"Forever", he promised her. Forever and ever. Those two years were the happiest in her life. She was a young girl of fifteen, who had yet to see anything of the world. But, after she met him, she knew she didn't need to. She had everything she wanted, right there in that little cottage. Their days were filled with sunshine, laughter, and chases through the tall grass that grew behind the house. Their nights were filled with soft kisses and the lustful indulgences of young love. Even though they could not marry, they were happy.
But on the day of her seventeenth birthday, the letter came. it was from her father, wishing her a happy birthday.At least, that's what the first line said. Before she could read any more, he came up from behind and embraced her, pressing her body into his and whispering in her ear. "meet me in the garden when you're done, love". He stole her words out of her mouth with his lips, and then he was gone, running and jumping and laughing joyously. She smiled, and then returned to her letter. but as her eyes traveled down the page, her stomach turned over, and she felt her throat constricting. Her father wishes for her to return to court, and marry a man 20 years her elder who she has never met.
She ran to their room, and collapsed onto their bed, knocking over a bowl of fruit in the process. Silent sobs racked her body as tears flowed down her cheeks and soaked into the linens. She could hear his laughter coming from the open window, which only made her sob harder. Once she finished, she stood up and read the letter to herself over and over again, hoping that maybe this time, the words would be different. maybe this time, she wouldn't have to go. But she knew. As she clenched the letter in her trembling hands, she watched her love through the open window and knew that she must leave him behind.
