Doris went to take the steps up to the palace, but something stopped her. It felt as if she hit an invisible wall and her feet didn’t want to take her any further.

“What are you doing?” Cordelia mumbled deep inside her. She sounded as if she was taking a nap.

“I—“ Doris backed away from the palace. The guards at the top of the steps stared at her curiously, perhaps they thought she had lost her mind. She turned and quickly walked down the path that led to the woods by the palace. Fresh air, she needed fresh air.

“Where are you going? You just sobbed for two hours,...