The Weight of prospects

Flora leaned against the gleam of the lighted beacon on the small table in the hushed common room, her mind a worried swell. The bruiting voices in the background was like a fading echo, yet within, her family's weighty heritage smothered her like a distance of heavy sword. She wore the burden of anticipation of her father's rise to former glory — a heritage always that sounded like a guiding lamp and an added burden.

“ Flora, you’ve been quiet all evening, ” ...