A young woman ran away from her cruel husband at night with her little daughter in her arms

Nancy's husband Patrick was 15 years her senior she didn't want to marry him but her parents insisted what is a woman's purpose Nancy's mother Rebecca had indoctrinated her since childhood to Bear children and Obey her husband arguing with her mother was futile and only made matters worse but Nancy tried what if I don't want to get married I'm only 15 she protested Rebecca side I'm not suggesting you should marry now when you turn 18 your father and I will decide whom you should marry and what if I don't want to marry at 18 what if

I want to study work become a programmer or an architect or start my own business Nancy retorted earning a smack for her audacity it wasn't particularly painful but it was hurtful and humiliating where did you get such abs STD ideas an architect ridiculous who would hire a woman her mother sternly rebuked her A Woman's Place is to keep her home orderly and raise her children but you work yourself Nancy countered fighting back tears Rebecca sighed again I only work because there's no place in our village where your father could earn a decent wage Nancy's father

was a school bus driver each day he transported children from neighboring villages to school and back his job was considered respectable in their community and his consistent pay was a bonus however his salary was insufficient for nany's mother to be a stay-at-home mom so Rebecca worked as a saleswoman in the local store a job she didn't enjoy her moods often reflected her interactions with customers and since the store was the only one in the village locals had to tolerate her occasional rudeness Rebecca's only source of happiness and hope was her daughter her dream was to

marry her daughter off to a wealthy man thinking it might benefit her too Nancy was a beautiful girl with long thick golden hair and big black eyes framed by fluffy eyelashes and she met her future husband Patrick before she turned 18 on the day they met she and her mother were in the city to buy a graduation dress how quickly you grow up sighed Rebecca sorting through the outfits though simple the dresses looked stunning on Nancy and enhanced her natural beauty well you look wonderful everything suits your face you could take all of these outfits

the saleswoman complimented she was a short plump woman in her 40s with a ruddy complexion obediently Nancy tried on one outfit after another twirling in front of the mirror for her mother approval she was indifferent about what to wear to the prom firstly her mother would insist on buying what she preferred secondly her parents had rejected her plea to continue her studies they had already compiled a list of potential suitors and planned to address this matter seriously once Nancy graduated prom a pleasant male voice suddenly sounded near them Nancy turned around in the light blue

kneel length dress she was trying on she felt subconscious under the stranger's scrutinizing gaze he was tall and towered over her his broad shoulders firm chin and straight black eyebrows gave him an air of confidence and strength his black eyes even darker than ny's bore into her Nancy also noticed how the saleswoman demeanor changed when she saw the stranger she tensed up and started to smile ingratiatingly yes we're going to the prom Rebecca answered for her daughter how do you like the dress does it suit my daughter Nancy felt uneasy that her mother was seeking

the opinion of a stranger who was unabashedly staring at her however the man did not seem surprised by Rebecca's question he examined Nancy once again from head to toe and shook his head in disapproval I think we can offer you a better solution Sarah come here he just ured slightly and a saleswoman immediately approached him the stranger whispered something to her and she nodded vigorously of course Mr Woods it'll be here in a minute she said and hurried into the back room what's your name the man looked directly at Nancy making her feel like a

rabbit cornered by a boa constrictor Nancy she responded softly and how old are you 17 she'll be 18 in 3 weeks at the end of May Rebecca interjected for some reason the stranger nodded as if this information was somehow useful to him he then shifted his gaze to Rebecca you're not from around here the mother shook her head vigorously no we are from a village in the suburbs answered the mother What A peculiar quality he has Nancy thought why did mother and the saleswoman suddenly start behaving so subserving just then Sarah returned panting with a

black case in her hands here Mr Woods I got it she said cheerfully but not naturally to Nancy nodding towards the dressing room Nancy noticed Mr woods and her mother watching her expectantly too it seemed she had no other choice upon seeing the dress Nancy immediately realized that it was far superior to the ones she had tried on earlier the fabric tailoring even the smell suggested it was at least 10 times more expensive as Nancy stepped out of the dressing room she heard her mother gasp in Delight yes the dress was a dream made of

smooth red silk it fitted snugly and fell almost to the floor flaring out like a blooming flower the narrow straps accentuated the girl's shoulders and collar bones without being provocative Nancy thought any movie star or royalty would be proud to wear such a dress the slit to mid thigh showcased her long slender legs but could easily be concealed within the numerous fabric folds if needed this must be worth as much as my parents earn in 2 months Nancy thought slowly turning in front of the mirror she was caught between admiration for her own beauty and

youth the realization that this dress was perfect for her and an unexplainable fear how much is it Rebecca asked she seemed to understand that this was not an ordinary dress Sarah was about to answer but Mr wood stopped her with a hand gesture it's a gift he replied provided you invite me to the prom oh of course of course Rebecca replied hastily seemingly in disbelief the man nodded seemingly confident in her response he then turned to the saleswoman Sarah let's pick out some shoes the saleswoman quickly produced a white rectangular box containing black sandals with

a low heel and elegantly intertwined straps Mr Woods took the shoes from her and approached Nancy may I he asked looking at her from head to toe Nancy nodded her head spinning he squatted in front of her maintaining an air of majesty and masculinity and slowly replaced ny's old worn ballet shoes with the black sandals what a beauty Rebecca exclaimed mesmerized of course these are a gift too Mr Woods added 15 minutes later Nancy emerged from the store clutching two large bags containing a dress and shoes her mother and Mr Woods remained inside discussing the

details of her upcoming graduation party I've just been sold Nancy thought to herself I've really been sold she was terrified that Mr Woods might show up at their house soon perhaps even before the graduation party but fortunately he didn't Nancy tried to convince herself that it was all just a bad dream or at the very least a gift from a stranger that she wouldn't owe anything for but every time she looked at the dress hanging next to her bed she realized that no one would give me to marry him Nancy said bluntly maybe I do

what's wrong with that he's handsome respected wealthy and the only one truly deserving of you Mom Nancy cried out in despair I don't even know him Rebecca slammed her fist on the table enough with your hysteria she shouted at her daughter I didn't know your father when I married him either and look at us we've been together for years you're such a beauty yet you're being picky tears streamed down Nancy's face I don't want to get married she whispered desperately suddenly Rebecca decided to change tactics she gently embraced her daughter and awkwardly stroked her blonde

