Briana pulled at the fastening of her dress, which was a lattice design that rested on her chest. The fabric loosened around her petite frame, and later joined her furs and shoes on the cold wooden panels of the floor. She lowered herself into the tub, and as she did so, the suds from the bath cream she dropped into the water molded around her naked body, as she became part of the water that rested beneath them. There was warmth radiated from the water, as well as the flames that were tamed inside the hearth, that welcomed a relaxing and comfortable ambience. As she submerged the cloth into the depths of the water, soaking the fabric, and began brushing it against her skin idly, her mind drifted to the most recent of events.
The freshest, and arguably most salient, was not an event in particular, but an individual, no less. A young, handsome man that goes by the name of Tilton. From the moment she met him, to the ‘chance’ of meetings that followed afterwards, the pair had been, and continue to be, inseparable. The thought of him now, as their relationship blossomed so drastically over recent weeks, made the corners of her lips curve into a genuine, and meaningful, smile. Such an attribute had been prominent on her countenances since she had met him, and as she was to predict, she was sure that it was not leaving her anytime soon. From him, she had also become acquainted with Dernwynn, and her husband, Rue. They were most friendly with her, which had relieved her from the anxiety, given their such close relationship with Tilton and their protective stance that they held over him.
Although he was the reason for her current happiness, and her permanent state of bliss, other things were to keep her busy. Business was booming, as the days started to be longer and warmer, so she found herself assisting her Mother cater for the orders that did not seem to falter.
She continued to visit her brother in the jail, and did so discreetly, as the only one to know of the visits was Tilton. She had spoke to him of the incident, though it was not without some reluctance, as such a crime would be enough to drive, even the most vigorous and vicious of men, away. As her brother found his way into her thoughts, the dread loomed over her. She was pained the moment it happened, the moment that he was incarcerated, and every visit she had paid him since.
It was not a physical feeling, as her body did not ache from such a brutal and systematic attack that she had found the remains of, yet it remained a mental affliction. The thought…
And with that, Briana lifted herself up abruptly from the depths and wrapped the dry cloth she had left out around herself. She did not wait, nor did she hesitate, as she took herself out of the tub, so that she could avoid the darkened thoughts and memories that had begun to consume her.
