“All you offer are dry bones of grief”

“Last night I dreamed that somebody loved me”

The Duchess was tired of the same old routine. Every day, she would offer her subjects dry bones of grief. They were always so sad, and she longed to bring them some joy.

Last night, she had a dream that somebody loved her. In her dream, a handsome prince came to her and offered her his heart. She was finally able to feel love and happiness again.

When she woke up, she decided to try something new. Instead of offering dry bones of grief, she offered smiles and laughter. The people were surprised at first, but they soon began to enjoy themselves. The Duchess was happy for the first time in years.

The duchess moves through the crowds, her entourage in tow. She looks like a ghost, a pale shadow of what she once was. The people around her whisper and gossip, but she doesn't hear them. She's lost in her own world, a bleak place where nobody can reach her.

But then, one night, something changes. In the middle of a ballroom surrounded by hundreds of people, the duchess feels someone touch her hand. She turns to see a stranger looking at her with eyes full of warmth and love. And for the first time in years, she feels hope blossoming inside her heart.

The days following that encounter are some of the happiest she's ever known. But soon enough reality comes crashing down around her again and she's left alone with only memories of brief happiness...