This Picture Has No Explaination

Months ticked by, eventually turning into a whole year. Dimitri seemed to take their Father’s absence the hardest, maintaining every day that he was going to go out and help fight in the war, and every day was told by his Mother that that wasn’t going to happen. Whenever Belle went outside, though, on a good day, she would find him practising his swordplay with wooden fences and the farm geese.

Anya became withdrawn and silent, becoming the dutiful daughter and doing everything she was told without question or argument. Jim didn’t seem to notice much difference, but then, Belle reflected,...