Thinking is an excuse, or is it an excuse to escape from reality ...

Or is escaping from reality an excuse for thinking?

Or is that thought and reality… are ashamed of what we are ...

Or maybe, what I am.

 “ Elizabeth strolled through the grand ballroom, the rustle of her silk dress and the click of her heeled shoes echoing off the polished marble floors. She had always been fascinated by the opulence and glamour of high society, but tonight she felt restless, searching for something more.

As she passed a group of gentlemen, their talk of politics and business fell silent, and all eyes turned to her. She forced a smile and nodded politely, but her gaze was drawn to a figure across the room, standing alone by the ornate fireplace.

It was a man, tall and lean, with messy brown hair and a rugged look that contrasted sharply with the elegant attire of the other guests. He held a glass of champagne in one hand and a sketchbook in the other, studying the scene before him with a detached curiosity.

Elizabeth felt a pull towards him, a desire to know more about this mysterious stranger who seemed so out of place in her world. She took a deep breath and made her way over to him, determined to break the silence.

"Excuse me," she said, "I couldn't help but notice your sketchbook. Are you an artist?"

The man looked up, his hazel eyes meeting hers with a hint of amusement. "I suppose you could say that," he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "My name is William. And you are?"

"I'm Elizabeth," she said, extending her hand. He took it, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her body.

They talked for hours, about art, philosophy, and the world beyond the ballroom. Elizabeth was drawn to William's intelligence and wit, and she found herself revealing things about herself that she had never shared with anyone else.

As the night wore on, the guests began to trickle out, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet of the empty ballroom. William turned to Elizabeth; his expression serious.

"There's something I need to tell you,” He said. "Something about my past."

And so began a journey into the shadows of the past, where secrets and lies lay buried deep beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered. Elizabeth would discover that the man she had fallen for was not who he seemed and that their chance encounter was the beginning of a dangerous and thrilling adventure that would test their love and loyalty to each other.

In the weeks that followed, Elizabeth and William continued to meet in secret, their meetings growing more frequent and intimate with each passing day. They would steal away to secluded gardens and hidden alcoves, talking for hours about everything and nothing, their conversations always leaving Elizabeth feeling more alive than ever before.

But despite the joy that William brought into her life, Elizabeth knew that their relationship was forbidden. He was not of her social class, and their families would never approve of their friendship, let alone a romance.

She tried to keep her feelings for him in check, reminding herself of the consequences that would come if they were caught. But it was impossible to ignore the pull that she felt towards him, the way her heart raced every time he touched her hand or brushed against her arm.

One day, as they walked through the gardens, William stopped and took Elizabeth's hand, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Elizabeth, I know that we come from different worlds," he said, his voice soft and urgent. "But I can't help how I feel about you. I know it's risky, but I can't imagine my life without you in it."

Elizabeth felt her heart swell with emotion, but she knew that they couldn't continue like this forever. They needed a plan, a way to be together without facing the wrath of their families and society.

And so began a game of secrets and deception, as Elizabeth and William schemed to find a way to be together without anyone finding out. They would send each other secret letters and meet in hidden locations, always looking over their shoulders for any sign of danger.

As the days turned into weeks, their love only grew stronger, but so did the risks they faced. Elizabeth knew that one wrong move could destroy everything they had built together, but she was willing to take that chance for the sake of their forbidden friendship.

As the weeks turned into months, Elizabeth's secret friendship with William continued to flourish, but the pressure of their situation was starting to take its toll on her. She found herself constantly on edge, worrying about being caught and the consequences that would follow.

One day, as she was walking through the market, Elizabeth overheard a group of women whispering about her and William's secret meetings. She froze in fear, wondering if they knew more than they let on.

She rushed home and confronted William about it, her heart racing as she waited for his response. But he simply smiled at her and assured her that everything was fine, that they were careful and no one knew their secret.

Despite his words, Elizabeth couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. She knew that they were living on borrowed time and that their secret could be uncovered at any moment.

Then, one day, the worst happened. Elizabeth's father caught her sneaking out of the house to meet William, and he was furious. He forbade her from seeing him again and threatened to send her away to a convent if she disobeyed.

Elizabeth was devastated. She had never imagined that her secret would be discovered, and now she was faced with the reality that she might never see William again.

Days turned into weeks, and Elizabeth grew increasingly miserable. She missed William terribly, and she couldn't bear the thought of never seeing him again.

Then, one day, she received a letter from him. It was short and cryptic, but it filled her with hope. He had a plan, he wrote, a way for them to be together without anyone finding out.

Elizabeth's heart raced as she read his words. She knew that it was risky, but she was willing to do whatever it took to be with him.

And so, Elizabeth and William hatched a plan to run away together, to start a new life where no one knew their past and they could be free to love each other without fear. It was a risky plan, but they were willing to take the chance for the sake of their love.

The night of the escape, Elizabeth's heart was pounding so hard that she was sure it could be heard by anyone nearby. She had snuck out of her house and met William at their usual spot, where he had a horse waiting for them.

Without saying a word, they mounted the horse and rode off into the darkness, their hearts racing with excitement and fear.

They rode for what felt like hours, the wind whipping through their hair and the stars shining down on them. Elizabeth had never felt so alive, so free.

But as they neared their destination, a small village where they planned to start their new life, they heard the sound of horses galloping behind them. They turned to see a group of men on horseback, led by Elizabeth's furious father.

Panic set in as they realized they were being chased, and William spurred the horse on faster. But the men were gaining on them, and Elizabeth knew that they couldn't outrun them forever.

Desperate, William made a split-second decision. He steered the horse off the main road and into the woods, hoping to lose their pursuers in the dense underbrush.

