Chapter 44 The Treatment

• For the first time in a long while I had not been awoken by the nurse with her tray holding my medications or the smells of antiseptics that was always in the janitor's trolley as he rolled it through the hallway. It was all so different and very much peaceful. Seeing the manor again after so long gave a short-lived nostalgic feeling. Memories came rushing back again as I sighted the slaves wrapped up in their ragged dresses that was not enough to cover their very visible clavicles from having to eat so little all day. But unlike before, I had one of the finest rooms, Ryan made sure of that. The smell of the fine crescent wood underlined underneath my nostrils, the warmth from the scented candles with their light flickering from the late nights to dawn was just enough for a much faster healing process. I watched the skyline from the window, the nearly invisible white puffy clouds still gathering around the blue sky as the sun rose overhead. It was good to be able to breathe again. Just then, I heard a knock at the door as I turned towards it without saying anything, perhaps I didn't hear right I wanted to be sure. And then I heard it again. It could be the slaves assigned to clean the room, I thought. But I was wrong.
• “Ryan, what are you doing here?” I said as soon as I opened the door.
• “Good morning to you too Clara.”