I woke up with a yawn and stretched my arms upward, still not ready to open my eyes and face the day. My arms fell heavily on my duck feather duvet, the air coming out of it with the movement, and I opened my eyes at last. It was quite late in the morning, for my standards at least, with the sun already having come out. I pushed the duvet off my body and got up, immediately shivering.

My apartment was small and during the winter it got cold, as I only had a wood stove to heat it up. I leaned over to look at myself in the mirror that rested above my nightstand. I was too thin for my liking, but life offered little luxuries nowadays and this was the best I could do. I washed my face with water I had boiled the previous night, went to relieve myself, and then got dressed. I chose to put on thick leather pants and an off-white shirt. Over it, I put on a leather vest, and I finished off my outfit with a thick wool cloak.

I could hear the wind howling outside and, seeing the clouds that came from the mountains, I guessed it would snow later. With a heavy exhale, I took my violin and got out of my small apartment.

The building I was living in had about six apartments, two on each floor. On the ground floor were two shops on either side of the front door. On the left was a bakery that made the whole building smell like fresh pastries and on the right a quaint little nursery. Hurriedly, I stepped into the bakery, taking a strawberry jam-filled pastry for breakfast, and then went to the nursery.

"Good morning, Lys," I greeted the owner of the shop and the whole building.

"Iseul," the middle-aged woman responded as she watered one of her new plants. "Good morning to you too, sweetheart," she went on and set down the watering can.

"Here, this month's rent," I said, handing over most of this month's income, which I had managed to get together last night.

"Oh, thank you. But you know I could have waited a couple more days if money is short this month," she told me and tucked back a graying strand of her brown hair.

"It's alright," I replied and took a bite from the pastry I had bought moments ago.

"That looks absolutely delicious. Mona outdid herself again," Lys muttered, eyeing the pastry in my hand.

"That she did," I agreed, thinking of the young baker next door. She always came up with new recipes that got the whole city talking about her creations.

"Will you be playing at the square again?" Lys went on while going behind the counter to put the money in the register and note down my name as settled. I nodded and watched as she leaned down and took out a tulle pouch. "Here, I dried some roses for you to warm you up. They're for tea. You can come over later tonight for a cup if you find the time."

I took the pouch from her and thanked her, promising to come back for a cup of tea later that same day, and I left. The city square was about twenty minutes away by foot and I needed to get there early in order to make some profit.

The wind was penetrating and cold and it made the clouds coming from the mountains come down faster. But by the time I reached the center, I couldn't see the sun any longer and I prayed to myself that it wouldn't snow so soon. I took out my violin and left the violin case open for anyone passing by who would want to tip me.

My eyes moved over the white wood and the peach roses that had been painted on my instrument and I started playing. My fingers were cold as they moved over the strings at the neck of my violin, but they would warm up soon enough with the way I was playing.

I opened my eyes as the first song came to an end. Some people had gathered around me, a couple standing further back but listening. There were some coins left in my violin case; more than I had expected. My breath created small clouds with each exhale and as I started up the second song, I noticed a thick snowflake falling right before me. Others must have noticed it as well, as some people from the crowd started walking away.

I kept playing. My fingers could still move so I wasn't done with my performance yet. The second song ended, and more snow started falling. The huge clock tower by the edge of the square told me it was a little more than one hour until noon. I found myself praying the snowfall wouldn't get heavier and I could play until then.

The third song was a more tragic melody. As with most songs that I played this was also one of my compositions, but it was newer than the previous two I had played. At some point as I played it my eyes closed, the melody taking over my whole self. By the time I reached the final notes, my wrist, as my hand that held onto the bow, were in pure agony.

I finished it and looked back at the clock tower. One hour away from noon. I lowered my gaze and my eyes met young green eyes. A teenager stood before me, with reddish hair and freckles on most of their face. They had a leather strap of fabric on their neck and multiple love-marks traced their skin around it. I lowered my violin as the young person stepped closer.

They extended a gloved hand and I stared at the things they offered. A banknote worth five hundred silver coins and a piece of paper. Mechanically, I took what they offered, gratitude falling from my lips. The money would be enough to pay my rent for the next four months.

