New Chapter 3 of the mystical short story “Either My Son Or Nobody”
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THE SUN was setting, as if bestowing gifts of rays on everything around.
In late spring, there are periods when the last rays of the passing day remain for those who take the time to see them.
However, the beautiful, warm evening did not impress the woman sitting on the threshold of her house.
Children, chickens, and piglets ran around her — just a pastoral dream. But she paid no attention to anyone. Hatred was the only thing she felt now, a bitter, gnawing presence that had settled deep within her. The hatred had grown from years of toil, unacknowledged sacrifices, and dreams deferred.
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She was in her early thirties, yet the weight of her life had etched deep lines on her face, each telling a story of toil and sacrifice. Her hair, once vibrant and full of life, was now tied back in a weary bun, strands escaping to frame her face. This gave her a disheveled appearance that mirrored her inner turmoil.
Raised in a peasant family, she was always accustomed to hard work. Marrying a wealthy farmer promised a different life, but instead of relief, she was trapped in a relentless cycle of labor.
While her husband employed others to tend to the fields, she was left to manage the household alone, her days filled with the unending tasks of cooking, cleaning, and preserving the harvest. Her hands, calloused and rough, were a testament to her dedication, yet they constantly reminded her of her unfulfilled dreams.
The house around her reflected her diligence—shelves stocked with jars of preserved fruits and vegetables, herbs hanging from the rafters, and the rich aroma of smoked meats wafting through the air. It was a sanctuary of abundance, yet it felt like a prison to her. Each can of food, each meticulously prepared meal, was a silent echo of the sacrifices she had made and the dreams she had deferred.
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