“Miss Perry, I’m afraid your sister’s condition has me quite puzzled,”
Perspiration beaded my brow as I glanced down at my sister’s perfect but lifeless form under the bed sheets. Dr. Ludwig’s words rang loud in my ears, penetrating the deafening silence in the room. Ginette had collapsed not long after dinner and everybody had insisted that I’d call the damn doctor. The grim look on his face and the ridged set of his jaw spoke volumes about my sister’s condition. Needless to say I’d not expected the uproar Ginette’s fainting spell had caused. I heard the hushed whispers of my other sisters outside the bedroom door, waiting for the news on her condition. Their worry for Ginette made bitter bile rise in my throat.

Dr Ludwig’s blue eyes twinkled sadly; the creases around his face from many jovial years had drooped to match his sombre expression. Cold fear shot up my spine and my throat suddenly went bone dry. As I glanced over to the oval mirror which usually reflected …show more content…
Their concern for her made anger rip through me like a knife. Jealousy coursed through me like a violent storm raging through the hottest of desserts and I suddenly had to fight to keep my temper at bay. I walked over to the cup of chamomile tea which sat half empty on Ginette’s bedside table and crept from the room silently, not wanting to be heard by my sister’s as they whispered prayers to God.

Stealthily, I crept to the darkened kitchen, the moonlight streaming in from the parlor guiding my every step. I placed the china teacup in the wash tub. Hearing a small noise outside I jumped and chastised myself as fear plagued me. I snatched another teacup from the wooden cabinet and removed another of the small white sachets that I’d kept hidden from all wandering eyes. I tipped the concoction into the china cup for I felt certain that this would be poor Ginny’s last dose and that Dr Ludwig’s confusion would finally