I looked up, snapping out of my daze, and searched for the teenager. But they were already gone, having faded into the fast-moving crowd. I looked back down at my hand once again and brought up the piece of paper the teenager had given me. An address I was not familiar with was written on it as well as a small circle with a curved sword inside it, but no name. I frowned and once again looked up and through the crowd.

I gave up on my search as I realized that the snow had started to set on the red-brown tiled roofs. Without wanting the inside of my violin case -or my violin- to get wet I decided to leave. I put my instrument away after storing the banknote and the piece of paper on the inside pocket of my cloak. Just before closing my violin case, I took a handful of the iron and bronze coins from it and placed them in the outer pocket of my cloak.

With the intention of going back to my apartment, I left the town square. On my way back, I stopped by the market and bought a few fruits and vegetables, and some veal meat and bones. As I stepped into my apartment, I hung my coat by the door, took off my boots, and put what I had bought on the small counter of my kitchen. I lit the stove on, trying to warm up the house, as I could still see my breath every time I exhaled. I rubbed my hands together to warm them up and then I cut some carrots, potatoes, and celery into small pieces. I put the veal bones and some water in a big pot and placed it on the stove. I also placed on the stove a smaller pot that only had water.

At the same time, I sizzled the few pieces of meat I had gotten in a third pot. My stove wasn't big, but it was big enough to hold these three pots and I wasn't sure how long the fire would last. So, I needed to prepare everything at the same time. On the biggest pot, I fixed up some bone broth. I would use the water from the small pot for my shower. As it came to a boil, I poured it into a big can and repeated the process to get enough warm water. In the third pot, when the meat seemed cooked enough, I added water and the vegetables, as well as salt, white pepper, and garlic. I left both the soup and the bone broth on the stove and went to shower.

By the time I was done, the soup and the broth were ready, so I took them off the stove. With my hair being wet, I chose to eat while sitting on the floor right before my stove that was still emanating heat. I filled a bowl with enough food to keep me satiated until nightfall and set music sheets before me on the floor.

I ate until my hair was completely dry and the broth had cooled down enough to pour it into jars. I lived on the second floor, but the large windowsill provided enough space to keep jars outside in the winter. So, when the broth cooled down enough to not have the glass damaged, I would put the jars outside to freeze them. This way I would have enough bone broth to last me the whole winter.

With almost everything done, I diverted all my attention to my music sheets, ready to finish writing another song. When it started getting darker outside, I stood up, placed the broth outside my window, and got ready to go down to Lys.

The snow had clung to almost every surface, creating a thick layer of white that reached up to my ankles. And judging by the clouds coming from the mountains more was to come. I wouldn't be able to go to the square for the next week but to be honest, I wouldn't be needing the extra money anyway.

I opened the door of the nursery, the bell by the door letting Lys know I had arrived. Her white cat that had been hiding in the morning when I had come, came out to greet me and I reached down to pet it.

"Iseul, good evening," Lys called out from the other room from where I could hear her boiling water. "How was the square this morning?" she asked me.

"It was fine... though something weird happened..." I told her, going into the other room and seeing her. She looked at me from over her shoulder, soft brown eyes falling on me with mild concern.

I explained to her the whole incident with the teenager and waited to hear her thoughts. Lys Gimeni was a native Aiteallian that I had met about ten days after I had moved to Silva, almost eleven months ago. She was a cunning woman who loved her quiet life and felt no need for marriage or children. I watched her as she skeptically took a long sip from the spearmint tea she had prepared and let out a hum. Then, at last, she clicked her tongue.

"Do you have the piece of paper you were given?" she asked, setting down the intricately painted cup.

I frowned and reached down into the inside pocket of my cloak and was happy to find out that I hadn't emptied it. I handed the piece of paper to her and watched her study it while drinking some tea. Her frown only got darker the more she looked at it and then finally she looked up with concern written on her face.

"Iseul..." she started, "don't ever go to this place."

"Why not?" I couldn't help but ask. She gave me a look of disapproval.

"Promise me you won't go, and I'll tell you why you shouldn't go," Lys replied.

I huffed at her in annoyance and I reached out to take the paper from before her. If she wasn't going to tell me without demanding a promise, then I could ask someone else. She wasn't the only person I knew in this city. As my fingers grazed the paper, she placed her hand over mine.