They rode blindly through the woods, dodging trees and jumping over fallen logs until they finally came to a stop in a small clearing. Elizabeth's heart was pounding so hard that she could barely catch her breath.

But then, they heard the sound of horses approaching once again. William turned to Elizabeth, his eyes filled with fear and determination.

"We have to keep going," he said. "We can't let them catch us."

And with that, they mounted the horse and rode off once again, their hearts filled with hope and determination to start a new life together, no matter what obstacles lay in their path.

After hours of riding, William and Elizabeth finally arrived at the small village they had been dreaming of. It was a peaceful place, surrounded by rolling hills and green fields. The villagers greeted them with warm smiles and friendly waves, and the couple felt a sense of relief wash over them.

They quickly settled into their new home, a cozy cottage on the edge of the village. William found work as a blacksmith, while Elizabeth helped out at the local bakery. They were happy and content, finally free to live their lives together without fear of being discovered.

But as the weeks turned into months, they both began to feel a sense of restlessness. They longed for something more, something that would give their lives purpose and meaning beyond their day-to-day routines.

It was then that they heard about a group of rebels who were fighting for independence from the ruling monarchy. They were passionate, brave, and determined to create a better future for their people.

William and Elizabeth were immediately drawn to the cause, and they began attending secret meetings with the rebels. They were inspired by the bravery and dedication of these men and women, and they knew that they had to do their part to help.

As the rebellion grew stronger, William and Elizabeth became more involved, taking on dangerous missions and risking their lives for the cause. They knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but they were determined to see it through to the end.

And amid the chaos and danger, they found something they had never expected: a deeper love and connection than they had ever known before. They were partners in every sense of the word, and they knew that together, they could face anything that came their way.

As the rebellion raged on, William and Elizabeth stood side by side, fighting for a future that was brighter and more just. And as they looked back on their journey, they knew that they had found their true purpose in life: to fight for what they believed in and to never give up hope for a better tomorrow.

William and Elizabeth had fought for the rebel cause for months, never losing sight of their goal: to bring freedom to their people. They had been through battles and skirmishes and had seen friends and comrades fall in the fight for their cause. But they had never wavered in their commitment, and their determination had inspired others to join their ranks.

Now, they stood on the eve of the final battle. The rebels had amassed their forces and were preparing for a decisive confrontation with the ruling monarchy's army. William and Elizabeth stood in the war council tent, alongside the other leaders of the rebel forces.

The mood was tense, as everyone knew that this would be the moment of truth. There was a hush in the tent as the general began to speak.

"Brothers and sisters, today is the day we've been fighting for. Today, we will show the monarchy that we will not be oppressed any longer. We will fight with all we have, for the freedom of our people and the future of our country. We will not rest until victory is ours."

The council members let out a resounding cheer, and William and Elizabeth exchanged a look. They knew that the battle ahead would be the most difficult one yet, but they were ready for it.

The next day, the armies clashed on the battlefield. The sound of clashing swords and thundering hooves filled the air, and the smell of smoke and blood was overpowering. The rebels fought fiercely, determined to achieve victory at any cost.

William and Elizabeth fought side by side, their swords flashing in the sunlight. They were a formidable team, and their bravery inspired those around them. As the battle raged on, they began to gain ground, slowly pushing the monarchy's forces back.

At last, after hours of fighting, the battle was won. The monarchy's army had been defeated, and the rebels had emerged victorious. William and Elizabeth collapsed on the ground, exhausted but overjoyed.

As they looked around at the battlefield, they knew that their lives would never be the same. They had fought for something greater than themselves, and they had emerged victorious. They had created a new future for their people, one that was free and just.

William and Elizabeth knew that their journey was far from over, but they also knew that they had the strength and determination to face whatever challenges lay ahead. They had found their purpose in life, and they would fight for it with all their might, every day, for the rest of their lives.

The war was over, and the rebels had emerged victorious. William and Elizabeth had achieved their goal of bringing freedom to their people, but they knew that there was still much work to be done.

In the aftermath of the battle, the rebels set to work rebuilding their country. William and Elizabeth worked tirelessly alongside their fellow rebels, using their knowledge and skills to help create a new government that was fair and just.

Months went by, and as the country began to stabilize, William and Elizabeth found that they had some free time to themselves. They took long walks through the countryside, enjoying the peace that had been so hard-won.

One day, as they were walking through a meadow, Elizabeth turned to William and said, "I've been thinking. Now that the war is over, what do we do next?"

William smiled at her. "We continue to fight, my love. There will always be battles to be won, and injustices to be righted. But for now, we can rest a little and enjoy the peace that we've helped create."

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose you're right. But I can't help feeling a little restless. We've fought so hard for so long, it's strange to think that we can just...relax."

William put his arm around her. "We'll find new battles to fight, Elizabeth. For now, let's enjoy the peace that we've helped create."

As the days passed, William and Elizabeth found themselves falling into a comfortable routine. They spent their days working on various projects, helping to rebuild their country and make it stronger.

But they never forgot the sacrifices that had been made to achieve their freedom, and they continued to fight for justice and equality wherever they saw it lacking. And as they looked towards the future, they knew that they had a role to play in shaping the destiny of their country. For William and Elizabeth, this was only the beginning. They had fought for their beliefs and had emerged victorious. Now, they would continue to fight, using their talents and their determination to create a better world for all.

Somewhere in the world, in the sunshine and on the shore of a beach, two people were leaning on each other. 

‘’was the war necessary?’’ asked the young man who was looking deeply at the features of the young lady beside him. She smiled and said: When we are on the edge, we cling to the thing we have a deep feeling, even if it is grim and dark.