The cottage where Evangeline and her family lived was a small two-story building made of wood and stone.
The walls were whitewashed and the roof was made of thatch, giving it a rustic, homely appearance. The windows were small and panelled with thin sheets of oiled paper, letting in a small amount of cool air and light.
The interior was simple and neat, with bare wooden floors and sparse but comfortable furniture.
The walls were hung with colourful fabric and family heirlooms, lending the place a cosy, lived-in feel.
Evangeline couldn't sleep the whole night thinking about the girl
Evangeline tossed and turned in her bed, unable to shake the vivid image of the girl from her mind.
The sound of her screams echoed through her mind, and the terror in her eyes haunted her even when her eyes were closed.
She tried everything to distract herself, but nothing worked. Every time she tried to think about something else, her mind would snap back to the girl in distress, her heart heavy with the weight of her guilt.
Next morning in the kitchen, Evangeline slowly padded into the kitchen, her eyes red and puffy from a sleepless night. She went about the familiar morning routine of making tea, her movements slow and heavy.
She took a small pot and filled it with water from the jug, setting it on the stove to heat.
Then she took a teabag from the tin and dropped it into a mug, then poured the hot water in it, stirring it with a spoon.
As she added some milk and sugar, her mind wandered back to the scene in the forest, and she felt a pang of guilt in her chest.
The kitchen was small and cosy, with a low ceiling and wooden paneled walls. It was lit by oil lamps and a small window that looked out onto a small vegetable garden.
The floor was unpolished and littered with small colourful rugs, and a rough oak table and chairs occupied the middle of the room.
An old iron stove stood in one corner, with a pot of water slowly coming to a boil.
She took the cup of tea on a tray to her grandmother's room and slowly walked into her room.
Lara was sitting on a small sofa near the bed, knitting a sweater for Evangeline to wear the next winter.
She was wearing a loose-fitting dress of soft fabric and a pair of slippers made of the same material.
Lara was a strong, practical woman. Her dark eyes were sharp and watchful, and her mouth was set in a firm line as she concentrated on her knitting.
When Evangeline entered the room, she looked up and gave her granddaughter a small smile.
The room was small and cosy, with a low ceiling. The walls were painted white, and there was a small window with a curtained frame, allowing a little sunlight to filter in.
There was a bed in the corner that was covered in a colourful quilt and a small bedside table next to it.
Next to the bed was the sofa where Lara was sitting, as well as a small dresser and a chair.
The room was tidy and neat and smelled faintly of wool and lavender.
Lara was knitting a sweater for Evangeline, using a soft wool blend that was a deep russet colour.
She was using circular needles, and held the bundle of yarn in her right arm as her fingers quickly and skillfully worked the needles, creating a tight, even stitch.
The sweater was almost done, and Lara was just starting to work on the neckline.
It was a simple design, with a round neck and long sleeves, perfect for the cold winter months ahead.
Evangeline went to her grandmother and placed the tea on the small wooden table near the sofa her grandmother was sitting in, and she greeted her grandmother without smiling.
Evangeline: "Good morning, grandmother."
Lara: "Good morning, dear. You seem tired."
Evangeline: "I couldn't sleep..."
Lara: "Ah, I see. You're worried."
Evangeline: "Yes...I keep thinking about that girl from the forest. I wish there was something we could do to help her."
Lara shook her head firmly, her eyes stern.
Lara: "You don't understand. Those men are dangerous. If we do anything, they will find out, and then they will come after us as well. We can't do anything to help that girl, or any other girl they've taken. It's too dangerous."
Evangeline: "But it's not right! They're hurting innocent girls! We can't just do nothing!"
Her grandmother signed and decided not to continue the conversation with her kind hearted granddaughter and told her to bring her some biscuits
Lara: "Ah, could you bring me the box of biscuits, dear? I fancy a few with my tea."
Evangeline nodded, and went to the pantry to retrieve the box of biscuits. She carried it back to the room and handed it to her grandmother.
As Lara took a biscuit and dunked it in her tea, she looked up at her granddaughter and saw the sadness and worry etched on her face.
But she said nothing, and simply continued to eat her biscuit.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Eliza was in the backyard of her small cottage, tending to her vegetable garden. She was wearing a loose fitting dress made of simple cotton fabric, with a faded apron tied over it.
She was sweating under the hot sun and looked physically exhausted, her face and body showing signs of fatigue.
The sun was beating down on her as she bent over the rows of plants, pulling weeds and harvesting ripe vegetables.
Her skin was tanned from working in the garden, and her brown hair was tied back in a messy bun.
The garden was a modest size, surrounded by a low wooden fence.
It was filled with rows of vegetables, beans, and peas, all of them growing lush and green.
There was a small patch of herbs in one corner, and a few rose bushes along the back wall.
The soil was rich and dark, and the garden was well tended.
It was a place of peace and fertility, a small haven in the midst of the chaos and danger that surrounded them.
Eliza knelt in the dirt, her hands stained with soil as she carefully picked vegetables from the plants.
She filled a woven basket with potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables, gently placing them in the basket.
Next, she moved on to the beans and peas, picking them one by one and adding them to the basket.
Evangeline came to help her mother to pick up the vegetables to make lunch
Evangeline stepped into the garden, her feet sinking into the soil as she approached her mother.
Evangeline: "Can I help, Mother?"
Eliza looked up, her face weary but grateful.
Eliza: "Oh, thank you, dear. Yes, you can help me pick some of the vegetables for lunch."
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🧸ྀི── .✦ ── .✦ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