Chapter 55

Maysie walked into the atelier with a smile. "I brought the tea," she announced. "It's hot and tasty. I had to wait a bit for it and-" She was about to say more when she noticed Skye curled up on the floor in the fetal position. Her voice caught in her throat as she realized something was wrong.

The jug slipped from her hands, crashed violently onto the wooden floor with a sharp metallic sound, and spilled the tea.

"Skye!" she shouted and ran to her, kneeling beside her. "What happened?" She checked to see if Skye was hurt.

She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh my God! Your dress. What happened? How did this happen?"

The crying grew louder, and Skye's body shook with sobs. Maysie gently touched her shoulder, but Skye jerked back, startling Maysie, who instinctively recoiled. Skye looked at Maysie as if seeing her for the first time.

"Skye? It's me, Maysie. D-don't you recognize me?"

With a pained expression and teary eyes, Skye gazed at her. She clenched her fists to he