Samuel's Paradise

"This is your new room, Elena," Juliet opened a door in front of her, revealing a simple room. The bed was in the corner of the room, made with a dark brown wooden frame and had red sheets with a pair of pillows. The room had a window near the bed that looked over to the large property that Sir Samuel owned. There was a mirror along with a few things for her to use to keep herself in good conditions. A wardrobe was near the door, a large lighter brown wooden wardrobe with decorated doors. The floor was covered by a woolly carpet that caressed her feet as she walked into the room, "What do you think?" She smiled then opened the wardrobe before looking at Juliet confused, "Oh, we have to get you clothes."

"Get me clothes? I have these ones," She said, pointing at the clothes she had on, she was missing a sleeve and had a few tears in her dress.

"How do you like the room?"

"I can't have this, it is too much, I can't pay for this."

"It is free, Sir Samuel will let you stay here for free."

"What?" She looked at the room, "But, how can he keep all of this?"

"You should ask him, well, let me continue to show you around, so you have, room, number," She looked over the door frame, "113, okay."

"This place is massive."

"It took 10 years to make, Sir Samuel was given the land after having retired from knighthood," Juliet explained as she closed the door behind Elena, "Just remember that you are free here," Juliet began walking in front of Elena, "Just down here, we have the dining hall."

They entered a massive room with long wooden tables, she had never seen anything this large, never, in her 24 year life, "Tonight, what is the meal?" She turned to look at the sign Juliet was reading, "Tonight it is lamb and vegetables, ah, not bad."

"You have meals that change?"

"Of course, fresh food means that we get what comes with seasons and we have 5 people working to cook them, of course, all girls."

"Why are they only women?"

"Well, they are only women that he has helped, and that were taught to cook by him and the women before them," She smiled as she noticed Elena staring at the sign, "Trouble reading?"

"I, um, can't read."

"Oh, well, don't worry, I will make sure to have someone lead you to your room and also, if you want, I can sign you up to a class to teach you to write and read."

"I have to pay nothing?"

"No, of course not, Sam is helping women get back on their feet, since they are often abused by men and their communities."

"Oh, um, well, what is next?"

"There are baths, do you want to see those?"

"Baths?"

"Mhm, we recommend you wash once every two days and your hair once every week or every four days."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, I can have someone to help you around until you get used to it," Two women walked by them, "Good afternoon, Kayla and Julia."

"Good afternoon, Juliet, is she new?"

"Yes, she is, and she is near your room," She smiled, "Elena, this is Julia and this is Kayla, they aren't new-new, but haven't been here for a long time either, well, we have to continue on our visit before dinner, girls, see you later," Elena didn't know what to say, she had never been in a position where everything was given to her, she had to do nothing, "Do you have a skill? Sewing, cooking something?" She shrugged, "Well, if you want to learn something, just tell the lady helping you."

"You?"

"No, I am not a caretaker, but your caretaker will help you if you need it."

"Oh, I am lost."

"Hello lost, I am Juliet," She smiled, "Don't worry, everyone is like you at the beginning, this life is very different, we are protected and cared for, and maybe one day you will be like me, showing other women around."

"You think?"

"Who knows, even if we have Samuel as our protector, we do not need to worship him or blindly obey, and he would never force us."

"What does he do all day?"

"Works, in his chambers."

"What type of work?"

"He has agreement with lords and such, to keep us safe."

"He is some sort of guardian angel?"

"Mhm," She opened another door, "These are the baths, they are not really private, so expect a few other ladies with you when you are in here," She smiled and then let her look around, "Have you ever used on of these?"

"How is the water clean?"

"It flows from a source, there are several on this property, a very rich property," She explained, "I asked myself the same thing when he saved me."

"How old are you?"

"Me? Oh, I am 32."

"How old were you when he saved you?"

"18."

"Oh, um, how long have you been here?"

"14."

"Is that 32 without 18?"

"32 minus 18? Yes," She nodded and smiled, "If you want education, we can teach you, here, he taught me, and I am doing pretty well," She was so cheerful, "What do you want to visit next?"

"I don't know," She was totally lost in her new environment, "This is so, so new."

"I know, it is imposing," Juliet stood still with Elena as she looked around, "I think you should meet your hallway helper."

"Hall, way, helper?"

"Mhm, the person you go to when you need something, like at night or something," She said, still smiling, "Follow me."

Juliet knocked on the door number 120 and a young lady opened the door, "Hello Juliet, who is this? Is she the new one?"

"Mhm, Elena, meet Cassidy, she is the one you will go to if you need help."

"Room, um," She looked at the room number, "1, um, um, um, 2, 0?"

"Yes, that is my room," Cassidy smiled and walked out of her room, "What is your room?" Elena blinked blankly before turning to Juliet.

"1, 1, 3."

"113, okay, well, I will write that down, one second," She went into her room and came out with a small book and wrote Elena's name and her room number.

"I want to learn to do that," They both smiled, "I want to do that, to read, and to write," Elena repeated her thought, "I don't want to be lost."

"Okay, well, I will sign you up with a teacher, I'll ask for that this evening, at our meeting," Juliet put her hand on Elena's shoulder, "You will learn, don't worry."

"Thank you."

"You are here to live well, you don't need to worry, you are safe here."