The one left behind

Music Recommendation: 1917 - Thomas Newman

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One night, when everyone in Versailles was fast asleep, a pair of candles continued to burn brightly on the table of the first princess's room where she lay asleep. The windows had been securely closed to prevent the wind from extinguishing the light and allowing darkness to creep in. 

The peace and comfort, however, were short-lived, as Emily was abruptly jolted awake by a strike of intense pain in her heart, as though someone had seized it. A piercing cry of pain escaped her mouth as she quickly sat up, clutching her chest tightly. 

"A-ah..!" Emily whimpered, tears forming in her eyes. 

Every breath grew increasingly more difficult to draw than the one before, forcing her to take shallow, rapid breaths as the ache began to radiate from her chest. Unable to maintain her sitting position, she collapsed onto her side before drawing her knees up closer to her chest.