hair I'm not suggesting you rush to the registry office with him tomorrow Rebecca said just give him a chance get to know him better chat with him after graduation you might fall in love with him and if he turns out to be a bad man we won't let him have you Nancy sobbed she wasn't sure whether she could completely trust her mother but her words were soothing eventually the long awaited graduation day arrived at their small school the celebration was modest compared to those in the city they gathered in the Assembly Hall where all the

graduates numbering more than three dozen were brought onto the stage then began a series of congratulatory speeches from the principal teachers and parents committee the graduates smiled awkwardly shifting from foot to foot the boys were uncomfortable in their new shoes while the girls struggled to stand in high heels ny's dress and shoes were the center of attention all the girls had tried their best for this day but her outfit stood out the girls looked at Nancy with envy and admiration while the boys looked on with adoration and a sense of her being unattainable it was

clear that a simple Country Boy could not win over a girl in such a dress the formal part of the ceremony concluded and the graduates descended from the stage to join their tearful families for photos Nancy approached her family tearful grandparents embraced their granddaughter remarking on her beauty and wishing her happiness her father kissed her cheek hugged her and murmured something the girl had only one look at her mother to realize how she was burning with impatience Nancy's heart trembled something is about to happen she thought with a sense of dread congratulations a voice sounded

behind her she recognized it instantly even though she had only heard it once before Nancy turned around Patrick Woods stood before her in a Flawless black suit and a snow white shirt offering her a bouquet of White Lies it felt as if everyone in the room was looking at her thank you she responded accepting the bouquet you look absolutely stunning Patrick complimented thank you all thanks to your dress and shoes her mother interjected they only emphasized what was already Flawless Patrick replied all this time he did not take his eyes off Nancy she was scared

yet a new feeling of excitement and pride emerged he chose her from everyone else and now everyone was looking at her standing in the most beautiful dress in the world Patrick and Nancy's wedding took place on the last day of summer Patrick covered all the expenses the celebration was held in a luxurious restaurant likely the biggest in the city Nancy was AED by its beauty and Grandeur her parents stood by stunned Rebecca looked around the luxurious Hall seemingly unable to believe what she was seeing Nancy sat next to her husband trying to understand her feelings

everything had happened too quickly just a few hours ago she had met Patrick's relatives all the men in his family resembled him tall sturdy with black eyes and dark hair the women were alike only more graceful it struck her that Patrick's family wasn't surprised by the quick wedding nor were they bothered by not knowing the bride Nancy sat in her stunning white lace dress afraid to move everyone came up to them saying congratulations and wishing happiness and prosperity Nancy smiled accepted their good wishes and felt like a beautifully adorned doll or puppet placed here to

fulfill a role the role of a beautiful bride the role of a young wife she was a girl who could be dressed up in an expensive luxurious wedding dress and shown off to everyone look at her but what is she like who is she no one had asked her this question not even Patrick he seemed to have simply bought her from his parents he saw her and claimed her as one might a coveted item in a shop window Nancy then realized that she didn't even know what kind of man her husband was yes he had

a certain intimidating Allure she noticed how other women gazed at him with awe and admiration even during their wedding their eyes filled with Envy Nancy understood that he was a catch in every sense handsome strong intelligent wealthy but these were just qualities listed off she didn't know who the Man Behind These words truly was Patrick took her to his apartment which was nothing like the small village house Nancy had lived in all her life everything in this new home frightened her she was scared to touch anything fearing she might break something she suddenly felt like

a terrified little girl which in reality she was a week later her husband said stop behaving like a guest in this house you are the mistress here and everything here will be as you wish after these words Nancy felt better she had learned how to cook and clean and she had now begun to use these skills she didn't have much else to do as she was just a wife and a homemaker Nancy had no friends in the city her parents were far away and she didn't even apply to college she once thought while standing near

the stove and stirring a pot of bush is this really the life my mother imagined for for me will my life only consist of this days weeks and months passed and nothing in ny's life changed she settled more comfortably into the house and managed her duties as a homemaker and young wife more effectively but she was very lonely despite frequently having guests her husband Patrick's business associates his parents and his older brother stuper her parents also visited every few months Rebecca thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent in her son-in-law's apartment she never tired of telling her

husband look at this beauty our daughter is so lucky Nancy's father used to nod silently unlike her mother he didn't Express pleasure or dissatisfaction but simply took everything as a given Nancy also suspected that Patrick was giving her mother money and likely a significant sum as Rebecca left looking even happier than the day she had arrived to her daughter at times Nancy would wonder why Patrick had married her he had made this decision after their first meeting before he even had time to get to know her he didn't spend much time with her and although

she wanted to confront him about it something always stopped her Patrick didn't show her any kind of passion or lofty love at least not like the kind Nancy had seen in movies or read about in books in fact it seemed he viewed her as a functional unit a high quality item that he needed to maintain his status at first Nancy didn't fully understand his business later she realized that the shopping center where they met was owned by Patrick or rather it had been owned by his father before he transferred it to his son Patrick occasionally

mentioned a machine shop Cafe porn shop and funeral parlor or all seemingly owned by him and his family and being such a successful businessman Patrick needed to live up to his status he had a nice car watch Shoes phone and now he got a wife who was young beautiful economical and intelligent enough to accompany him to business meetings 2 years after their wedding Patrick announced wek be moving to a new house soon a new house where Nancy asked surprised not far in the next city more specifically outside of it Patrick replied but why should we

move why not my business is expanding and it'll be more convenient to manage it from there and by the way there shouldn't be any problem for you since you're at home most of the time that's what I wanted to discuss with you Nancy interjected don't worry you'll have plenty to do there it's a large house that needs fixing up besides Patrick added hugging her and kissing her cheek it's time to think about having children but I'm only 20 nany countered so what we've been married for 2 years already my mom gave birth at 19 I

don't even have an education Patrick smiled and why do you need it what do you mean the husband sighed Nancy people get an education to get a job you don't need to work she looked embarrassed but that's now maybe later I'll want to work Patrick laughed he sat down on the sofa and Drew his wife to him sweetheart what are you talking about you've been living a dream for 2 years a life that all women wish for we're about to move to a new house and then you'll have a child and you will raise him

or her Nancy realized her husband had a point should she complain did any of her classmates live in such a is house most of them remained in the village destined to spend their lives there they would marry classmates who might eventually become abusive husbands those who managed to escape the village now live in dormitories working tirelessly to support themselves in the city they'll likely do that for the rest of their lives of course you're right replied Nancy but I'd like to do something else besides stay at home don't I forbid you once we move you

