winter’s tragedy

—-

Ashly and Eva arrive at Jessica's house where they can see the kitten. It's sleeping by the window. Ashly knocks on the front door waiting for Jessica to answer. The doll is hidden behind her back, as a surprise she hopes Jessica would get jelous of.

The front door opens and it's Jessica "Ashly, what a surprise" Jessica smiles at Ashly noticing she is hiding something "What's that your hiding" Jessica points at Ashly's hands which are behind her. Ashly gives Eva a grinning look which Eva returns as well.

This confuses Jessica "Look I got something better than you cat" Ashly exclaims and she shows Jessica her doll "It's pretty isn't" Ashly smirks making sure Jessica sees how prideful she is of it. "Are you jelous Jessica, don't tell me because I already know you are"

Jessica looks up at Eva who is trying to no laugh "nah, I'm not jelous at all. The doll is pretty" Jessica then shuts the door making Ashly look dumb. Ashly then knocks on the door again. "Yes, who is it?" Says Jessica muffled by the door

"Open the door Jessica you know it's me" Jessica doesn't open the door, instead she walks to the living room. She taps on the glass and Ashly looks at her petting her cat "Jessic that isn't funny open up" Ashly demands which unfortunately Jessica just ignores

"Well, that went better than I thought it will" said Eva as she watches Jessica make faces at Ashly "I won't blame her, you were trying to instigate her after all" gives Ashly a pat "Well this is the best I'll get to see, let's go home Ashly" Eva holds Ashly hands but Ashly doesn't budge "Ashly, we are going home, Now!"

"No, not until she lets me in" Ashly bangs on the door "Let me in Jessica, you are definitely jelous of my doll" Jessica just watches from the window not saying a word "Ok fine" Ashly puffs up her checks and turns around huffing. A few seconds later the door opens, Jessica is holding her kitten

"Ha!" Jessica said "I knew you tried to make me jelous. That would never work on me, this cat is the best thing I have ever got" the kitten stares at Ashly yawning and curling up "Wanna hold it?" asked Jessica "I promise she doesn't bite" Jessica offers her orange kitten

"Alright" Ashly grabs the kitten with carefulness. "Wow it's soft and warm" Ashly said as she pets the kitten hearing it purr. Ashly giggles and looks up at Jessica, the kitten is resting on top of Ashly's doll "Sorry for trying to make you jelous" Ashly says in a shy tone looking down to her shoes. The kitten keeps on purring "Candy is very pretty and I want a pet too" Ashly gives Candy back to Jessica

"Alright Ashly, this was pointless in the end" Eva sighs, hoping that they would of gotten into a little fuss for much longer. Ashly turns around and agrees saying her goodbyes to Jessica as they return home

"I guess it was a bit childish of me" Ashly says "I should of never done that, I'm a meanie" Ashly sits down in the couch looking as Eva is walking up to her bedroom. Ashly hugs her doll "Sophie, I'm sorry I tried using you. I promise I'll never do it again"

In Eva's room Eva is lying down on her bed, bore out of her mind. Eva looks at her book which is on her desk. "Geez, this small town is to boring. I want to leave this place as soon as I can, I wear it" Eva looks up at the ceiling. "The guys around here are to boring, they are simply to stupid to be around"

Eva can't help but look at her window hearing muffled voices from the streets. Time passes and Eva is reading her novel, for the third time today "How can Ashly be so happy when nothing interesting is happing. I wish I was just like Ashly, oblivious to the world and only thinking of my small space."

Eva turns a page and gets a paper cut "Ah" Eva says under her breath, checking her finger which has started to bleed a bit. Eva closes her book and stands up. "Why" Eva says as she gets out of her room and finds Ashly sleeping on the couch "Ashly" Eva whispers as she shakes her

Ashly is sleeping and the front door opens "I'm back girls, sorry I took a bit longer. The market was out of fruits and I had to go to the one that's on the edge of the town" Emma enters with the bags placing them on the kitchen "So what have you girls been doing" Emma asked

"Nothing much, just Ashly and Jessica were fooling around" Eva says "Ashly tried to make her jelous with her new doll" Emma looked at Ashly who was still sleeping clutching her doll "She failed, she apologized so there's nothing to worry about"

Emma sighs "Did you encourage her?" Emma asked which Eva said no "Ashly is a kid so I shouldn't be surprised" Emma returns to the kitchens ready to prepare meal "Eva, can you help me today. I'm a bit tired and I want you to know how to cook properly"

"Why?" Eva asked "It's not like I am going to move out and marry the first boy I meet" Eva says "I'm not interested in any boy here, they are all to stupid" Emma turns to look at Eva "Don't look at me like that, you know most of them won't be great husbands"

"I know dear, but it's important to know how to cook. Just imagine if one day I'm gone for the whole day, who will cook for you and Ashly" Emma says "Cooking is an important skill for a woman to know"

"Yeah I know but…" Eva takes a deep breath "Why can't I you know study" Emma walks to Eva and hugs her "I want to do more than be a wife and mother"

"Baby, I'm sorry I didn't mean to say that" Emma gives Eva a kiss on the cheek "Neither me or your father will force you to marry. We promise, it's just that I won't be home much since I need to help out" Eva hugs her back

"Is it the harvest again" Eva asked and Emma nods "I thought you said u wouldn't participate in the harvest at all"

"I know what I said but this is different. There is less people and it wont take to long. They said it would be a few days" Emma lets go of Eva "Please learn, just the basics. Your almost a grown woman and you need to care for your sister more."

"Alright mom" Eva says as they walk to the kitchen "You think dad will be back soon?" Emma nods "Great, I need to speak to him about something" Emma grabs the vegetables and asks why "I want to ask dad if we can move out this town soon"

Emma stops in her track "Why so, sweetie? this place is nice and we aren't in any bad place" Eva starts cutting the potatoes "Mom, It's just that this place is boring, I want to move to Dyoxum, it's not to far away just a weeks travel. I heard it's nice and there's more to do there" Emma begins to think

——

In the distance on a vast grassland Oliver is traveling on his cart. He is traveling to a town to set up a small shop as a merchant. Oliver is tired but knows this place will be great for business, and as he goes over a hill he sees something that horrifies him.