She was beginning to feel the weight of summer. Summer meant no classes, it meant working at the magic laundry and working on the household. The Fontaine mansion wasn’t built for one person to do all the work, yet that was exactly how the household was arranged. And all of it was put on Ella Fontaine who, if her father had not remarried would be the master of the mansion.
After her shift at the magical laundry, she barely could stand on her feet. Blisters prevented her from moving quickly, and she barely could bite back her tears.
“Someday, I will find my happiness.” She whispered to herself in a weak attempt to cheer herself up, she found herself sitting down on the pavement removing a shoe to see the damage on her feet. It was worse than she imagined. And she sighed. “When will kindness repay me, mother?” She whispered to herself, surprised to see a butterfly landing before her. She decided to dry her tears and put back her shoes but got started to see she no longer was alone.
“Oh, I apologize.” She kindly smiled before offering the other a bow.
Her heart broke for the young girl before her. She could see the pain she was in and it took all her will not to audibly gasp when she saw the damage to her feet.
“No need to apologize sweetie” she said approaching her and taking a seat next to her. “I have some things that will help with the pain and the healing with the wounds if you’d like them.” Persephone offered “Don’t worry, they’re herbal remedies” she added to reassure her.
“I couldn’t leave you like this, it’s not in my nature”
A soft smile came on her lips as she noticed the woman’s concern. She wasn’t used any longer to have people worry about her. Not with the abuse she faced at home, and the tiredness that came from working each and every day. She tried to smile through the pain, as she did every day. But the sudden kindness really made her eyes sting, and she had to swallow to get rid of the choking feeling that had built up in her throat.
“I’m glad someone as kind as you blessed my day.” She could genuinely chuckle and smile now. And felt genuinely happy at the moment. “It’s been a long one.” And more work awaited her when she got home. She hoped she could manage her chores without fainting, if that were to happen she wouldn’t know how severe her punishment would be. Perhaps it would be better to rest a tiny bit, and brace the punishment for being late.
Yet, a part of her wondered. How long until she would be free?