can do whatever you want okay replied Nancy suddenly realizing that she didn't know what she wanted to do the issue was resolved after the couple moved to a new house the neighboring city was further than Nancy had anticipated and the house was not in the city but in a settlement an hour's driveway public transportation was almost impossible to use Nancy didn't know how to drive so when her husband was away she was was virtually confined to her new home besides Nancy and Patrick seldom ventured into the City only for occasional meetings with his Partners Nancy

devoted all her spare time to organizing the new house with Patrick providing unlimited funds order anything you want on the internet he said they'll deliver everything so Nancy spent her days choosing finishes Furniture chandeliers wallpaper and so on although she knew little about it she seemed to manage quite well you have excellent taste Patrick told her once seeing the results of her work thank you yes the house is transformed he said approaching his wife and giving her a kiss you're a natural wife and Hostess all that's left is to become a mother however it took

another 2 years before Nancy became pregnant she couldn't believe her eyes when when she saw the two stripes it felt as if life split into before and after she wouldn't be alone anymore there would now be someone in the house who would always be with her someone to lighten her loneliness because Nancy felt very lonely she had been married for 4 Years yet she still couldn't understand her husband especially lately Patrick always seemed to be busy Nancy understood that her husband's work was his top priority but she yearned for him to spend time with her

which hardly happened she hoped their child would fill this void as for Patrick he was thrilled when he found out about the pregnancy finally he exclaimed I'm going to have a son Nancy chuckled what if it's a girl no it has to be a boy my Heir however they ended up having a daughter Bonnie Patrick was happy but Nancy could tell that he would have been even more excited if he had a son after Bonnie's birth Patrick's life remained mostly unchanged he still spent most of his time at work while Nancy was left to care

for their daughter always worried she might do something wrong and feel utterly exhausted things became slightly easier when her parents came to stay for a few weeks she hadn't seen them for over a year and was thrilled when they hadd visited her my girl how you've grown exclaimed Rebecca and what a wonderful house you have her father approached Nancy giving her a hug and a kiss and who is this little one we have here Rebecca asked gently looking at Bonnie lying in the Cradle she looks a lot like you added the grandfather Nancy felt more

at ease with her parents around less lonely although she didn't dare to express her true feelings because she didn't want to dampen their happiness Rebecca EA was thrilled when she learned that her daughter had furnished the house you're very talented my girl she said it's very cozy and beautiful here Simply Fabulous dad added how wonderful that you live in such a beautiful place you're lucky to have such a good husband Rebecca sighed Nancy nodded that's true but sometimes I feel lonely here you're not alone now her mother replied believe me you can't get bored with

a small child and if you do you can always have another one and a third the father joyfully added and they all laughed a cold chill ran down nany's spine she loved Bonnie more than life itself and had accepted her fate next to Patrick but was she destined to only be a wife and mother trapped in this beautiful house what would become of her once the children grew up and left Patrick would still be a businessman the head of the family and she just an empty shell a few days after celebrating Bonnie's second birthday Patrick

announced by the way soon you and your daughter will have some company Nancy and Bonnie were sitting on a mat with Bonnie playing with cubes stacking them on top of one another what kind of company Nancy asked my good friend bought a house in the neighborhood and we be moving here with his wife and child in a week Patrick replied that sounds great exclaimed Nancy it's about time our daughter met other kids they have a son the same age as Bonnie Patrick added with a change in his voice tone Nancy squirmed aware that Patrick wanted

a son he had often suggested having another child but she wasn't ready yet the only thing constraining Patrick was a doctor's advice recommending Nancy to wait a few more years before having another child are they visiting us Nancy asked no they invited us to their housewarming party Patrick responded on the designated day and at the exact time their family was already at the neighboring house Nancy noticed that their neighbor's house was as large as theirs a smiling woman in a shiny evening dress opened the door seeing her Nancy regretted her simple attire of black jeans

and a white T-shirt having thought it was just a casual visit to the neighbors not a social Gathering hello the young land lady shouted cheerfully come on in she appeared to be a little older than Nancy slender tall with long red hair and blue eyes it seemed she was more comfortable in public than at home however Nancy hoped they could still be friends the house was large spacious and luxuriously furnished a little too much for nany's taste my husband will be here soon then she slapped her forehead with her Palm I'm so absent-minded I didn't

even introduce myself I'm Joyce Nancy nodded and smiled Nancy nice to meet you and this must be Bonnie yes Nancy replied my son Tony is over there Joyce pointed towards the back of the room Nancy brought Bonnie to the boy and made sure that they got along looked at each other with smiles at that moment Joyce's husband Brian entered the living room one look at him was enough for Nancy to realize that Brian was similar to her husband although he didn't resemble Patrick physically except for being tall he had the same determined and firm look

however he also had something hard cold and strong about him I wonder if Joyce also doesn't know him just as I don't know Patrick Nancy suddenly thought or do they have a real family with a warm and trusting relationship is everyone here Brian cheerfully asked then let's go to the table when dinner was nearly finished Nancy said everything is delicious you're a great cook Joyce laughed thank you but it wasn't me we hired a chef today oh was all Nancy could say very convenient the idea would never have occurred to her she was used to

doing everything herself even when she was exhausted Joyce on the other hand didn't seem to like difficulties the men stood up from the table we're going to have a smoke and discuss business in the study said Brian you girls have fun Joyce gave him a dazzling smile don't worry about us when the men left Joyce filled two glasses with pink Champagne almost to the brim let's move to the living room she suggested handing one glass to Nancy it'll be easier to monitor the kids from there the children were happily occupied Bonnie was expecting a large

plush Dragon while Tony was busy stacking multicolored rings on a pyramid they seem to be getting along well Nancy observed with a smile I hope we can too Joyce responded otherwise I'm bound to die from boredom here she raised her glass for a toast Nancy responded in kind and they drank how do you manage living here the new neighbor continued I'd go insane in such isolation I have Bonnie for company well I adore my son but sometimes I crave adult conversation and my husband isn't much of a talker Nancy grinned she was growing fond of

