Serenith Aurelaris adjusted the tie holding her dark, wavy hair as she stepped out of the small café where she worked that morning. The city was alive with activity—cars honking on the roads, crowds of people chatting, and the continuous hum of urban life. Yet, despite the bustling atmosphere, Serenith felt detached, as if she were merely a spectator in a world that she did not fully belong to.
She walked quickly down the crowded street, her thoughts drifting to her next part-time job, the next city, and the faceless crowds she would encounter. Her life had become a series of fleeting moments, each merely a temporary connection before she moved on. This routine was a comfort she sought—or perhaps just one she had come to accept. She wasn't sure, but it had been her way of life for a long time, ever since she had decided to live independently.
Upon arriving at her small apartment, she collapsed onto the worn sofa and glanced at her phone. An email had arrived, with a subject line that caught her attention: "Invitation to Your Beloved Mother's Wedding."
She sighed softly, opening the email with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The message was brief but unexpected. Her mother, who she rarely heard from, was getting married. The email included a formal invitation to the wedding and the address of a manor located far outside the city. Her mother's words were cheerful and enthusiastic, but Serenith couldn't shake the sense of unease that enveloped her.
"I hope you can come," the email read. "It would mean so much to us. The manor is a bit remote but very beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing you there."
P.S.: "I'm sure you could use a break; this place is far from civilization, so I think you'll enjoy it here!"
Serenith stared at the screen, feeling uncertain. Her mother's sudden request seemed out of place, like a ghost from her past making an unexpected reappearance.
"Should I go?" she wondered aloud. The thought of not attending might deeply embarrass her mother, especially since Serenith was the only family she had. "Oh, damn it."
She called a few coworkers, asking them to cover her shifts during her mother's wedding. It was this weekend—unbelievable! How could her mother have sent the invitation on Monday when the wedding was on Sunday?
"Can you cover my shifts for Saturday and Sunday?" she asked hesitantly. "I'll treat you to lunch next week."
With her work schedule sorted, Serenith now faced the dilemma of what to wear to the event.
She opened her old wardrobe, pulling out a dusty box and brushing off the thin layer of dust on it. Inside, she found a soft blue dress, neatly folded. Her mother had sent it to her last year as a birthday gift.
Her days had been so consumed by her part-time job that there had been no occasion to wear such a dress. When she received it, she had murmured to herself about how her mother could know so little about her life to give a gift like this.
Deciding to pack her belongings and prepare for the trip, Serenith regarded it as just another obligation to fulfill in her life.
She looked at the address provided in the email. She knew the town where the manor was located and that it was about four hours from her city by train.
She unlocked her mother's number and sent a terse message: "I'll come." Her mother replied shortly after. "Oh! Great. I'll send someone to pick you up. Umm, how will you get here? Finally, you haven't blocked my number."
Serenith groaned. "I'll send the details once I get my train ticket." She put her phone down, ignoring her mother's reply.
A man in a suit, looking stiff and formal, picked her up as soon as she arrived at the station.
"Miss Serenith?" he asked politely. Serenith nodded, and the man directed her to the car.
The journey to the manor was long and winding, taking her through dense forests and ancient trees that seemed to whisper secrets. Serenith chose to remain silent throughout the trip.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows along the road, the encroaching darkness heightened Serenith's discomfort. "I didn't expect it to be this far," she thought, glancing at the winding road ahead. She checked the manor's location on her phone again. It was supposed to be a tourist spot, an unusual choice for a wedding venue. What should have been a one-hour trip from the station turned out to be longer than expected. Each turn seemed to lead her deeper into unfamiliar territory, surrounded by increasingly dense canopies of trees and their shadows.
The trees pressed closer, their branches intertwining overhead to create a canopy of wood and leaves. The road narrowed, as if the forest itself were guiding them deeper into its heart. The car's headlights pierced through the darkness, but it felt as though they were only scratching the surface of the impenetrable night. Serenith's unease grew with every passing minute. The air grew colder, and she felt that night had almost fallen, though she could hardly see the sky above.
Finally, the car made the last turn, and in the distance, through the increasingly thickening fog, Serenith caught a glimpse of something large and imposing. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the shadow of a grand building rising high. The manor stood tall and intimidating, like a dark sentinel overseeing the forest. A thought crossed her mind to ask the driver to turn back to the station and let her return to her small apartment.
Her anxiety escalated as the manor's shadow loomed closer, its towers piercing the sky, shrouded in mist. A chill crept down Serenith's spine as the car approached. The forest seemed to recede, leaving an open space where the manor emerged from the ground like an ancient edifice from a history book.
As the car neared the large iron gates that creaked open with a chilling sound, Serenith's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that once she stepped inside, there would be no turning back.
The car slowed and stopped in front of the towering oak doors. Serenith stared at the imposing structure, her mind racing with questions and doubts. The driver turned to her with a polite, almost too formal smile. "We have arrived, Miss Serenith."
Before she could gather her thoughts, the doors opened as if expecting her, revealing the dimly lit lobby of the manor inside. The soft light reflected off the walls, inviting her to step in and leave behind the world she knew.
Serenith hesitated for a moment, her hand on the car door handle. Everything within her screamed to run, to return to the safety of the life she knew. Yet, she knew she couldn't escape from something uncertain.
As she stepped out of the car, the doors behind her creaked shut, locking away all her anxiety and desire to flee. Why had she become so fearful? Despite knowing whatever lay ahead, Serenith knew she had no choice but to face it.
"This is it," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the whispering wind through the trees. She looked at the grand building before her, its towers reaching as if touching the sky. "Mother's wedding… I'm here."
The doors opened wider, as if welcoming her, and with one last glance at the darkening sky, Serenith moved forward, ready to face whatever awaited her inside.