May 18th, 1865 I hear a door slam somewhere in the castle. A maid returning to her quarters, probably. Or perhaps one of the lords entering his chambers. I sit up, unable to rest. Something stirs in the back of my mind, forcing me to stay awake. I take hold of a candle, lighting it quickly. I burn my fingers on the match; it hisses and shoots out small sparks. I tread lightly out of my room, careful not to wake my mother and father. A floorboard squeaks below me, and I flinch. I listen for movement, but hear nothing. I walk through the halls of the citadel as my candle flickers light onto the stone walls. Cool air blows in from one of the many balconies scattered around the palace. One of the servants must have forgotten to close it. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. My light sputters, barely illuminating in front of me. I suddenly drop the candle; hot wax has touched my finger. The candle rolls onto the floor, spouting tiny embers. The wood on the floors stays strong, for it does not succumb to the flame. The light dies away completely, the only luminescence in the hallway the moon blazing into the windows. I step out onto a balcony, the cold night breeze making me shiver. My nightgown blows in the wind, the lace shaking and trembling. But it’s too good to be true. I hear a gunshot in the distance. My breath quickens as I frantically look over the balcony, trying to see what it was. A guard calls out from the front entrance. No answer. He calls out again, joined by another soldier. I myself start to get worried, when finally a man in a pale blue suit appears, pulling a dead deer behind him. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I let it out in a big sigh. I start to turn back towards the hallway when I hear another bang. Nothing follows it, so I assume it’s just another animal. My shadow strides in front of, the blackness seeming to consume every corner. I finally make it back to my chambers, unscathed, unharmed. I close my eyes, trying to tell myself it’s just a normal night.