Joyce mine neither she sighed that's the price to pay for a quiet nourished and Safe Life Joyce said thoughtfully her cheeks flushed and her beautiful red curls slightly disheveled living in the middle of nowhere taking care of the house and the baby keep yourself in shape be always Flawless in front of your husband's Partners pretend you don't know about his Mistresses she continued all this just to avoid working for a pennies like my peers and to be able to afford beautiful clothes and expensive Cosmetics she laughed nervously and Tony looked at his mother in surprise

it's all right sweetheart Joyce reassured him mommy's just a bit more relaxed today Mistresses Nancy asked does Brian cheat on you Joyce waved her hand dismissively they all cheat but you're so beautiful and so are you they all choose beautiful Partners they don't settle for less Joyce said and took another sip from her nearly Empty Glass I don't understand Nancy said you have a wonderful house a beautiful son you're a real model why would Brian cheat on you Joyce looked at her with surprise as if Nancy had asked about some Elementary things how many dolls

does your daughter have she asked suddenly I don't know 15 or 20 I guess are they all pretty um yeah she had no idea what Joyce was trying to tell her does your daughter always play with one or or different ones it depends on her mood but in general she likes variety she'd get bored with one thing quickly exactly don't you see the truth she asked to our husbands we are just dolls they were tired of playing with just one but I'm his wife not just some girl we've been together for almost 5 years Joyce

grinned and What attracted you to him what does he know know about you other than your beauty does he ask you about your dreams does he know your favorite book does he surprise you with special gifts Nancy bit her lower lip her mind flashing back to the day when she tried on a beautiful dress for prom and Patrick looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze I don't know she said quietly but he chose me to be his wife for some reason didn't he because you're the right fit it's like buying milk at the store if

it's out of stock you buy any kind choosing the best option based on price quality and flavor that's available so you and I are just the right ones at this moment yes Brian knows that I'm a good wife that I'm suitable to show off to his rich friends that I can organize a dinner party and that I won't pick up my teeth with my fork in a restaurant he chose me just like he chose his car or the time for his new suit at that moment male voices were heard nearby Joyce perked up here come

our boys she said in an entirely different clear voice we've been missing you guys this conversation with the new neighbor lingered in nany's mind she realized that Joyce's thoughts echoed her own suspicions which she had often brushed aside due to fear the only thing she didn't want to confront was Patrick's potential infidelity although he didn't show her much passion or tenderness he had been a good husband over the years he gave her expensive gifts flowers never monitored her expenses was polite to her parents and even occasionally asked her about her well-being the thought that Patrick

might have another woman or even women disgusted Nancy so she tried to banish such thoughts from her mind meanwhile communication with Joyce began to improve she came to visit the next day with Tony I'm sorry I'm coming so soon she said it's just terribly boring at home Nancy smiled I'm Overjoyed you came I don't have much to do here either Bonnie has grown up and I'm not as busy now as I was the first year after her birth oh said Joyce will you show me the house sure Joyce admired the interior who designed this it's

perfect did you see my place it's a nightmare it cost a lot of money and it's just awful I did it all myself Nancy confessed you did it yourself Joyce was a ghast so you're a designer by education Nancy smiled wistfully I have no education I finished high school and that summer I married Patrick that's incredible Joyce was surprised well I only managed 2 years in law school and I can't say that it's been useful later as they said sat in the living room drinking tea with homemade cookies Joyce provided a suggestion maybe you could

make my house look this cool Nancy was surprised you just moved in and renovated it didn't you you said it yourself you had spent so much money Joyce casually waved her hand money isn't a problem don't worry about it at all Brian lets me spend as much as I want she smiled revealing her perfectly white and even teeth we have to have some fun in this life don't we okay I'll think about it replied Nancy Joyce gently squeezed her hand I'd really appreciate it thus their visits continued Nancy couldn't imagine her life without her energetic

and cheerful neighbor they were both in similar situations but their approaches were different Nancy felt trapped in a golden cage with Bonnie being her only Escape Joyce although in a similar position made her cage as comfortable as possible and indulged in all available luxuries almost every day Joyce arranged for a car with a private driver for City trips she started to take Nancy and Bonnie along Joyce could drive herself but only when she was in a good mood and not intending to drink which wasn't often thus for the first time in 5 years Nancy began

to experience the joys of a luxurious life they went shock in buying extravagantly expensive but beautiful items they dined in restaurants with children's rooms where Bonnie and Tony would spend time Joyce also introduced her friend to beauticians and Murs I see Brian's wife has been a good influence on you Patrick told her one evening why Nancy asked in surprise her husband Shrugged and removed his shirt you seem happier more cheerful I like it I'm going to shower he left and Nancy out of habit picked up his shirt to put it in the laundry basket an

unfamiliar scent hit her nostrils it was a feminine perfume but it wasn't hers she brought the shirt closer to her nose it definitely smelled like perfume no Nancy thought I must be imagining things I shouldn't have sampled so many perfumes at the mall today some of the scent must have lingered in my nostrils she quickly tossed the shirt into the washing machine and started it this incident was the first time Nancy sensed something was off after that she started noticing more things the faint smell of wine on her husband when he returned late from meeting

friends even though she knew Patrick only drank whiskey with them the perfume scent she had once detected was appearing more frequently and couldn't be explained by her visits to the mall a few times she noticed long dark hairs on his jacket but most significantly she sensed a change in Patrick's Behavior towards her he had never been affectionate but now he seemed even more distant they barely spoke despite not being in Conflict sometimes Nancy felt as if he had stopped noticing her like one might Overlook a broken TV Gathering dust in a corner one evening Patrick

was late to work again she had already put her daughter to bed and went to bed herself but sleep did not come we need to talk thought Nancy because I can't go on like this however the prospect of such a conversation didn't please her either none of the options seemed to promise a good evening perhaps Patrick will deny it saying that I'm imagining things then everything will remain the same except that I will continue to doubt him or he'll confess which is even worse then I either endure his cheating for the rest of my life

or get a divorce and where will I go with a little daughter to my parents in the country I don't think they would be happy about that and I without an education can hardly find any work to support myself and Bonnie is pretending that nothing is happening like my friend does the only option left Nancy tossed and turned unable to sleep she got up and decided to work on the sketches for Joyce and Brian's new house in area but her notebook with the ideas was left downstairs in the living room upon going downstairs Nancy noticed

the light on in her husband's study judging by the voices coming from over there he wasn't alone she quietly approached the door are you sure A Familiar male voice asked it was Brian yes her spouse replied it will be a boy wow congratulations there was a chinking sound like glasses toast Nancy decided not to go in and stopped outside the slightly ajar door and what are you going to do with Nancy divorce Brian asked divorce might be a problem when I married her I foolishly forgot to draw up a prenup her husband admitted oh boy

