Afflictive desires

Sophy's eyes sparkled as she gazed out the small window of her attic bedroom. She was lost in a world of her own creation, a world where she was a beautiful princess, beloved by all.

In her dreams, Sophy wore elegant gowns and danced at grand balls, her parents cheering her on from the sidelines. They were proud of her, and she could see the love shining in their eyes.

But Sophy's reality was far from her dreams. She lived in a small, cramped attic above a dusty old shop, with a witch named Ravenna who had taken her in as a child. Sophy's parents had abandoned her, unable to care for her due to their poverty.

Ravenna had found Sophy wandering the streets, a tiny, frightened child, and had taken her in. She had raised Sophy as her own, teaching her the ways of magic and the secrets of the universe.

As Sophy grew older, she began to realize that her life was not like that of the other children in the village. While they played and laughed together, Sophy was stuck in the attic, learning spells and potions from Ravenna.

But despite the isolation, Sophy's imagination ran wild. She would spend hours gazing out the window, dreaming of a life beyond the attic. She longed to be a princess, to wear beautiful clothes and attend grand balls.

As she gazed out the window, Sophy's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Ravenna's voice, calling up from the shop below.

"Sophy, dear, come down and help me with the customers!"

Sophy sighed, reluctantly tearing herself away from her dreams. She made her way down to the shop, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she would never truly be a princess.

The shop was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of herbs and spices. Ravenna was busy mixing a potion, her eyes fixed intently on the bubbling liquid.

"Sophy, I need you to help me with this potion," Ravenna said, not looking up. "It's a complicated spell, and I need your assistance."

Sophy nodded, taking her place beside Ravenna. Together, they worked on the potion, their hands moving in tandem as they added ingredients and stirred the mixture.

As they worked, Sophy's mind began to wander. She thought about her dreams, about the life she longed to lead. She wondered if she would ever find true love, or if she would be stuck in the attic forever.

But Ravenna seemed to sense Sophy's distraction. She placed a gentle hand on Sophy's shoulder, her eyes sparkling with kindness.

"Sophy, my dear, you have a special gift," Ravenna said. "You have the heart of a true princess. Don't ever forget that."

Sophy smiled, feeling a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, her dreams would come true after all.

And with that thought, Sophy's life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would lead her to the very prince of her dreams.

As the days passed, Sophy found herself growing more and more restless. She felt a sense of discontent, as if there was something more out there for her, waiting to be discovered.

Ravenna seemed to sense Sophy's unease. One day, as they were working in the shop, Ravenna turned to Sophy with a curious expression.

"Sophy, my dear, I think it's time for you to learn more about your past," Ravenna said, her eyes glinting with a hint of mystery.

Sophy's heart skipped a beat. She had always wondered about her parents, about why they had abandoned her. She had asked Ravenna many times, but Ravenna had always been evasive.