Inside were the tools my father had used throughout his life, tools of his craft.
My father had been a well-known shadow puppeteer in the surrounding villages.
It was his exceptional craftsmanship that had earned him a fortune envied by many.
But after my marriage, a tragic accident had sent him tumbling into a ditch.
From that moment on, my health mysteriously worsened and my position in this house diminished with each passing day.
"This useless junk is nothing but an eyesore," Silas muttered, his brow furrowing as he reached for the cabinet, determined to drag it away.
"Don’t—" I had barely begun to speak when a loud crash ripped through the silence.
The cabinet toppled, sending my father’s shadow puppet figures scattering across the floor.
Even the lanterns, his most prized possessions, were shattered into countless fragments.
Silas let out a dramatic yelp, bending down to collect the pieces with an exaggerated tenderness.
"Alaric, look at me. I'm so clumsy, breaking everything. You won’t hold it against me, will you?"
Though his words were laced with feigned apology, a flicker of triumph gleamed in his eyes.
At the sound of the crash, Amaris rushed into the room, her expression tight with concern.
The moment her eyes fell on the wreckage, her brows knitted together in a deep frown.
But instead of looking at me, she headed straight to Silas, her voice full of false sweetness.
"Brother Silas, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?"
She examined him from head to toe, her worry almost tangible.
Then, without missing a beat, she spun around and snapped at me, her voice sharp and accusing.
"How many times have I told you to get rid of this junk? Why do you leave it lying around? Look, you nearly got Brother Silas hurt!"
Amaris’s voice was sharp, her foot sweeping across the scattered fragments.
"This old, worthless trash! Who even bothers with shadow puppets anymore? People watch movies now!"
A rush of blood surged to my head, a deafening hum echoing in my ears.
I stared at Amaris, her face once so familiar and cherished to me, now twisted with nothing but frustration and disdain, all because of another man.
A sharp pain pierced through my chest and I erupted into a violent fit of coughs.
But Amaris never spared me another glance. She supported Silas as they walked out, leaving me behind in the wreckage, abandoned and alone.
Looking back, it was almost laughable.