"Fine, I'll tell you, but..." she struggled to find the right words and shook her head, dismissing whatever she had thought. "I don't know what the circle means but that address leads to a bar that sits by the other side of the city. Iseul," she let out a heavy exhale, "it's one of the most dangerous places in Aiteall. Queen Kenna would have shut it down if only the man who owned it wasn't so damn powerful."

My eyebrows came together in question. "Why would a teenager hand me this address?"

Lys shrugged. "They must have been told by someone else to give it to you. Someone who handily gives a five-hundred silver coins worth banknote to a stranger. This bar is filled with shady people. You don't want to get mixed with them. I'd suggest you don't go to the square for the next couple of days... or weeks."

"I wasn't really planning on it..." I muttered while looking outside at the snow that once again was falling from the sky. "You don't have to worry about me, Lys."

"That's impossible, sweetheart," she said quickly. Her hand was still over mine and gave me a small squeeze before letting me go. I took the piece of paper, putting it back into the pocket of my cloak and as I turned back to her my gaze froze.

"Is that... is that a peach rose?" I asked her, looking over her head at the little potted plant that was sitting on the rack by her register. She looked over her shoulder and smiled.

"It arrived this afternoon. Isn't it beautiful?" she asked as I had already risen up to my feet and was walking up to it. I leaned down and smelled the one rose that had bloomed in winter.

"Peach roses were our favorite..." I said under my breath as its sweet smell invaded my nostrils.

"Our?" Lys asked softly and I pulled away from the plant.

"It's beautiful," I answered her previous question, my voice cracking a little despite my efforts to hide it. Something overtook Lys's expression and she got to her feet.

"You can have it," she told me. "I won't charge you."

"I couldn't-"

She stopped me with the raise of one hand and then dismissed my argument. "I insist. Take it and take good care of it."

I reached out and took the potted plant, knowing that there was no arguing with Lys when she used that tone. I placed the plant on the table right by my empty teacup and put on my cloak. Then I took hold of the rose again.

"Thank you for the tea, Lys... thank you," I told her.

"No worries, sweetheart," she replied as she took the empty teacups, ready to go clean them up.

I went back upstairs to my apartment. I placed the pot on my dresser, close to the window by my bed where it would get sunlight, and then started cleaning up. I cleaned all the cooking pots I had used, as well as my bowl and spoon. I swept the wooden floor and finally, I changed into a nightgown and got into bed.

It was late. I wasn't sure what the exact time was, but darkness had swallowed the whole city of Silva, and my body was starting to give out. I grabbed something sweet and small to eat, some sort of biscuit Mona had made, and then jumped into bed.

I twisted and turned a little and when sleep refused to take me over, I huffed and turned on my back. Looking up at the ceiling. I rubbed my eyes and then shifted my gaze to the little potted plant on my dresser. I could barely make it out, but I could smell it even from a distance.

It looked so similar to the roses that were painted on my violin. So similar to the rose Emmeline had given to me after our first kiss. So similar to the roses on my shoulder blades...

Τears filled up my eyes and I reached for the chain that hung around my neck. I sat up in my bed, pulling the necklace that rested against my heart, always being hidden from plain sight. I stared at the ring I had attached to the chain. At my betrothal ring.

I looked at the light blue gemstone that reminded me so painfully much of her beautiful eyes. And the peachy pink smaller gemstones that reminded me of the light color of her lips. Her giggle echoed in my memories and a sob shook my body. Her giggle would forever be my favorite sound.

I put on the necklace again, tears still streaming down my face, and got under my duvet while shaking with sobs. My hair, a mess of dark brown mostly straight strands, stuck to my wet cheeks, and I wiped my face on my pillow. But tears still streamed down my face. My Emmeline.

I thought of the beach house where we wanted to go and celebrate our anniversary. In my mind, I could hear the waves crashing against the shore. I could hear Emmeline laughing and talking. What I wouldn't give to hear her talk to me again. What I wouldn't give to spend one more day with her. Have one more dance. Have one more moment.

Today was the third time I celebrated my birthday without her. Two years and three months since the attack and destruction of Rosa. Two years and three months since the last day I saw her.

I thought about the old person from the stable that sat right out of Rosa. Time will heal you. They hadn't told me that it would take this long. They hadn't told me...