3 3. Marriage

It had been nine days since Ericson and Helena had come to meet their daughter. The time to go back drew so near that they were very reluctant to let the day go because the day after tomorrow, they had to leave, early, just like they came. And this time, they were gonna leave their precious daughter sad though she would never ever say it of show it infront of them being that ever so nice and understanding dirl that she was. And this was what made the couple feel more remorseful because they couldn't do anything to take the reason of her sadness away. That was why Ericson and Helena decided to tell it right away, right now, so that they would be there when Eleanor felt down. They would have a full day to take care of her like normal parents do when their child is under the weather or feeling down.

''Eleanor.'' Ericson called out her name softly to gain her attention. Helena was there beside him holding onto his arm as a form of support, for her, him and for him, her.

''Yes dad?'' Eleanor replied back dropping the embroidery she had been doing to join them in the living room.

''Sweetheart, you are 18 this year. You...'' Helena started with a soft but hesitant voice but she couldn't complete the sentence. She couldn't even say what she wanted out loud.

''Have to get married at the end of this year right?'' Eleanor said trying to keep her voice cheerful but a trace of derision for herself still got through into her voice.

''Sweetheart...''

''It's ok mom, dad. What happens, happens for the best. And it's not like we can escape it, so why not just go for it. Look at you being so worried. It's not like I'm going to die after I get married. Don't worry so much, or you would have wrinkles before your age.''

''Sweetheart, we are getting old. It is time for us to have wrinkles.'' Helena said laughing a little at her daughter's words but deep down the heart ache she felt was worst than ever. Her daughter was so sensible even though she suffered all these years. She didn't even get to spend time with her parents well. If she was replaced with another kid, they would surely have one who would revolt and hate them at every given chance. That was the case they thought they would experience with Eleanor as well but no, they were so wrong, so, so wrong.

Eleanor never blamed them. Infact she tried every possible way to make them not feel so bad, not so guilty, hiding all her pain and dissatisfactions,all her sufferings, behind that bright smile on her face. But what she didn't know was that, her parents knew. They knew how much hurt they had caused her. They knew how much dissatisfied she was with the way things were. But they also knew how hard she tries to hide them all behind that smile, so even when they knew that she was crying under her covers, they didn't step forward to hug her. They didn't want their daughter to feel that she had been exposed. They didn't want her to feel bad thinking she couldn't do a better job at hiding her pain away. They didn't want to.

So all they did all these years was cry in eachothers arms silently when the knew that their daughter was crying right behind the door.

And that was what happened today as well. Eleanor cried under her covers while her parents, behind the door.