yeah now she can take half of my property especially with a small child you know the court always sides with the mother in these cases do you think she'll Sue she's a simple rustic Woman Brian asked do not underestimate her after so many years with her I still don't know what's going on inside her head just like I didn't understand what's inside of you thought Nancy then you only have one way out said Brian thoughtfully what do you mean his interlocutor didn't understand well think about it yourself you have a new favorite woman who carries

under her heart a long awaited EG and you can't divorce a wife who only gave birth to a daughter Nancy clamped her mouth with both hands are they really saying what I think they're saying she blurted out an accident asked Patrick yes that would be perfect I'll give Bonnie to her grandmother to raise the clinking of glasses sounded again Nancy became afraid what if they come out of the office right now see me realize that I heard everything what will my husband do to me then kill me on the spot while our daughter sleeps upstairs

listen why don't we go to my place Brian's voice suddenly sounded my partner brought me such a whiskey the other day there probably only 10 bottles of it left in the world let's go luckily Nancy hidden the shadow of the stairs just in time and they didn't notice her once the men closed the door behind them she raced upstairs to her daughter's room what should I do where should I go should she call her parents but how can they help Nancy bitterly thought they probably wouldn't believe their beloved son-in-law could do such a thing shall

I call the police but I don't have any evidence only an overheard conversation shall I call Joyce she's probably asleep by now but can she help me what if Brian threatened her to I need to run get out of here as quickly as possible how much time do I have while Patrick and Brian drink their whiskey and plan an hour or two once they finish their drinks Patrick will have made his decision and I won't have time to think if I'm going to run away it has to be now there was no time to think

Nancy quickly changed into a t-shirt jeans sneakers and a jacket the weather was warm but it was best to dress more securely she packed the necessary clothes for herself and her daughter into her backpack along with the jewelry her husband had given her and some cash unfortunately it wasn't much she didn't take her cards or her phone knowing Patrick could track them the most challenging part was getting Bonnie out of bed undressed mommy the girl asked sleepily don't worry Sunshine said Nancy slipping boots onto her feet and buttoning up her jacket we're just going for

a walk she cradled Bonnie In Her Arms the child seemed to have fallen back to sleep where to now we can't go through the settlements the guards will spot us there's only one way left the forest it starts behind our yard and will shorten the journey to the city we'll probably have to walk all night but I'm ready for that it's warm outside and the Moon is almost full large predatory beasts are unlikely to live in the forest this close to human habitation at least it's better than staying at home with a man who casually

discusses my death over a glass of whiskey Joyce was right we are just accessories to our husbands things the suitable things and when Patrick found someone more suitable someone who' bear his son he decided to get rid of the woman that he no longer needed Nancy didn't know how long she walked through the forest like this and now hour two or even more At first she didn't feel tired and kept walking Without Really seeing the path Bonnie woke up too or three times looked around in Surprise and almost immediately fell back asleep probably thinks she's

dreaming Nancy thought I wish it was so sometimes she felt as though all of this was a dream or that she had gone mad in the middle of the night fleeing home and now wandering through the woods with a Child In Her Arms she hoped that after a a while she would see in the distance the light of flashlights people dressed in reflective vests they would find her and Bonnie and take them to Patrick from afar Nancy would see him crying and then he would rush to them and hold them tight he take his daughter

in his arms shower her with kisses then kiss Nancy and confess his love for them saying he couldn't live without them did he ever say that he loved me Nancy suddenly wondered or Bonnie she had already struggled to shuffle her feet and kept trying to remember whether Patrick at least once in 5 years of life together had said that he loves her now it seemed that nothing in the world was more important than that fatigue hit her abruptly she had been walking but upon spotting a thick fallen tree she realized she couldn't take another step

Nancy sat on it adjusting her sleeping daughter comfortably on her lap that's when she noticed her intense thirst in her haste she hadn't thought to bring along even a bottle of water or a pack of Bonnie's favorite cookies the forest was quiet devoid of the sounds Nancy anticipated she thought that she was walking along the highway leading into town she expected to hear the occasional cars passing by even at this late hour but it was eerily silent suddenly Nancy heard a solitary nightbird song and leaves rustling in the trees overhead she was suddenly seized with

fear why had she run into the forest at night with her child even if she was in danger Patrick wouldn't likely harm her at this moment he would probably arrive home late drunk go to bed and head to work in the morning this would give Nancy the entire day to think she could quietly gather their belongings with Bonnie take a taxi to the city or ask Joy for a ride she could withdraw all her money get a new SIM card the money she had would last for a considerable time she could move to another city

rent an apartment and live there with her daughter for a while why had she acted so rashly the answer was clear she had acted out of fear Nancy stood up realizing she was lost but she had to keep moving maybe she was far from the highway or perhaps there were simply no cars at this hour regardless she couldn't just stand there how soon would Patrick realize they were gone time was her only Advantage the forest was gradually starting to lighten when Nancy spotted the outline of a forest house in the distance as she approached she

surmised that the house had been vacant for quite some time in the pre-dawn Twilight the dwelling appeared ancient and gloomy but none of this mattered to Nancy anymore all she desired was a bed a bench or even just a wooden floor any flat surface where she could lie down she moved her legs mechanically her eyes glazed over and Bonnie In Her Arms felt 10 times heavier than usual the backpack straps cut heavily into her shoulders Nancy tried to open the door but it was locked she mastered all her strength and tried again to no avail

all right she decided I'll just rest here without even removing her her backpack she sat down on the porch next to the door held her daughter closer and closed her eyes Nancy didn't quite comprehend what transpired next whether it was a dream or reality was unclear she heard a male voice asking something and trying to wake her up then she was practically lifted and carried into the house she held on to Bonnie tightly fearing to drop her then she felt a sudden lightness as someone removed her backpack the last thing she could vaguely recall was

being laid on something soft with the scent of dry grass she checked to ensure Bonnie was beside her before finally succumbing to sleep it's called a mitten a mitten you wear it on your hand to keep it warm not now of course it's summer and you don't need them but when winter comes we'll need mittens the voice was clearly a man's and an unfamiliar one Nancy gradually regained Consciousness she realized she was lying with her eyes closed in an unknown room not at home the bed beneath her was narrow and hard the events of the

previous night slowly started to resurface in her memory there she was restlessly tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep lights and voices echoed from behind her husband's study door the Dark Forest faintly illuminated by the Moonlight flickering through the foliage Bonnie Nancy abruptly sat up on the bed and opened her eyes finally your mother is awake too the same male voice said her daughter was sitting on the floor a large furry Brown knitted Mitten in her hands which she was examining Bonnie noticed her mother watching her and smiled happily beside her daughter sat a

