<div style="text-align: justify;">Manuela felt her heart race and her legs shake. She should have seen it coming. The witch. The strange woman. The illegitimate child. She was probably worthy of less consideration than the dust people walked on, at least for them. <br/><br/>Of course, they did like to talk to her when they needed help. When they needed her herbs, they came to her door. Herbs to help them conceive. Herbs to help them sleep. Herbs to calm their little ones when they were teething. Herbs to heal wounds. She would help them with the herbs, and teach them how to use them without wanting anything in exchange. There was only one kind of herb Manuela would never plant or give to anyone. She would never cooperate with women who wanted to get rid of their unborn babies. Even if she wasn’t the most religious person out there, Manuela still felt that it was a terrible sin to do something like that.<br/><br/>In spite of her fear, Manuela kept herself composed. She felt that they… the people who had reported her as a witch… wanted to see her fear. They wanted to see her cry. They wanted to see her beg for her life. Well, that they would not see. <br/><br/>Manuela had lost all hope already when the bishop approached the place where the executions were supposed to happen. She did notice a small child talking to the man. Manuela loved children. They were still innocent, and did not judge by the appearances. The problems started when they became adults. <br/><br/>The young woman was quiet until one of the man proposed that she could become the bishop’s concubine. Before the man could even close his mouth she was already protesting. “I shall do no such thing!”, the woman stated firmly.<br/><br/>When Julian addressed Ms. Manuela, the woman who had protested against becoming his concubine was the one to speak up. “I would do what I have done to this day”, she replied, her voice quiet and firm. “I shall live my life quietly and help my fellow man as I can. I am no witch, your holiness. I am but a regular woman who lives off the land and tries to help her neighbors. If you wish to hear me in confession, I shall tell you anything about my life, and you may tell me what I am doing wrong and I shall correct myself”.<br/><br/>After her words, which seemed to be too well placed for a peasant woman, the young woman who was named Manuela fell silent, wondering what her fate would be now.</div>