Kimberly let out a soft sigh as she strolled through the park, her eyes drawn to the calm surface of the lake shimmering under the afternoon light. Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed when two small children - a little girl and a little boy - ran past her, their laughter echoing through the air as they chased each other along the path. As she watched the children ran, a gentle memory surfaced in Kimberly's mind, one she had carefully tucked away. It reminded her of a time filled with warmth and innocence, of moments so precious that even now, they lingered softly in her heart.
"Have you made a decision, my lady?"
The knight finally spoke, breaking the quiet that had followed her steps. He stood behind her as he always did, unwavering in his duty.
Kimberly halted mid-step and turned slowly. Her eyes met his, steady yet distant, as if she were looking not just at him, but through him-toward a choice she was not yet ready to make. Kimberly lips parted as she finally spoke, her voice soft and distant.
"Has it truly been three years since the marriage?"
The words carried a fragile ache, as though each year had left its mark upon her heart, unseen yet deeply felt. He bowed his head in respect.
"Yes, my lady. It has been three years since your arrival."
Kimberly gaze returned to the lake, its waters shimmering faintly in the fading light. She released a deep, aching sigh, carrying years of unspoken thoughts. Silence stretched between them, fragile and waiting, before she spoke at last.
"Yes," she said softly, her voice steady despite the ache beneath it.
"I have made my decision…for their sake, both of them."
The words hung in the air, fragile yet resolute.
The knight bowed his head slightly.
"That a wise decision, my lady."sensing the depth of her resolve, while the wind whispered across the water, carrying with it the quiet weight of choices made and sacrifices accepted. Then, almost inaudible, Kimberly spoke, her words drifting like a fragile breeze.
"It…it's time to let go now."
Kimberly words lingered in the air, fragile yet undeniable. The knight remained silent for a heartbeat, then stepped a little closer.
"That a wise decision,my lady" he said softly, bowing his head ever so slightly,
"I will support you, as I always have."
She turned fully to him then, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears, the wind teasing loose strands of her hair. For a moment, neither spoke, and the world seemed to shrink around them-the gentle rustle of leaves, the soft lapping of the lake, the faint echo of distant laughter from the children who had passed earlier-all weaving into the quiet tapestry of memory and choice.
Finally, Kimberly took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past settle and the faint pull of freedom begin to stir.
"It's for them,"she whispered again, her voice steadier now.
"For their happiness, for their future…I cannot hold on him any longer."
The knight inclined his head, understanding not just her words but the courage it had taken to speak them. And as the sun dipped lower, painting the lake with molten gold, Kimberly let her shoulders fall, and for the first time in years, she felt the tentative stirrings of release.