nor did she speak of the shadows that seemed to lurk around every dark corner of the small streets or the ominious Crawley Manor and how it prickled fear down her spine.
"The mind plays tricks on itself, " she whispered to herself as she strode down the darkened streets, unable to get home fast enough.
