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"I-I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with him," he says. "His breathing has only grown more strained in the last hour. I've tried everything that I can think on him, but nothing seems to be working. I ... I'm afraid he's come down with something that even I have no medicine for."
Merelda lets out a snort of disgust.
"Fine, then I'll just call for the doctor from the next town over, perhapshe'llactually be of some use to me and my husband."
I watch the doctor bristle at Merelda's empty threat. Especially when I grew up hearing how much of a bumbling fool the doctor in the next town over is.
"That won't be necessary," the doctor continues. "You'll only end up wasting more time and money. There's no remedy for whatever he has. No matter how many doctors you call in, they will all say the same."
Tears sting my eyes as I try to process what he's just said. If it's something he can't treat, then how is father supposed to get better?
"Which is?" Merelda presses, giving voice to my own thoughts.
The doctor runs a hand over his tired face, letting out a small sigh.
"If he is lucky, then he has a month left, perhaps two, in the best of cases ... but it's unlikely he will ever be lucid again."
"No," I gasp, taking a stumbling step backward.
Merelda shoots me a hard look as she steps closer to the doctor ushering him back into the bedroom. Their voices fall quiet as the door closes behind them, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve stopped listening.
I can’t imagine a world that doesn’t involve my father always being here. It's impossible.
The doctor must be wrong.
How is it possible that Father has only been given months to live? He was perfectly healthy just the other day. Before he set off on his last journey, nothing seemed amiss.
Pressing a hand to my stomach, I turn away from the door.
No, I can't lose him. I won't allow it. He's all I have left.
Without him, I'll be alone in this world with nothing but a cold stepmother hell bent on selling me off to a monster of a man.
My heart clenches at the thought of a world without my father. Did I not lose enough already when Mother was taken from us? Must I now suffer his loss as well?
It feels as though my whole world is crumbling around me, the stones of a once happy life now threatening to crush me beneath them until I'm nothing more than dust. I almost welcome the thought as I step from the house and into the gardens.
I wipe uselessly at the tears that spill over my cheeks as I walk. Merelda will not hesitate to cast me out, married or not, the moment Father takes his last breath.
That is a future not many could survive. Without anywhere to go or any coin to my name, I'd be far worse off than I am now.
I'd almost certainly have no choice but to allow her to marry me off. To sell me to the pig that is Lord Payne.
A shiver runs down my spine at the thought, and I shake my head.
No, I mustn't think like this, not yet. For all I know, the doctor could be wrong. Father could still pull through and smile upon me once again.
Even the doctor couldn't say exactly what was wrong with him. Perhaps there's still a chance.
A fresh wave of tears fall as I realize how much I still have to tell Father. I've wasted too much time upset about the future and worried about the present. I didn't stop to tell him how much I love and adore him.
Now, I may never get the chance.
Choking on a sob, I head further away from the house before Merelda can come to find me. I'm not prepared to deal with her cruelty in moment like this.
Racing down the hill, I make my way through our bit of forest and field and into the apple orchard that belongs to our neighbors. At the far end of which is a small grove of overgrown trees, the perfect place to disappear into, as I have many times in the past. Among them, a giant elm that has always kindly offered me refuge from Merelda and her sons.
Reaching the elm, I press the palm of my hand to the bark. Inhaling deeply, I try my best to ground myself as I calm my racing heart and endless tears.
