A Happy Couple -2-

The bad news came a few minutes later. Apolo, the newborn's father had died.

Jenny was mourning all night. She cried and cried until her eyes dried out.

The usual happy and optimistic Jenny was now nothing but a broken shell. Her spirit was practically shattered. Only her newborn could provide her with comfort.

A once cheerful home had become a gloomy scene, one even the most vicious devils wouldn't enjoy.

The kid's sudden cries were the only thing that gave Jenny a sense of purpose, a reason to stay alive.

Some may say it's a little bit dramatic for a widow to act like her world has ended after her husband died. But they hardly know that he was her whole world.

She was a gloomy child by nature, the fifth child of a modest couple. They weren't terrible, but unfortunately they were exhausted after raising 4 children.

The smallest acts of innocence such as crying over some toys or even just hugging her mom while she was cooking were frowned upon. Every action she took was met with shouts.

They were demanding a literal child to stop acting like one and grow up.

They robbed her of the only thing everyone deserves, a fun and innocent childhood.

She stopped speaking altogether at the age of 8. Because of her expressionless figure, her siblings thought she was cursed, and her parents were ashamed of taking her to family dinners.

They broke her and then wondered why she was the way she was. Isn't that ironic?

She continued to lead an empty bleak life, spending time alone and lonely.

During Jenny's sixteenth summer, Apolo, the grandchild of the legendary adventurer, visited Jenny's house.

The parents welcomed him and gave him the most gracious hospitality a couple of farmers could deliver.

Apolo, whose face was reddening slowly, was sitting at the table where the whole family was enjoying their feast.

A whole loaf of bread, seven cups of diluted milk, a small plate of jam, and....cheese!! And probably more than 100 grams at that!!

That was an absolute luxury for the family.

After finishing his meal, Apolo tried to muster his courage.

"I..."

"What's that, my dear?" Jenny's mother asked.

The first attempt failed but he wasn't one to give up.

"I...I want to marry Jenny!", said the blushing seventeen-year-old.

A loud silence filled the room.

No one dared to speak.

And out of nowhere, an unexpected laugh broke the silence.

Who laughed? The gloomy Jenny did.

She was giggling because of how unpredictable this was.

The other family members laughed nervously too as they were downright perplexed.

An already reddened Apolo was as red as the sunset at a breathtaking time of day.

Despite waiting for a response, the poor child was only able to hear laughter.

Jenny wiped the smile from her face and asked "Are you sure you want that?"

The sudden change in Jenny's behavior surprised Apolo, but his hesitation was never one of his traits.

"Of course."

The two words made Jenny laugh again.

"Then I am okay with it too."

Jenny was freed from these family bonds, and the family was left with nothing to do but watch.

The word spread through the town that Jenny was in such desperate need of a husband that she begged the sweet Apolo to marry her.

In spite of Apollo's desire to defend his future wife, she refused to allow him to do so.

"Let's leave this town," she said with a smile as wide as her cheeks.

"Of course."

And they never told this story to anyone after settling in Rindo, the closest town to the border.

In spite of how beautiful this story may sound, it is now merely an old page following the death of the protagonist.