A Tinn’s tale

pring came, and all the buds burst open, revealing the young leaves inside. Cherry trees blossomed and daffodils coloured the hills of Tinn’s valley a joyful yellow.

Most villagers were happy about the new spring. The wintery cold was over now. But the spring did not bring joy for everyone.

The Earl and the pastor had decided that Jantine and her children would be forgiven, if she confessed and gave up Dorus’ ideas. She only had to confess her sins, the Earl had promised. So when she found herself walking to the Church on a pretty Sunday morning, she wasn’t worried at all.

Jantine had taken a walk along the shore. It felt really good, having her greatest worries lifted from her shoulders. Dorus was gone now, and with him the huge worry of being exiled from the Church. She missed him, yes ofcourse she missed him! She had loved him so much it hurt, and waking up everyday, remembering he would never ever stumble in again and pull the blankets off her to tease her in the early morning, was like having her heart ripped out.

She felt guilty for thinking it, but it was so very true: now that he was gone, she wouldn’t have to worry about him. Dorus sometimes was just like a child.. Like blabbing his unusual opinion out and about. She had always been worried it would be just like in Applevalley, when they had to flee.

His opinion was hers, too- that was why she married him, after all. She wouldn’t have considered fleeing with him and leaving her parents and her home and her everything behind for that one opinion, if she didn’t share it and love him for it! She had only hoped he would have learnt his lesson after that.
One would say that one fiasco would be enough, wouldn’t it?

She had already abandoned her hopes when Dorus let his tongue slip in Church. She had given up all optimism. She had surrendered. And now the Earl and the pastor granted her another chance of life in Tinn.

They wanted her to confess. She would confess everything they wished.