
7 months ago
As Emily sits in the icy water, her body trembling from the cold, the maid approaches with an air of impatience. Without a word, she begins to roughly run her fingers through Emily’s long, red-gold hair. The cold water makes the strands stick to Emily’s scalp, but the maid shows no care for the discomfort, yanking at knots with a harshness that brings a sharp sting. Emily winces but remains silent, her eyes cast down, her breath shallow. The maid’s movements are brisk and uncaring, as though the beauty of Emily’s hair is nothing more than an inconvenient task to be handled. The water grows colder with each passing moment, and Emily feels the weight of the chill seep deeper into her bones, but she endures. Her thoughts wander, seeking a sense of calm amid the humiliating treatment. There is no tenderness, no grace, just the unfeeling hands pulling at her hair, each tug a reminder of how far from home she truly is.