Chapter 22

HAZEL

It’s a new day and what it just means is another day of work for me. And the only thing that is certain about today for me is that I'm sure no one will bully or accost me. I'm also certain that I won't have that many chores to do today, and I'm glad about that, at least.

Later on, as I move through the halls, a sense of isolation weighs heavily on my shoulders like a bundle of invisible chains binding me to the shadows and bringing me down.

As I pass by the other maids, it is very obvious to me that they are avoiding me and their eyes slide past me as if I'm nothing more than a ghost haunting the corridors of the pack house.

They have always avoided me, but it seems that now, they are only making it a point to do so because the taskmaster probably issued them a warning to stay away from me.

The whole thing is quite irrelevant to me so I just label it as unnecessary and push it out of my mind, choosing instead to focus on my familiar routine of cleaning, sweeping, and mopping the