Mildred feels the wheels of her wheelchair damp against her palms, as if the cold metal were searing her skin. Edgar shuffles forward heavily yet calmly, nudging her toward a tiny stone cottage tucked in the Yorkshire Dales. The door groans when he pushes it open, and inside a faint scent of pine sap mingles with the musty smell of an old fire.
Here youll stay, he says quietly, never meeting her eyes. Theres wood, spring water and simple food.
Mildred cant answer; every breath catches in her throat.
Is Richard back? she whispers.
He wont be back soon. He said its too hard for him to watch your illness, Edgar replies flatly.
Then she erupts.
My illness isnt the hard part! Its his conscience! How could how could he abandon me here?
Edgar shifts uneasily, then shrugs.
I dont know. People do foolish things for money or peace of mind. Im just hired to look after you. Thats it.
And he leaves her alone.
Days drift by slowly. The fires warmth barely reaches the far corners of the room, and the nights stretch on forever. Each morning Edgar arrives with a pot of herbal tea, a crust of bread and a few vegetables. Hes a silent man, but his eyes hold a gentleness Mildred hasnt seen in anyone for years.
Sometimes, while feeding her, his rough hands tremble.
Do you think you might still be able to walk? he asks once.
The doctors said no. My spine is shattered, she replies.
He nods slowly, as if refusing to believe it.
One evening, as the wind whistles through the trees, Edgar lights the oil lamp and sits beside it.
You know, Mildred, your father used to come here sometimes. Hed buy firewood from me. I respected him. He was an honest man, he says.
Her heart tightens. She misses the voice that always soothed her. If he were still alive, he would never have let Richard treat her this way.
Edgar, if I wanted to get out of here would you help me? she whispers.
He gazes at her for a long moment, then answers, Yes. But I cant say where youd go.
One morning Richard reappears, his expensive suit looking out of place in the damp forest.
How are you feeling? he asks with a forced smile.
I miss the fresh air of the Cotswolds, she replies, her tone dripping with bitter irony.
He clears his throat. I need your signature on some papers for the hotel. You have to understand.
In that instant everything clicks. It was never about care; it was about her inheritance. Richard wants everything, and she is the obstacle.
I wont sign anything, Mildred says softly but firmly.
His eyes harden. Then youll stay here until you change your mind.
He turns and walks away without looking back.
When he disappears, Edgar steps close and places a hand on her shoulder. You dont deserve that. Your father would have told you to fight.
But how? I cant walk.
Your legs arent everything. You have a mind, a will, and there are people who will stand by you.
Mildred doesnt blink that night. The next day Edgar brings her an old telephone. Use it. Call whoever you need. Ill help you get to the town.
With trembling fingers she dials Martha, her former nanny. The moment she hears Marthas voice, she bursts into tears.
Martha, Richard left me in the woods. I want to fight. I want my life back.
A few days later Martha arrives in a minibus. With Edgars help they lift Mildred into the vehicle and drive her straight to the family solicitors office.
Richard enters the solicitors chambers confident that everything is under control. When he sees Mildred in her wheelchair, eyes blazing with determination, he freezes.
You thought you could hide forever in the forest? she says coldly. No, Richard. Im my fathers daughter, and I will fight.
The solicitor hands over the documents. Richard tries to resist, but the evidence is clear: he was attempting to have her declared incompetent to seize the estate.
The case drags on for months. In the end the judge rules in Mildreds favour. The inheritance remains hers, and Richard is not only stripped of his claim but also cut out of her life.
One afternoon Mildred looks out the window again. The town below glitters under the sun, and a new strength rises within her. Edgar is now the official manager of the property, and Martha stays by her side.
You know whats odd? she asks Edgar. I thought my life ended in this wheelchair. Instead, its just beginning here.
He smiles shyly. Sometimes the woods arent an end. Theyre only the start of a new road.
And for Mildred, that road is only now unfolding.
