#Chapter 49: A Long Walk

Hannah The evening air nipped at my cheeks as Noah and I walked in silence, our footsteps crunching softly against the frosted leaves and twigs that littered the pathway. I pulled my jacket a little tighter around myself, exhaling and watching as the little cloud of mist floated away from my face. I couldn’t remember the last time we had walked down this particular trail that wound its way through the secluded woods surrounding the mansion grounds. We had frequented it early on in our marriage—back when everything still felt so new and exciting, back before the cracks had begun to show. Simpler times. My chest tightened at the memory of our old after-dinner walks. It had been ages since those walks had happened, and the path had become a bit overgrown. I wondered what made Noah want to walk it now, but I didn’t bother asking. It wasn’t worth it. I didn’t notice the thick briar vine snaking across the trail until the very last second. With a muffled cry of surprise, my fo