When Leland Burns went to the company, Winifred Dawson was left at home. Every time he had to leave, she stood at the door, watching him go like a forlorn statue by the sea.
As the car drove away, Winifred Dawson couldn’t help but chase after it. She knew Leland Burns could see her in the rearview mirror, but he didn’t stop. She widened her eyes in grievance, trying hard not to let her tears fall. She ran all the way to the gate of Autumn Joy Estate, where guards stopped her from leaving.
“Miss Dawson, please go back.” Seeing her pitiful state, even the coldest of hearts would soften. The guard patiently persuaded her, “Mr. Burns will be back soon. It’s cold outside; you don’t want to catch a cold and make Mr. Burns worry.”
Winifred Dawson blankly said, “He’s gone.”
“Mr. Burns is just going to work; he hasn’t abandoned you. Go back inside and watch some TV; he might return soon.”
“How long do I have to watch TV before he comes back?”
The guard looked at the stunningly beautiful Winifred Dawson and didn’t know what to say. She was still the same person, but everything felt different. If she was once an untouchable goddess, now she seemed like a lost child who didn’t understand much of anything anymore. It was fortunate that Leland Burns hadn’t given up on her and still treasured her.
The guard met Winifred Dawson’s persistent gaze and knew he had to give her a clear answer about how long to watch TV before she would leave.
“When the news comes on, Mr. Burns will be back.”
At that moment, a servant came over from the house. “Miss, let’s go back inside. The cook has prepared your favorite strawberry cake.” She gently took Winifred Dawson’s slender wrist and led her away.
Winifred Dawson looked back every few steps, her eyes filled with reluctance.
In the car, Leland Burns sat with a tense face, his hands gripping his knees tightly. Several times he reached for the car door but pulled back each time.
He couldn’t take Winifred Dawson to the company, so it was better not to give her false hope.
The driver glanced in the rearview mirror. “Mr. Burns, Miss Dawson is chasing us… Should we stop?”
“Don’t stop! Keep driving.”
Alright then, thought the driver as he continued driving obediently.
Leland Burns had told Winifred Dawson he was going to work when he left home. She had been very obedient and said she would wait for him at home, but as soon as he left, she ran after his car.
Watching her stumbling figure grow smaller in the rearview mirror, Leland Burns felt a pang of worry that she might fall.
Suppressing his reluctance, Leland Burns decided it would be better to leave secretly next time without telling Winifred Dawson.
Back home, Winifred Dawson insisted on watching TV. The servant turned on the living room television for her. Instead of sitting on the sofa, she sat on the floor with her back against it and rested her chin on the coffee table where a cake and milk were prepared for her.
She stayed there through lunch, occasionally glancing at the TV and then outside until the midday news came on. She jumped up immediately, hitting the coffee table and spilling food everywhere.
Ignoring the pain in her toes from hitting the table, she ran outside barefoot. Fortunately, the path was smooth; otherwise, her feet would have suffered on a gravel path.
No one reacted quickly enough as Winifred Dawson dashed to the iron gate outside. The gate was always closed except when people entered or exited.
Seeing the guard from this morning, she said, “The news is on; I’m waiting outside for him.”
The guard was momentarily stunned before realizing that he had forgotten there were both evening and midday news broadcasts.
“Mr. Burns won’t be back yet…” The guard felt awkward.
“Why? Didn’t you say he’d be back when the news came on? You’re lying!” Winifred Dawson tilted her head in confusion and blinked tearfully like a soft bunny that no one wanted to hurt or make sad.
Softening his voice, the guard explained, “Miss, I wasn’t lying. I meant the evening news; it’s still daytime now.”
Winifred Dawson looked up at the sun hanging in the sky.
This time she seemed convinced that he was lying. No matter how much the servants coaxed or persuaded her, she wouldn’t go back inside. If anyone tried to touch her, she would scream and crouch down with her head in her arms.
The servants were terrified of hurting her and didn’t dare touch her anymore. They thought they’d wait until she calmed down and got hungry; then they’d lure her back inside with food and lock the door so she couldn’t run out again.