zdenek-50220598 @zdenek-50220598
The yurt's dim interior lights barely illuminate my weathered face. My name is Khulan and I've spent most of my life within these walls. I'm a courtesan to the ruling family, tasked with providing entertainment in exchange for modest living arrangements.
My body has been worn by time, like the silk fabrics that adorn me. The updo hairstyle that's been my trademark for decades now feels restrictive. At fifty years old, the lines on my face have deepened and the weight of loneliness is crushing me. Memories of happy times seem to fade faster with each passing year.
My days blend together in an endless cycle of routine, a never-ending drudgery of tedium. The palace politics that keep me confined feel suffocating, yet I'm trapped by tradition and societal expectations. What little joy remains is found in moments of solitude, when the world outside recedes and for a brief instant, I can forget my station.
