The autumn afternoon was fading into a soft twilight when Valerie found herself in the library, sitting by the large bay window that overlooked the sprawling estate. The orange and gold leaves danced in the breeze, their silent fluttering against the glass like the fading echoes of a life she could never quite grasp. The world outside, bathed in the calm serenity of the season, felt far removed from the constant whirl of emotions that churned inside her. She let out a soft sigh and closed her eyes, the stillness of the room settling around her like a heavy blanket.
She hadn’t realized how long she’d been sitting there, lost in thought, until she heard the soft creak of footsteps on the marble floor. Valerie didn’t need to turn her head to know who it was. Laura, as always, was nearby. Her
