The howling wind picked up a few dried leaves around Owens feet as the lumberjack dug his axe into the base of the oak tree. He was exhausted, his hands numb and feet aching, overworked from the day. Hes cut down three trees today, hauling them into town to sell and only getting half of the price for them. He couldn't argue with the coin hes earned, he dare speak out and he'd be shunned out again. Atleast they buy his wood still.

A few more hits and the tree is felled. Owen takes a moment to breathe, sitting down to rest his weary skin and bones, already a flame. The doctors didn't help much, leeches and bloodletting did nothing to treat his illness, only made him weaker.

The tired lumberjack sighed, before getting up to go back to work. He had to cut the tree up after all. It was tiring. He barely got enough pay for food these days, the worse his condition was the more poorly did the townsfolk treat him. He's learned to live with it.

"It could be worse" he reminded himself, working on the logs and preparing himself for the journey to sell the wood. It wasn't anything new, an old man bought the firewood, giving him four copper coins for it. Thats barely a slice of bread. He didn't complain. He couldn't. So with yet another tired sigh he slumped his shoulders, axe resting on one as he pretended not to notice the townsfolk who avoided him and gave him the looks of pity or disgust.

It wasnt fair. Nothing in life was, but this seemed like some cruel punishment just for him. Just to make him suffer. It wasn't- he bumped into someone

"Oh, sorry- I really should have looked where i was heading"

He quickly apologised, expecting the townsmember to have a go at him for touching them with his gross illness or something.