1 Wounded- Part 1 (2/2)
When they were young, Daniel and Nora were sent to school like many other high families while Heidi was refrained from such privileges. Even though Helen had tried speaking to her husband about it, he was adamant about not sending the girl along with his children to study, saying it was for the best that the girl works for them than he spend on her than necessary. This led to Helen teaching the girl secretly when no one was around. Though it wasn't much, Helen taught her from what she knew, and as Heidi grew up she had noticed that the little girl's curiosity was something to be worried about. Often the little girl would be found locked in the attic with no food or with belt marks on her hands as she would have done something to displease her father.
Three years ago, when Heidi was fifteen her mother passed away after falling victim to a disease that was incurable. Helen had spent her last few weeks being bedridden, unable to move or talk much. It was the coldest winter Heidi had experienced when she lost her mother. The grief had stricken to the entire family, bringing more distance between the outsider and the family.
Not that it mattered, thought Heidi remembering her time in the Curtis household while hanging the wet-washed clothes on the string ropes. She had been saving money since her mother's death so that she could leave this house, to start a life anew.
”Good evening, Ms. Heidi,” she saw that it was none other than Howard, their family coachman.
”Good evening, Howard. How was the journey?” she asked him while wringing the cloth in her hands.
”It was a peaceful one,” he answered picking up the hay for the horse, ”I see that you have already been given work.”
After her mother, it was him that she usually spoke to in the house. He was a middle-aged man who had been serving the Curtis family for a long time before she had entered the house. His grey beard already showing the sign of his aging. He was a good man.
”Hmm. Better to finish it quicker than later,” she smiled picking up the wide empty bucket of clothes and then turned to whisper, ”I have nothing else to do here.”
”HEIDI! HEIDI!” Both Howard and Heidi heard Nora call for her.
”Looks like Ms. Nora is searching for you again,” Howard spoke looking at the walls of the house.
”Seems like it,” Heidi murmured to see Nora walk through the back door of the house.