After Clementine's visit, no one else came to see me while I was in bed recovering.  

Only one daily visitor, who would come sticking their head out the door and leave after seconds. Never entering the room and hiding. 

At first, it seemed strange to me and I didn't know who was doing this. But after I asked 

Mary, she explained it all to me.

"Oh, this? Your little sister is probably worried about you and is coming to check on you, my lady." She said. 

"Really? And why doesn't she come into the room?"

"Little lady Erin is quite shy."

So, it was Erin.

Mary also told me that Alina and Erin didn't get along. Not because they hated each other or anything, just that the atmosphere between them was quite chilly. Mostly on Alina's side, but she told me that she seemed to have little affection for her little sister.

Then after Mary left, after a while the door opened and a little head emerged timidly. She looked around but as soon as our eyes met, she quickly left.

How cute! She thinks I haven't noticed her.

But I couldn't let it go on like that. So I came up with a plan. The plan was to get her into the room.

Erin would come to my room every day when Mary went out to do the chores I sent her on. So, as it had been a day since Erin's last visit, I had to put the plan into action. 

First of all, I had to get Mary out of the room, because Erin only came in when she wasn't in the room or when I sent her out to do chores. Then I started coughing to get her attention. 

"My lady, would you like me to get you some water?" Finally Mary noticed me.

"Can you get me some tea instead? Bring two glasses."

Mary left and I immediately got up and hid behind the door. It wasn't long when the door barely opened and Erin timidly walked into the room. 

When she realized that I was not in my bed, she seemed surprised and slowly started to walk around the room.

"Where is she?" I heard her mutter to herself.

She didn't sit for long. She did something, I couldn't see what, and after a while she made to leave. I had to do something before she could get out.

"Erin." I said, coming out of hiding.

"You scared me!" she shouted in shock.

Erin, who didn't look to be more than 12 years old, was startled but couldn't leave quickly since I was standing in front of the door.

"Oh, you're up. I didn't see you in the room...so I came to...drop something off and leave."   She said after a moment.

She looked nervous and shy. Her eyes were down and she didn't dare lift them to look at me. 

But she was so cute the way she was looking for something to say to me.

"I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry." I said, trying to hide my laughter.

"I'm the one who's sorry. I didn't mean to bother you when you're sick. So I'm going to go now." She turned to leave.

I grabbed her hand to hold her. 

"Mary's bringing tea. Do you want to join me?" I said to her, I wanted to get to know Erin a bit more.

I returned to the bed while Erin sat next to me. After a while Mary came in with a tray and served us tea. She then brought us sweets and scones to accompany the tea.

Up until that moment, Erin and I had not exchanged a single word.

"You can eat all of these. I can't eat because I'm sick."

"Okay." She said softly.

Silence followed. She seemed awkward but not uncomfortable.

I looked at my nightstand and saw a book. I picked it up and turned to her.

"Is this the book you brought here, Erin?" 

Erin stuffed herself with a sweet nod.

"I brought it so you wouldn't be bored here alone." She said as she finally swallowed the bite she was eating.

I took this to start a conversation. I wanted Erin to feel comfortable around me. And she was talking passionately about this story, it was probably her favorite book. 

"Would you like to read it to me?"

"What? Me?" she said, startled. 

"Yes, you. I want you to read it to me. Will you?"

Erin didn't answer right away, but in the end she said "Yes" hesitantly.

She was very happy as she read it and I listened and watched her. 

She had orange hair like mine but her eyes were blue like father's. Her face was beautiful and sweet and when she smiled she conveyed her joy to you and made you smile too.

After that day, she visited me often but she was still hesitant and anxious.

And finally the day when I became completely well and no longer felt sick came. 

I could now go out for walks in the garden, eat in the dining room with the rest of the family, go to the library and read novels and do whatever I wanted. 

Well, I didn't want to do anything, just do nothing all day. Walking in the garden and visiting the library was not something I would do all the time since the walks were tiring.

However, meals with family were quite fun and I wouldn't change it for anything.

In my previous life I always ate alone and I was jealous of my friends who ate with their families.

But this was a different life, a better life, and I had decided to leave the other one behind.