strange man he was tall and Broad shouldered with light red hair a dark red beard and green eyes are you awake he asked cheerfully we've been waiting light was streaming through the window Nancy realized she must have slept for quite some time what time is it she asked almost 2: p.m. your daughter has been awake for a while or is she not a daughter he furrowed his brow daughter n an y confirmed she surveyed her surroundings they appeared to be inside the house they had sought shelter in the previous day the walls were made of

wooden logs the furniture was simple and the entire space was a single room to the left of the front door were Nails on which various large dark jackets hung it was apparent these belonged to the stranger Nancy spotted her jacket and her daughters among them too to the right was the kitchen followed by a dining table and chairs the bed she was currently lying on and another table with wooden figures scattered on it who are you Nancy asked the stranger sighed you are an interesting woman you arrive at my Hut in the middle of the

forest with a small child in your arms Before Sunrise you faint sleep for half a day and when you wake your first action is to inquire about my identity and I am just a recluse living my own life Nancy sighed I sorry I've had a rough night I'm Nancy and this is my daughter Bonnie my name is Tyler said the man in a friendly voice nice to meet you are you a Woodsman or something I just live in the forest no one appointed me to this role and I don't receive a salary Nancy shifted her

legs suddenly aware of aches and pains throughout her body her neck back and shins she began to massage her neck gently do you live in the woods all alone Tyler smiled and affirmed it with nodding that's strange Nancy said quietly to herself H it says the woman who ran all night through the forest with a Child In Her Arms he retorted Nancy turned serious do you know how long I was walking it's not difficult to guess you are as you might say deep in the woods it's at least a 2-hour walk from here to any

road your shoes and the way you passed out on the porch Tell Me That by the way would you like to wash up and eat Nancy nodded letun show you everything Nancy hesitated glancing back at her daughter she'll be all right SED the housem catching her look we've been playing for hours and I fed her thank you Nancy replied she was still confused about where she was and who this man was but she knew she needed to regain her senses first there were a few more out buildings behind the house a rustic toilet Tyler pointed

out I hope you know how to use one of these I do I grew up in the country she responded he glanced at her wow you can't tell he replied then Contin continued that's a summer shower the water's slightly warm but you can wash up for hot water you'll need to heat the saer he looked around I think that's it thank you Nancy replied when she finished and returned to the house she saw Bonnie on the bed playing with wooden figures Nancy worried her daughter might get a splinter came closer and picked up one of

the toys her fears were unfounded the Figures were well polished and had a pleasant scent of freshwood gorgeous said Nancy examining the wooden bird with skillfully carved feathers how long have you been doing this 3 years Shrugged Tyler sit down at the table you need to eat well once Nancy ensured her daughter was securely seated and unlikely to fall she joined Tyler at the table he served her a large bowl of soup that emitted an appetizing Aroma it appeared to be a mushroom soup with chicken and noodles I can't eat that much she protested Tyler

grinned it only seems so you just start he placed a wicker bread box on the table filled with flatbread is that homemade too Nancy asked everything here is homemade the house owner replied somewhat indignantly he was right Nancy finished the soup and the flatbread more he asked she shook her head leaning back in her chair it was just food but she felt calm for the first time since last night as if a knot inside her had finally been untied thank you Tyler she said looking the man in the eye I don't know what led me

to your house but I do know that without you we wouldn't have survived oh come on who wouldn't help in a situation like this you should tell me from whom you were running from what kind of monster made you think it was a good idea to dash through the woods at night with a baby in your arms Nancy brushed away a tear that had suddenly appeared with her sleeve my husband usually Nancy was not known for being overly trusting but now she herself didn't know what was wrong whether it was the stress taking a toll

she was just too tired to keep everything bottled up or the man with kind green eyes sitting across from her inspired such immense trust she had told him everything her life story especially in detail from the moment of the first meeting with Patrick to the moment She fainted on the porch of his Forest house Tyler listened attentively frowned sighed and only occasionally asked clarifying questions when Nancy finished he asked and what was your plan survive and then we'll see well you survived the first night relatively well what's next I don't know I suppose we should

get to town then we can go to my parents house do you think your husband will be looking for you and your daughter of course where's the first place he's going to go to my parents Nancy said and rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly I don't know we'll just need to get lost in the city hopefully considering his money and connections Nancy realized that Patrick could quickly find them if he wanted to I see you can stay here if you like said Tyler suddenly here yes I doubt it would occur to him that you

were in the woods with a stranger yeah the woman said and looked intently at Tyler why don't you tell me about yourself well I'm just a very normal man normal men of your age don't live in the woods how old do you think I am 30 31 I think Nancy said you've lived through just as many strange events as I have he grinned let's discuss it later you need to rest for the first 3 days Nancy and her daughter mostly slept and ate Nancy was anxious constantly expecting her husband to walk through the door gradually

she began to calm down it seemed seemed one could get used to anything even her life transitioning from living in a huge house to a cabin in the woods Nancy was also surprised by her daughter's calm acceptance perhaps Bonnie was too young to comprehend the situation fully or maybe she was not surprised by her father's absence as she saw him rarely despite not living in the village for many years Nancy found it easy to adapt to this lifestyle she was Contin ually amazed at how Tyler managed to live comfortably in the simple Forest house seemingly

needing little she was particularly curious about the source of drinking water the SAA and shower needed a lot of water too there's a nearby River the Master of the House explained I have a water pipe running from there we are drinking river water Nancy asked in horror don't take me for a lunatic Tyler took offence see that shf there is an automatic filtration station inside it's all safe Tyler also maintained a vegetable garden growing almost all the vegetables and berries that the climate allowed he bought meat in the city and stored it in the basement

out of curiosity Nancy ventured down there and found it to be as cold as a large freezer even in summer there's also additional room Tyler said where I store all sorts of pickles and jams wow what do you buy besides meat Nancy asked cereal pasta flour occasionally canned goods vitamins and so on he replied and how do you get to the city Tyler gestured vaguely to the side there's a barely visible path that starts just a bit further down if you don't know it's there you won't see it follow it for 2 hours and you'll

reach the village I have an arrangement with one of the locals who keeps my car in his garage I use it to get to the city so you have to carry what you buy for 2 hours why not I'm healthy and exercise is good for me I also get meat milk eggs sour cream and cottage cheese from the locals how often do you go out I limit my trips to once every 2 or 3 months in the winter I stay here all the time there's no pleasure in Walking for 2 hours in the cold especially

