Nathalie could hardly bear the aftermath of the situation. Everything she had strived towards for years was gone in one fell swoop, and now she had to figure out how to find her footing again. When she got home after the car ride that felt like an eternity, she called Mary immediately and was surprised when Mary answered right away, even though she tended to be available most of the time.

"Hi, Nathalie!" she chirped, jubilant as ever. "How are you doing? Have you thought about our getaway? Does it sound good to you?"

Nathalie released a heavy sigh, alerting Mary in an instant. "It could be better. I got fired today. It sucks, but I'll manage somehow. The problem is I don't know how yet."

Mary gasped in a theatrical manner. "You got fired? You, the best worker anyone could hope for? It has to be some sort of misunderstanding. How did you get fired?"

Nathalie wasn't in the mood for her antics. "I've made my fair share of mistakes because I've been so disoriented lately, and now I accidentally sent the footage that showed my boss's brother with the Russian spy-"

Another gasp. Typical.

"No, not that footage! You told me all about how incriminating it was. It's going to cause so much trouble for the company."

"Well, at least it's not my problem anymore."

"I suppose that's correct... I'm just wondering what's going to happen next."

"I wouldn't worry it. I've got enough of my plate already, and I'm sure they'll find a solution eventually. They always do."

"No, I'm just wondering how the fallout is going to look. It's going to be pretty interesting."

"I get why it might be interesting to you, but honestly, I'm too tired to care."

"That's understandable. Sorry for bothering you."

Silence.

"No, it's alright. Let's just not talk about it anymore. We need to arrange our getaway. I'm actually pretty excited about it."

"I'll do it quickly. I just have to make a few calls. What time sounds good to you?"

"You suggested Saturday, which I think is the perfect day. It's in a few days, while also giving us time to prepare, and it's nice to be able to enjoy the weekend without worrying about all of this. I've got some money saved in my bank account, which means I have time to figure things out for a while before I get a new job. With the current state of the job market, it won't be easy, but I've done this before, so I think I've got this."

"How hard can it be for a Harvard graduate?" Mary said, ever so supportive, and as much as Nathalie admired her flattery, she didn't want to let it get to her head.

"It's hard for all of us, but I guess you're right."

"I know you'll be able to handle it anyway, but let's not think about it now. Anyway, I'll go arrange our getaway. It's going to be so much fun, I promise. See you!"

"See you-" Nathalie mumbled as the call ended, placing the phone on her nightstand in solemn silence. For several minutes, she sat on her couch and stared at the wall, trying to clear her mind from her troubles. Then, when the silence grew too heavy and tiresome, she turned on the television and let her thoughts wander as she rewatched Pride and Prejudice for the thousandth time, eager to see what the supposedly haunted church was like, putting off calling her parents for tomorrow, having too much time now and thus unsure what she would do until Saturday.

Little did she know what Saturday would bring.

As Mary picked her up and drove her towards the church, an uneasy feeling formed in her gut, a feeling she would dismiss as uncharacteristic paranoia in normal circumstances, but now she wasn't so sure anymore. Many tourists drove towards the haunted church, intrigued by the urban legend, though she hadn't expected to see so many of them. They all seemed undisturbed, and she attempted to look undisturbed as well by ignoring the feeling. Still, as they passed various trees and buildings, the sky darkened, and the wind blew ever stronger, reminding her once again of the willow tree.

The memory haunted her, even if the tree wasn't particularly haunting. It was everywhere now, the shadow following her like a phantom, and the withered, helpless branches kept blowing in the wind, driving her crazy with their movement. They were not real, but they were everywhere. She did not see anything, but she felt it deep inside, and even as she maintained her neutral facial expression, her eyes kept twitching, which Mary eventually noticed.

"Nathalie, are you okay?" she asked with genuine concern, slowing down like she was going to stop the car. Did she look like she was about to pass out? She must have.

"I'm okay," she said, shaking her head to regain herself. "It's nothing. Don't worry about me."

"But you look haunted."

Nathalie shrugged. "I just remembered an event from the past, which still haunts me to this day, but it's over now. There's no need to worry about it, really."

She lied again, as she so often did. Being a lawyer, lying came naturally to her. When she was younger, she used to dream of truth and justice, but she soon learned that the world wasn't so simple. Money was the only thing that mattered, so it was in her best interest to twist the truth for her own benefit, even if it wasn't always right. On the other hand, it surprised her how often she lied to her loved ones, but there was so much she could never tell them. It would bridge a gap between them, one she would have a hard time repairing, and she didn't need that now. Or ever, really. But she had a feeling it wasn't what the universe had in mind.

As they parked in front of the church, she knew it would make her reveal herself.