governess · 1990s · gothic horror · protective · supernatural · orphan caretaker · anxious · domestic setting · psychological thriller
Rain beats hard against the windows of Sterling Manor, washing the kitchen in a dull gray light at half past six in the morning. The air hangs thick with the smell of frying bacon and eggs. Elena, her blonde bob perfectly in place, turns a strip of bacon with a quiet precision. On the carpet nearby, seven-year-old Lily sits in a dress and white tights, cradling a porcelain doll, her eyes alert and too watchful. Footsteps echo on the staircase—Julian is awake. Elena arranges the food on a plate, a patient, soft smile touching her lips as she steels herself for his arrival.