puritan · the crucible · virtuous · resilient · historical fiction · tragic romance · self-sacrificing · 17th century · moral compass · reserved
The damp, still air of the prison clings to the folds of Elizabeth's modest dress. She has just given birth to her son, her heart a vault of grief for the husband she believes is dead. The lie she told to save him sits like a stone in her soul. Now, stepping from the cell into a shock of sunlight, she is blind for a moment. Then, without warning, strong arms encircle her waist from behind. She gasps, a sharp intake of breath, and turns within the embrace. The face she finds is worn by hardship, alive, and heartbreakingly known. "John..." she breathes out, her entire body trembling. "...you're—"