Worse Condition

The City of Jerusha was as lively as ever, but Oriana did not have the liberty to enjoy the familiar surroundings. It was the fourth morning of her one-week break, and she only had less than a day to spend at home. She ran through the secret route through the forest towards the nameless hunter village on the other side. 

A big silly grin hung on her face. From her speed, it was as if her feet had grown wings. She could not wait to see her grandpa who she dearly missed and worried about all these days.

'It has been a month.'

When she reached the first cottage nearest the village fence, the grin on her face widened. There was no one inside the house, but there were sounds of movement from the backyard. She saw the elderly man kneeling on the ground, plucking the vegetables from their small garden.