with a load in the summer I visit the village more often maybe even once a week how do you keep yourself entertained especially in the winter Tyler smiled well you saw I make figurines out of wood you're about to be very surprised but we have internet here internet yes no civilization can hide from it look at what I'm about to show you he pulled out a laptop a cell phone and a tablet from the closet although Nancy wasn't particularly techsavvy she recognized the devices from what her husband used and had a rough idea of how

much they cost the devices Tyler was showing her were clearly not cheap the image of the mysterious Forest hermit was getting more intriguing he clearly has or at least had a lot of money thought Nancy who is he hiding from from Criminal friends she resolved to find out despite the kindness Tyler had shown her and Bonnie she would feel more at ease knowing more about him gradually Nancy found herself taking on a share of the daily chores she cooked washed dishes cleaned the house watered the vegetable garden and did laundry after a while she realized

they were living like a real family you work very hard Tyler who had just returned from another trip to the Village told Nancy with a Brown Nancy was outside hanging laundry while Bonnie played with wooden figurines nearby Bonnie had grown fond of them and Tyler carved her a new one every few days actually we're living at your place Nancy responded we have housing food entertainment thanks to you entertainment Tyler snorted your tablet has an excellent Library I've never read so much and with such pleasure Nancy admitted I'm glad you found an interesting occupation in this

Wilderness Tyler said and don't worry about money and other things even if 100 more mothers with children came to me I could provide and feed them all really Nancy asked I knew you were Rich Tyler frowned as if he had said something unnecessary you're not poor either my husband is not poor Nancy corrected him sighing Tyler looked at her strangely let's sit on the porch tonight after Bonnie falls asleep you'll see how beautiful the evening is in the forest Nancy thought for a moment I saw some homemade lure in your Cellar I can't hide anything

from you Nancy wasn't a fan of drinking but she decided that the lure would be her Ally today helping her get Tyler to open up in the evening once Bonnie was asleep they quietly slipped outside and sat on the porch staring silently into the distance initially Nancy couldn't make sense of anything then she began to notice the fading colors of the day the shifting shadows and the gradual silencing of the daytime sounds of birds and insects she became aware of the night sounds growing more audible it's beautiful Nancy remarked quietly yes Tyler replied in an

equally soft tone I've seen it countless times but I never Tire of it Nancy smiled stealing a glance at him at first he had seemed strange to her an unkempt towering Burly Forester with a thick red beard and a grim sense of humor but the more they interacted the more she realized how deep and sensitive Tyler was he seemed well educated and clearly knew more than he let on Nancy took out the glasses she had brought from the kitchen and poured a little bit of PE lure into each a fru erose filled the air to

our Strange acquaintance said Nancy holding out a glass to Tyler he smiled took the glass and clinked it lightly with NY to our Strange acquaintance the drink was moderately sweet but potent Nancy took a small Sip and tried not to Grimace very tasty she said Tyler nodded so let me clarify your plan was to get me drunk and uncover my terrible pass wasn't it yes Nancy admitted with a shy smile fine I'll tell you I'd appreciate it Tyler sighed and ruffled his hair how does he cut his hair Nancy suddenly wondered does he go to

the city or do it himself you guessed right Tyler began I come from a wealthy family Nancy smiled a very wealthy family he added grimacing as as if the fact were unpleasant and I'm not from around here I was born on the other side of the country wow yes and my family was one of the most influential in that city is that related to Crime you guess well well that would explain a lot the man SED long story short yes my father is a serious criminal mastermind and a few other close relatives are too uncles

cousins you name it have you always known about this Nancy asked not exactly he replied when I was young my mom would tell me and my brother that my dad was just away on business wait you have a brother older or younger I had a brother he was older than me but only by an hour we are twins Nancy frowned but didn't say anything he continued as teenagers we began to understand our family's business what our father uncles and older cousins were involved in I was horrified but my brother enjoyed it in a way I

was fortunate since he was technically older my father saw my brother as his successor I wasn't initially attracted to the family business when we came of age my father began to teach us his business as time went on my brother became more involved in all of this I increasingly felt the need to remove him from the situation and Escape together despite my attempts to persuade him he wouldn't listen he spoke of the inevitability of evil and that we had to keep control and that if we didn't others would come along who would be worse then

he was gone he concluded I'm very sorry for your loss it wasn't unexpected Ed something like this was bound to occur at some point when he passed away my father and I went to see him I looked at his face and it reminded me of his Youthful Expression from our childhood it was like staring at the young boy I'd known my whole life who was always there for me but now he was gone forever how did you get over it I don't know if I did it was also hard for my parents my father appeared

de devastated he then told me I had to fill my Elder brother's shoes oh my goodness that's when I left you see me now in a more or less sane state but then I just wanted to hide from the world did it work yes until you started knocking on my door early one summer morning Nancy laughed well I'm sorry I'm Overjoyed things turned out the way they did I haven't felt so C har and alive in years me too said Nancy suddenly and then changed the topic I need to go to town I want to

contact my parents and assure them I'm okay they must be worried okay we'll go could someone from your Village Drive me to town I'd like you to stay with Bonnie are you sure yes don't worry I'll be careful okay I'll speak to the man who keeps the car after several weeks in the woods the sight of so many people was odd to Nancy the noise started to give her a headache with a heavy heart she dialed her parents number hello her father's voice came through the receiver Dad it's me Nancy answered there was a pause

on the line Nancy her father said hesitantly oh my God where are you what's wrong with you Patrick came to see us he said you and Bonnie disappeared we're fine daddy where are you Nancy hesitated unsure whether to reveal everything we're with good people Dad don't worry we're fine did you have a good reason for doing this yes can I tell your mom you called she's at the store right now but she'll be back soon tell her Daddy so she wouldn't worry okay will we see you she sure but I don't know when yet oh

my daughter I was so worried about you for the first time her father was talking to his daughter alone without his wife I never liked your Patrick but I never said anything against him because your mother was just happy and when he came the last time he looked so excited and nervous I became frightened for you Nancy listened to her father Goosebumps running down her back it's all right now daddy she said don't worry I'll sort everything out okay daughter if you need anything you can always come to me thanks Dad I have to go

now but I'll call you again soon give my granddaughter a kiss for me okay after her conversation with her father Nancy felt both calmer and more anxious she was comforted by her father's kind voice and the knowledge of his support then she dialed another number hi Nancy said not really expecting to be recognized Nancy Joyce sounded shocked you're alive thank God her relief was really genuine yes I'm alive Nancy confirmed I've already imagined the worst SED Joyce what happened can we meet do you need help money Nancy smiled appreciating Joy's is concern and they arranged

