<div style="text-align: justify;">Manuela nodded when Julian questioned her about confession. She wasn’t one for confession, or going to church in general, but she really felt like telling the entire truth about her life to at least one person. If he still judged her as a witch after that, Manuela didn’t know what she would do. But she had to at least try. <br/><br/>When the assistant said that she was probably lying, Manuela couldn’t help but sigh. Why were people so scared of difference? She had never harmed another person, on the contrary. And now she was about to be burned, for what? For trying to help others with her knowledge?<br/><br/>The woman’s attention was drawn to the bishop when he asked for a torch. Would he burn her himself? Was that really how she would end? Manuela felt her heart race again and her eyes couldn’t stop following the flame. <br/><br/>Keeping silent, the young woman watched as the other alleged witches were freed to be sent to home. Hoping that they found mercy, Manuela kept her attention on the bishop’s every move. When the man ordered his assistant to be tied to the stake, Manuela’s eyes went wide. What was he going to do? <br/><br/>Staying perfectly still when the Bishop stopped behind her, Manuela heard what he had to say and nodded at his whispered words. As she was untied, Manuela became even more confused. What would the Bishop do? Being used to being mistreated, Manuela didn’t really expect the man to simply free her and let her go back home. <br/><br/>Being handed a torch made Manuela gasp in surprise. She took it, though, and took a few steps closer to the assistant. The young woman did drop the torch, but far away from the straw that should have been used for burning. Her foot stomped on the resulting fire until it was out, and she faced the man, then the Bishop. “I do not believe in revenge”, the woman stated. “If I have a say, I will ask that this man is untied. I hold no ill will towards him”, she completed, turning then to the Bishop one more time. “I shall see you tomorrow”, Manuela murmured, moving to walk away silently. Should she not be stopped, the woman would walk away and take the direction of her home - not without stopping to ruffle the hair of the little girl who had pointed her out to the Bishop.</div>