<div style="text-align: justify;">Mary Ann did feel something right after she had said “I do”. She felt a pang of regret, and a sense of foreboding. Her life in there was not gonna be a happy one, she was sure. The priest’s next words made Mary Anna show a bitter smile. She was trapped. Oh, well. She had made this choice, and would have to live with it, even though her mother kept going back and forth between feeling all right with her new life and feeling like she had made a huge mistake. Strangely, not having her new husband uphold the tradition of kissing the bride made Mary Ann relax. It was for the best, as she didn’t feel like pretending she was in love.<br/><br/>For now, she was honestly not even thinking that the marriage would have to be consummated some day. To be honest, Mary Ann felt that, as uninterested as her husband was, he might take a long time to do so, if he would even seek her out at all. And she was fine with that, or at least she tried to tell herself that she wouldn’t mind living under the same roof as a man she had no relationship with. <br/><br/>Being left alone with the priest and her father to ‘celebrate’ was also odd to Mary Ann, and once again she thought she was dooming herself to a lonely life. And once again she told herself silently that it had been her choice. Ignoring her own feelings, Mary Ann tried to enjoy the feast. It was the last time she would dine with her father for a long time, she was sure. And despite having argued with the man several times, Mary Ann was sure that she would miss her father. <br/><br/>She was talking quietly to the man, and curious about the conversation between Valentine and Samuel, but when the younger man approached, she asked to be excused and stepped closer to him. It was sad to see him go, as Mary Ann felt he was the most human person in there. But she didn’t blame him. She had just set foot in that house, and already wanted to leave. <br/><br/>“I really appreciate your kindness”, she replied sincerely. “I know how my life will be from now on, and I know I have chosen it for myself”, Mary Ann carried on. “I believe I shall find plenty to do, and he will barely notice my presence unless he wants to”. Her voice was serious and sort of neutral as she said those words. It was as though she was reciting a long rehearsed text. <br/><br/>“I hope you achieve whatever it is that you set yourself out to pursue out there”, she completed after a pause, this time more sincerely. While she spoke, Mary Ann watched Jonas and her father from the corner of her eye. She waited for the two men to finish before speaking again. “I hope you excuse me? I have to say my good-byes to my father”. She would not step away before being excused, and would give her father a mere hug and a whispered “please, do not get yourself in trouble again” before stepping away and then back to Samuel. <br/><br/>“I apologize, I just wanted to give father some sound advice before he resumes life without me”, she admitted with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Well… I do hope you visit every now and then, but I will not hold it against you if you do not”, Mary Ann completed, taking a look at the place she was now supposed to call home.</div>