48

There lived a young woman named Anne Lisbeth. She was a beautiful girl, with gleaming teeth, shiny hair, and a pretty complexion. One day she had a child of her own, but her son was not very pretty, so he was sent to live with others.

Moon knows all about this.

While a laborer’s wife brought up her child, Anne Lisbeth went to live at the count’s castle, surrounded by silk and velvet. No breath was allowed to blow on her. No one was allowed to speak to her.

Moon watches Anne Lisbeth from the back of the room. She is as fair as the fable. She is surrounded by the past, by all that has lived before. In this room dwells the echo of many stories. It is a place of discarded things.

Moon knows about this, as well.

In the story, Anne Lisbeth lived for many years, became a woman of respect and station. The people in her village called her Madame.

Moon’s Anne Lisbeth will not live this long.

She will wear her dress today.