Chapter two:

Constance

The springs of the bed were digging into Constance hip upon waking her up in annoyance. She let out a soft groan before arising to her feet.

While still dazed, her dark green eyes looked around to see her mothers absence. Constance knew she was just out working late.

Yawning she changed out of her almost non existing cloth dress into a warm blue dress, with of course many layers.

After Constance got dress, she fled to the market in hopes of seeing her mother. For it was Constance eighteenth birthday, which meant she would have to find a suitor.

She saw her mother limping and coughing up hysterically in an alley.

"Mother!" Constance ran to her mother in aid.

Constance moved her mothers face towards her. Constance was shocked and worried. A rash and bumps have appeared around her mouth. She grabbed her handkerchief to dab her mouth for only her mother to wince.

Constance stood up, "I'll go get a Doctor". Leaving her mother coughing she fled to the doctor just next to the market. She practically pulled his arm off on the way back to her mother.

The young doctor put a cloth on his hand to move Amelia's face around. He made a grunt noise and put the back of his hand on her forehead. Upon knowing his suspicions were right and wiped his hand in his pants.

"She won't live long," he turned to look at broken Constance.

She let out a shaking breath "what? No.. how do you know?"

He began to walk away, "she has cholera diphtheria small pox, I would stay away from her if I were you."

Amelia looked at him in pain.

"Wouldn't want to see another pretty face dead" the doctor said while walking out of eye sight.

Constance began sobbing in front of her mother. She began to open her arms in attempt to hug her dying parent. But before she could get closer her mother put up in hand in symboling stop. Constance was confused by the gesture.

Amelia began coughing and wheezing. "I don't want my daughter to have the same fate as me,". Amelia laid her head back and closed her eyes.

"Before I go I want you to know two things," Constance nodded in understanding.

Amelia cough up more felm. "There's gold under the mattress, I want you to take it to your father's home."

Constance was shocked and upset. "Mother, you said father is dead? How-" Amelia cut her off

"He's dead to me at least. But there's directions to his home along with the money" she coughed so hard she fell over in pain.

Constance shook her head "no mother I won't leave you". Amelia began to cry and wail.

"NO," her mother shouted. "Either way, me, dead or alive. You were suppose to go to his home". Constance nodded in defeat.

"Constance," her mother said in almost a whisper.

She looked at her mother in heartache "yes, mother?"

Amelia smiles and moved a piece of her hair out of her face.

"Happy birthday" Amelia then passed away almost instantly.