After finishing their simple breakfast, Eli busied herself cleaning the room while Sera went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, the teapot, and cups. The morning sunlight filtered softly through the windows, casting a warm glow on the wooden floorboards. After a while, both sisters settled in the sitting area of Grandma Mary's room, the space that still carried the comforting scent of her presence.
They began to discuss their immediate concerns. For now, food was their priority. Eli suggested, "Let's see if we have any money in the cabinet."
Both sisters hurriedly searched the cabinet. Hunger leaves no room for patience or sympathy, and their hands shook slightly as they rifled through drawers and pockets. But all they found were a few coins—barely enough to buy a single loaf of bread.
As they counted the meager change, glimpses of Lily and Mily's memories surfaced intermittently. From these flashes, they began to understand the lifestyle the twins had led. Lily and Mily were exceptionally beautiful, and while their beauty invited admiration, it also came with an air of attitude that kept others at a distance. They hadn't made friends in the village or at school, and Grandma Mary had been the only figure of warmth and love in their lives. People had respected her deeply—bringing their children or sick loved ones to her, praying for their wellbeing, and in return offering food, clothes, and gifts.
But after Grandma Mary's death, the visits dwindled. Lily and Mily had never reached out to the villagers, and now, for three days, they had gone mostly without food. Eventually, they had taken refuge in the storage room, unable to face the memories of Grandma Mary's room. Only her love had mattered in their world, and without it, the larger house felt cold and empty.
The woman who had brought them bread yesterday was Aunt Beth, a middle-aged lady who had visited Grandma Mary most often and had some interaction with Lily and Mily. Eli now understood why Aunt Beth hadn't waited to be invited inside—she likely assumed, as usual, that the girls would ignore her. It was a quiet blessing; both Eli and Sera were not accustomed to talking to strangers anyway. Their introverted natures, shaped by years of being overlooked by family, made them cautious, but not unfriendly.
Sera and Eli examined their few coins, realizing they could perhaps buy a piece of bread—but nothing more. Eli frowned, unsure how they would obtain enough food. Sera, thinking practically, said, "Let's go out and see if we can get any ideas about where to find food. We can't do heavy labor—these bodies are only fourteen—but maybe there's small work, like washing dishes or helping someone at home."
Eli nodded but raised a concern. "You're right, but I don't think anyone here is rich enough to hire a maid for washing dishes."
Sera sighed, but she knew they had little choice. They would try, and hope for the best. Both took their coins, and before leaving, they collected leftover bread crumbs and scattered them in the small fish pond outside. It was a small act of kindness, but it felt necessary. They also found the house keys and locked the gate behind them, stepping cautiously into the village.
As they walked down the street, the villagers watched with curiosity and mild surprise. Lily and Mily had rarely been seen wandering—preferring to go to school early or stay at home with Grandma Mary. Now, seeing them outside, people whispered quietly but said nothing.
Sera and Eli sensed the villagers' stares and the subtle tension in the air, but they could do nothing to change it. Soon, Aunt Beth herself appeared, her eyes wide with shock. "Lily? Mily? Why aren't you at school?"
Eli met her gaze calmly, while Sera replied politely, "Aunt Beth, we're not in a position to go to school right now." She hesitated for a moment, then added, "Actually, we've come to look for work… because we don't have any way to earn food."
Aunt Beth looked at the two girls, her sympathy evident. They had never been used to handling chores themselves; villagers often left cups for them to wash during visits to Grandma Mary, but now hunger had forced them to step out. Perhaps if she hadn't given them bread yesterday, they wouldn't have had the strength to leave the house at all.
With a sad smile, Aunt Beth said, "Dear, I wish you could find work, but as you know, this village is far from the city and people here are barely able to provide for themselves. Most prefer to do their own work. If you are only searching for food, there are wild potatoes and other vegetables in the forests up the hills. People sometimes go there to gather food for themselves. But it is not easy work, and I'm not sure if you should go alone."
Eli's eyes lit up immediately. She did not like the idea of working for strangers—danger lurked behind even the kindest faces, and their beauty made them vulnerable. But now, seeing a clear option to obtain food from the forest, her worries and tension vanished. Sera gently thanked Aunt Beth, and both girls expressed their gratitude before moving on.
Aunt Beth, whose husband was a shopkeeper and therefore not in need of wild food, suggested they head near the village shop, as most people venturing into the forest passed that way. Sera and Eli walked quickly toward it.
Near the shop, a small group of villagers had gathered, leaving gloves with holes and simple tools scattered around. Eli recognized them immediately—these people were accustomed to self-sufficiency, and Lily and Mily's silence meant they had no social obligation to interact. Summoning courage, Eli stepped forward. "Hello, everyone."
The villagers turned, curiosity in their eyes, while some elders nodded with faint smiles. They understood the children's situation; Grandma Mary had been kind to all, and even if Lily and Mily hadn't spoken much, they held no grudges.
One man stepped forward. "Lily and Mily, what are you doing here?"
Eli smiled. "Uncle James, are you all heading to the forest?"
He nodded, and Eli continued, "We want to go too… to find food. Can we join you?"
The villagers exchanged looks, then nodded in agreement. They understood the children's circumstances; without anyone to care for them, they needed to learn self-reliance. Uncle James smiled warmly. "Of course. You can join us. This is how you'll learn which wild foods are safe and which aren't."
Sera and Eli felt a surge of happiness. Before they set off, they were instructed to gather gloves, digging tools, and knives from home, and to apply salt to their shoes and feet to protect against insect bites.
The sisters hurried home, their hearts lightened by the villagers' kindness. They could not waste any time. Their world remained unfamiliar, yet they did not dislike it—perhaps because the house, for the first time, felt like the place they could start building a life for themselves.
It felt almost like preparing for a camping expedition—one team setting out to gather provisions. Though uncertainty lay ahead, for now, they were ready.