*: The following content may contain sexual content.*

The day I turned 17, I was placed inside the red grand carriage and send off without any goodbyes. On my wedding night, I was left alone in bed waiting in complete silence. There was no celebration - no laughter - no smiles - no tears. It was just another day - like any other day.

All through the night, the groom didn't come to the bridal suite to lift the red veil from my head. I knew the cruelty of the man when I heard moaning of a woman. Through the thin walls, I could hear everything. When the moaning got louder, I understood it had been intentional. I was treated as a joke – nothing more.

How could I care about something that was never mine?

Even as the sound got louder and the thin wall were shaking, I calmly removed the veil to see that I was in a room no different than my own in the Marquess' estate.

I went to the small vanity table at the corner of the room and begin to remove the heavy crown and jewels from my head. They say a woman is the most beautiful on her wedding night, but in the mirror's reflection, all I saw was a ghost - skin so white and pale. My lips were just as pale when I removed the red stain.

Even though it was spring, my hands, skin, and blood were cold. My mind grew empty while the moaning continues pound against the thin walls. Once I cleaned my face and removed the heavy crimson red bridal gown, I went to the window, furthest away from the bed - from the pounding wall.

There was no moon... no stars in the sky.

I sat in a small wooden chair leaning out on the open window sill to look up at the dark night sky. There was no wind - no sound of crickets or frogs. That night, I slept leaning against the window sill.

No desires, no hopes, or dreams - just the reality that I am once again, alone.