Time was passing. Even when it seemed impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand was aching like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It was passing unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but it did. Even for Aylin.
****
Grey clouds obscured the normal azure and hid the scorching sun.
While knotting the laces of her black and white contrast maid uniform, Aylin ran out of her tiny cabin in Maid's colony and began to walk in the direction of the imperial kitchen, taking long and hasty steps.
The weather was gloomy that morning and the wet wind blew through the gardens and forest with a powerful passion, scattering the leaves and banging the doors of the palaces and castles as if they were its chaotic drum beat - the marching band of one without fingers or hands.
Looking at the dull and leaden sky, Aylin sighed as she mumbled under her breath, "Damn! I am late again… Mrs. Lui will definitely kill me today… UGH!"