to meet in a week Nancy herself didn't know how the meeting with Joyce would help she just realized she wanted to see her friend although she and Bonnie were safe with Tyler for now she knew it couldn't last forever she thought about this a lot the only option seemed to be to run away so far that her husband wouldn't find her in her daughter but was that even possible nevertheless she needed money for that all her Reflections led to the conclusion that it was best to stay here with Tyler as long as possible Nancy didn't

want to admit it but she desired to stay for other reasons as well she began to realize the vast differences between Patrick and Tyler and most importantly how different her feelings were for these two men Patrick had always been a stranger to her looking at him she wondered what he was thinking what emotions he had Tyler was entirely different his warmth was palpable she could feel it with every fiber of her being Bonnie understood this as well she trusted him easily from day one Nancy also trusted him unconditionally and did not want to leave him

are you going to the city again Tyler asked with concern when Nancy told him her plans I want to talk to my friend she might give some advice would you mind looking after Bonnie again he frowned of course not we had a great time last time Bonnie turned her gaze to Tyler and smiled to him showing her small white teeth the man smiled back and playfully tickled her Bonnie laughed so freely that Nancy felt a wave of warmth I'm worried about you Tyler said you've been lucky once but what if your father or friend have

already told everything to Patrick it could be a trap they wouldn't do that okay just be careful they met Joyce at a small inconspicuous Cafe on the outskirts of town her friend's expensive clothes made her Stand Out significantly thankfully there were hardly any customers at this time of day darling Joyce exclaimed pulling her friend tightly against her I'm so happy to see you Nancy replied as they sat down at the table Nancy noticed that Joyce was trying to discreetly wipe away her tears why are you so moved Nancy asked in surprise I thought you had

died Joyce admitted why did you think so her friend looked up at Nancy we had a conversation with Brian the night you and Bonnie disappeared Nancy froze tell me she said Joyce started to crumple a paper napkin her hands shaking late one night when my son and I were asleep Brian and your husband came in they sat downstairs quietly at first then their laughter grew louder as they discussed something I couldn't hear their conversation I wish I had it lasted until morning I hadn't slept much and I had a headache I lost my temper and

confronted my husband I told him we had a small child and I wouldn't tolerate such behavior in our home Joyce paused looking up at her friend with her large Blue eyes then Brian grabbed my throat and pinned me against the wall she continued and told me I was lucky he said your best friend is about to leave for the other world and I'm tolerating you for now Nancy shivered feeling a Tremor run through her Joyce exhaled sharply you can't imagine how scared I was then she said I hoped it was a drunken joke I wanted

to call you but I couldn't Brian was next to to me and then Patrick called him and told him that you were missing I didn't know what to think of course I wanted to hope that you somehow found out about everything and you ran away that I also couldn't stop thinking that Patrick had done something to you Joyce began to cry it's all right Nancy said firmly I managed to find out about my husband's plans we ran away a good man took us in we are safe I don't know what to do next though though

Joyce calmed down raised her head to say something and suddenly gasped oh no he's been following me I'm sorry I didn't know Nancy looked back Brian and Patrick were approaching them she began to think quickly even surprising herself run Nancy shouted grabbing her friend's hand through the second door quickly Joyce snapped out of her days and ran with Nancy towards the exit opposite the one their husbands had just entered they sprinted inside and jumped into Joyce's car we have to get them off our backs the woman exclaimed Nancy spotted Brian and Patrick sprinting towards their

own car where are we going she asked in Terror wek leave the city via the highway Joyce answered confidently then we'll lose them and figure out our next steps we just need to buy some time they drove surprised inly fast but Nancy noticed they were being followed by a car driven by Brian Brian seldom drives himself Joyce noted and I've taken extreme driving courses before we can outrun them Nancy desperately wanted to believe this she was terrified of what Patrick might do if they were caught would he kill her on the spot kidnap her and

lock her in a basement would he find out where Bonnie was and hurt Tyler too she gripped the seat belt so tightly it would leave marks on her hands Joyce was recklessly driving on the highway overtaking cutting off and even using the oncoming Lane despite the initial caution Brian began to follow suit when he realized they were falling behind in the first moment Nancy could barely comprehend what was happening she saw a massive truck slowing down in the rear view mirror and something seemed to change in the line of vehicles oh my God Joyce exclaimed

in horror pulling over and stopping 2 weeks after the funeral as Nancy was packing her belongings there was a knock at the door come in she called out as expected it was Joyce and Tony Nancy and her friend hadn't seen much of each other in the past two weeks there was too much to handle almost packed already Yes replied Nancy I mostly took personal items and things that Bonnie liked are you sure you're going to give up the inheritance Patrick had parents and a brother they can inherit everything but Bonnie is still his daughter Joyce

said Nancy grinned he never considered her his heis we don't need his money Joyce smiled but I won't give up mine Tony and I need it Nancy came closer and took her hand of course you shouldn't refuse Brian's inheritance especially after what you've told me about Brian all these years Joyce looked away I want to forget it as soon as possible Nancy hugged her they stood like that for a few seconds then broke the Embrace are you going to live in this house Nancy asked Joyce wrinkled her nose and shook her head I grew to

hate it during the short time I lived here I'm now looking for a suitable apartment in the city once my son and I move in I'll put this house on the market although with the expensive goury finish it's unlikely to sell quickly Nancy laughed promise me Youk become an Interior Designer Joyce said you have a talent for it and someday you'll furnish my new house you'll have to wait a long time I'm in no hurry okay Nancy promised with a laugh I should have gone to school a long time ago tyer won't be able to

take care of Bonnie and me for the rest of his life actually he can Joyce reasonably noted and it seems like he even wants to but you're right learning Independence is important I'm thinking of returning to my university too at that moment a car honked in the street your Mr Wright has arrived Joyce remarked Nancy blushed he's not mine she replied but Joyce only smiled in response it's strange to think that we won't be living in the forest Nancy said thoughtfully sitting in a car she glanced at her daughter peacefully sleeping in the back seat

I think we'll be more comfortable in a normal house Tyler said with a smile are you ready Nancy asked cautiously the man momentarily glanced away from the road met her eyes and nodded I am I now think that maybe I stayed in that Forest so long because I was waiting for you to come to me Nancy smiled I'm happy that you've waited me too