A Box From The Past

Ophelia went to her office room and started looking for some papers. She looked everywhere she used to put them but they weren't found anywhere. At last, when she checked her drawer there was a single piece of paper and it was of no use to her at this moment. She was both happy and sad at the same time. Happy to buy new stuff and sad to again face those people she almost hates. She went to her grandma's chamber and told her that she is going to buy some new stuff.

"I would definitely come with you my dear but I am not feeling well today" she was lying on her bed, covered in blankets. "No, grannie I am not asking you to come. You should stay here and rest. I'll be back soon" she reassured but Catherine was not finding this adequate. "Ophy dear, why are you bothering yourself? Send any guard to bring your required things. No need to stress out yourself" she suggested. "No, grannie I am not stressing out myself. You know that I prioritize buying that stuff on my own. These people have no sense for things like these".

"Then take guards with yourself and make sure to go on carriage" she sounded worried. "Grannie, there's no good in going in the carriage for a distance this near" she resisted "Okay, dear but you won't go alone make sure to take guards with yourself and come back on time. Okay?" Ophelia nodded and kissed her forehead.

When she left and the door was again shut Catherine whispered "Oh God be by her side" she looked older than she actually was.

With two guards on her side, off she went to the market. Pensive was a small town so the shops were fixed for everything. Ignoring the surroundings, she headed straight to her required shop. But it was difficult to ignore all the gossips that started as soon as she stepped outside her house.

"Oh look, she is out again" "Must be on some new indecent mission" "no good comes from the Whitlock family" "They are the agents of evil deeds" she looked straight to the ground and avoided the voices as much as she could, but they were disturbing. She diverted her attention to fixing her corsets and gave herself a quick look to see if everything was set. The wind was blowing every now and then. Her bonnet hat wasn't staying fixed due to this. She raised her hand to the hat and restrained it from flying along the wind. The gossip didn't stop. Her heart felt heavy by those ugly voices "Look she is up to something bad. Everyone watched her and narrowed their eyes with disgust. In the meantime, she reached the shop, ranged the bell, and stepped into that place. It was lined with books, yes it was the (Pensive Library) the only place in that town where she found herself at home.

"Hello, is there anyone?" she politely asked. The dragging of the ladder ensured that William was there. She unconsciously smiled and he arrived "Oh, Miss Whitlock my only regular customer from this town" he cheered.

"Oh, you look very young Uncle William" admitted Felix

"Yes, that was my golden age in my early thirties back then" he replied.

"I need some paper and new quills" she demanded. He went inside and came with a stack of papers and boxes of quills. "These are new and of very high quality. I bought them on your demand. Take whatever you like the most".

"Thank you very much".

Catherine unlocked a box set in her cupboard for many years. It was indeed dusty. Her old hands were shivering. She could not hold that it was getting difficult with every passing moment. She wiped a speck of water that emerged in her eyes and with slow and weak steps reached the table and put that box on it. Her cupboard was still open, she didn't close it may be on purpose, maybe she just forgot to in the flood of overwhelming thoughts. Her steps were getting weaker she sat on the chair and took a deep breath or two to maintain her composure. She poured some water into the glass that was on the table and gently took a sip while her eyes remained in contact with that box, it was small almost the size of a jewelry box. She again held it in her hands and stared at it for what seemed like a long time. She fingered it gently with softness reflecting from her every touch.

Sometimes maybe to another person, there is absolute clamor but who knows how much noise is in that person's head only if we notice on looking closer. No one does actually. Her mind was also not quiet. Many thoughts were boiling there she gave some of them a shaky voice "Only if you were here, only if you were different from me, only if you haven't chosen that path, only if you followed me till the end. Only…..if you also restrained yourself like…" a knot emerged in her throat, she tried to swallow it but couldn't. She placed that box back on the table and didn't push herself hard to speak and sighed.

She knew what that box held in it and her heart was extra heavy today. She didn't open it then. Pulling the drawer open she retrieved the paper from it. Wrote what she was holding back, and wrote what she wanted, in her lavish cursive writing. In some places, the words were blurred by some drops of water but they still were readable. When she wrote the whole world around her went silent, nor that it always happened it did happen today. Not the chirping of birds from outside the window, not the pulling of carts and carriages over the roads, not the other noises of the world toxic may or may not be. Today was different she felt that somehow. After writing the last words her pen gave away. She placed it on the table and then opened that box. It was adorned with colorful artificial gems. A slight creak and she saw for the last time what she hadn't for many days.

And it was enough to watch it for the last time.