Chapter 43

Chapter 43


The soft hum of the ceiling fan stirred the quiet afternoon air. Sunlight drifted lazily through the curtains, painting golden stripes across the room. The peaceful silence was only broken by the faint rustle of leaves outside the window and the distant chirp of birds.

Annabel sat by the window in a cushioned chair, a light shawl draped over her shoulders. Her fingers rested gently on her lap, a book open but unread. She wasn’t thinking about the pages in front of her—her eyes were fixed on the garden below, where a few butterflies danced from flower to flower.

It was the calmest she had felt in weeks.

Katarina stepped into the room quietly, holding a tray with sliced apples, crackers, and a glass of water. She paused when she saw Annabel staring out.

“You look better now,” she said softly.

Annabel blinked and turned slightly. “It’s quiet today.”

Katarina placed the tray on the small table beside her. “It is. I thought you might want a light snack. I can take it back if you don't want it.”

Annabel nodded. “Thank you.”

She picked up a slice of apple and chewed slowly. The taste was crisp, refreshing.

“I also brought your tea blend. Ginger and chamomile. Just let me know if you’d prefer something else,” Katarina offered.

“No, this is fine.”

After a moment, Annabel closed the book and laid it on her lap. She sipped her tea quietly, her thoughts drifting.

“Can we go to the garden?” she asked after a while.

Katarina smiled. “Of course. Let me grab a blanket in case it gets breezy.”

Soon, they were outside. The path was clear, and the guards gave a respectful distance. Annabel was seated under a tree, the blanket tucked around her legs. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air.

Katarina brought out a small radio and played soft classical music. The gentle piano notes blended into the calm atmosphere.

Annabel tilted her face toward the sun, closing her eyes.

“I used to sit like this after surgeries,” she said quietly. “When the OR felt too heavy. I’d find somewhere quiet and just listen. Breathe.”

Katarina nodded, settling beside her on the bench. “Your body remembers that peace. It’s healing now in the same way.”

They sat in silence, just listening. The music, the breeze, the soft rustle of the trees. For the first time in a while, Annabel didn’t feel like a patient. She felt like herself.

A little while later, a gentle knock on the garden gate signaled Alicia’s arrival. She walked in carrying a small canvas bag.

“I brought a few things that might help you pass the time,” she said, placing the bag on the grass. “Sketchbooks, pencils, some paints.”

Annabel looked surprised. “I haven’t drawn since i graduated.”

"You can use the knowledge to sketch something beautiful,” Alicia said with a small smile.

Annabel reached into the bag and pulled out a sketchbook. The pages were blank. Clean. Waiting.

She looked down at her hands. They trembled just a little, but she picked up a pencil anyway.

At first, her strokes were light, unsure. Then they grew more confident. A flower. A tree. The bench. Simple things. But real.

Katarina watched quietly, occasionally handing her a different pencil or adjusting the blanket when the wind picked up.

The hours passed slowly, but gently.

By the time the sun began to lower in the sky, Annabel had filled three pages. Nothing detailed—just soft outlines, shades of light and dark. But there was something freeing about it.

She looked up and saw Katarina smiling at her.

“I feel a little bit better." Annabel mumbled loud enough for herself to hear but they seemed to catch it.

“That’s why you needed this time.”

Alicia helped her back into the house as the wind grew cooler. Annabel walked without assistance this time. Slowly, but steadily.

Back in her room, fresh clothes were laid out for her. Comfortable cotton pants and a light sweater. She changed by herself and returned to sit on the bed, pulling the covers over her legs.

Dinner was brought in later. Warm rice, vegetables, and grilled fish. Simple. Nourishing. She ate quietly, appreciating the flavors more than she thought she would.

Later in the evening, Katarina came back in with a new set of sheets and began changing the bed linens while humming softly.

Annabel watched her. She wondered how Katarina just followed Raffaele’s orders without question. If the condition surrounding her being here was different, she would have really loved it if she could enjoy the mafia lifestyle.

That night, instead of staying in the next room, Katarina curled up in the armchair near the window.

“I’ll stay here tonight. Just in case you need anything.”

Annabel nodded.

The lamp beside the bed glowed dimly. Outside, the moon cast a pale light over the garden. The room was still. Safe.

Annabel shifted under the covers, letting her eyes fall shut.