up on the floor to sleep, but that night it rained, and the girl woke to a soggy mess of wet paper. So she moved on. A few days later, she came upon another grove where a house made of red brick stood. Its walls were strong and unbreakable. Surely it could withstand the weather.
“I could be happy here, the girl thought.
“But when she went inside, she found the rooms were dark and cold. Not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate the fortress-like walls of the house. So the girl moved on.
“She came to another clearing where a bigger house stood, one made of thick, malleable vines twisted around oak logs. The vines moved to allow light into the house, and the walls felt solid and protective.
“I could be happy here, the girl thought.
“But it was a cold night, and when the girl woke she found that dozens of mice, squirrels, and insects had come through the gaps in the vines to seek shelter. The girl decided to leave the house to the woodland creatures, and she moved on.
“The next house was a strong, beautiful structure built of polished stones that felt smooth and warm beneath her palm. The house had windows of all shapes and sizes, some with brilliant, intricate stained-glass patterns the girl knew would take her years to fully decipher, like a puzzle with which she would never grow bored.
“The stone house had spiral staircases and rooms of all sizes, some big and filled with treasures—paintings, books, manuscripts, sculptures, and colorful tapestries that would endlessly fascinate her. There were smaller rooms, too, some with locked doors whose keys she would have to find for herself.
“The windows allowed in just the right amount of light, but the cool stone walls blocked out any scorching sun rays that might burn the girl. Although the house also kept out mosquitoes and flies, occasionally a bird flew inside, its sweet song following the girl and making her feel not so alone.
“In the very heart of the house was a fireplace, and that night the girl lit a fire whose heat flowed into every corner of every room. She wrapped herself in a quilt and lay on the floor, watching the flames leap and dance.
“Ah, the girl thought, just before she fell asleep, I am happy here.
“But when she woke, she opened her eyes and saw tree branches above her. She was lying on the leaf-strewn forest floor, and she was cold from the morning air. The house that had given her perfect shelter and had all the qualities for which she longed was gone.
“A rustling noise among the leaves caused her to sit up. From the woods emerged a tall, handsome man with dark hair and beautiful eyes the color of chocolate. He knelt beside the girl and told her he’d been enchanted by a wizard who was angry that he would never have the man’s nobility and strength.
“So the wizard trapped the man’s soul in the form of a house for years and years. Only if someone lit a fire at the heart of the house would the curse be broken.
“And because the girl had done just that, she’d freed the man’s soul and turned him back into himself again. And as she looked at him, the girl realized she hadn’t been looking for a house at all.
“She’d been looking for a home, one that made her feel warm and safe. A home with strong, unbreakable walls and brilliant glass windows that let in just the right amount of light and protected her from violent storms.
“She’d wanted a home that inspired her with its treasures, intrigued her with its secrets, one that even sometimes baffled and frustrated her with its locked doors. A home where only good dreams would flood her sleeping hours, and where she would find the courage to venture outward because she knew home would be waiting for her when she returned.
“She took the man’s hand, and the instant his fingers closed around hers she knew she had found her home with him. And the man knew he had been freed, that he would forever be warmed from the center of his heart.
“And so they lived and loved—with depth, passion, and happiness. They did not live without shadows, but the darkness they faced was like a night sky, a deep, rich black with a softness like velvet. Against this darkness, the stars shone so brightly they could see into eternity.”
A long silence falls.
“Liv.”
“Right here.”
“You…you live inside