~ Talia ~

- - - - - SIX MONTHS EARLIER - - - - -

“Hey, sweetie,” Talia said as she put down a cup of hot cocoa on an empty chair. “I made you a cup. I put extra cinnamon in yours, just how you like it,”

Talia then sat down at her usual chair with a cup of hot cocoa for herself in her hand. It was the height of winter and everything outside looked cold and dry. Like all the days before, she chose to stay in her cottage today. The closest thing she got to stepping outside was sitting in her chair and looking out...