chapter 8. is the fear

The train from City Z to City A took about five hours of journey. It was a long, heart-racing journey. The city's glamour and fun didn't enchant her, her mind was in its world. It was recalling her memories like strands of threads, thread by thread they untangled bestowing her guild of not spending enough time with her family.

She recalled how as a child she always looked up to her. They weren't in the best living conditions but her granny always made sure to have plenty of food supplies.

They lived in a house with thatched roofs. It was made of wood and was made generations ago. Round the veranda, she would always play with her little dog Kuro.

They weren't the most prosperous ones, but they lived with utter happiness.

"Grandma, can you tell me a story?" little Miraki asked. Her doe eyes keenly glanced at her granny. It was late at night and her mother had been away at the city court.

"Sure, come over." she pressed her hands on the mattress next to her side. She climbed the bed and slipped under the warm blanket.

"So, once upon a time there lived a man, he was a man of the fine breed. He was a hardworking man with his own business. But one day his wife fell ill. So, he went to the deity. They gave him blessings but she did not recover.

So he went to ask the merchant to help but in return, the merchant had to marry his daughter" she said.

"Granny, why didn't she heal from the blessings of the gods?"

"Sometimes, blessings are a few whispers of nothingness. We can hope for it but not believe it. So, where was I?" she raised her glass from her nose tip to the nose bridge.

"SO, as I said. He was asked to marry a merchant's daughter. He did as asked, and then his wife was given medicine to get better. Then, the merchant's daughter and that man lived together."

"What happened to his first wife then?" the little girl's eyes lack lustre, her eyes half closed.

"She turned into a goddess and went away." her granny whispered as she caressed the little girl's head. Miraki remembered her granny's touch, it was gentle and full of love but her hands were calloused and rough.

Everything was a gentle reminder that her greatest treasure was perishing away.

"We have now arrived at platform 24, Capital city of the city A" the train lady spoke to all the speakers.

Miraki gathered her bags and walked out in a queue. The city had vastly changed yet, her heart was only set on one destination.

She took a local bus and arrived at the hospital. It was the biggest hospital in the city and had a very humungous building.

"Mom" Miraki dialled her phone and called her mother. " yes? Did you board the train?"

"Mom. I am here," she informed. Her head hung low, she felt out of place as every person would glance her way and then leave.

" oh then come to the ornithology section. Block S, room no. 2730." since Miraki only had two bags with her the load was not heavy. She asked the front desk regarding the room her mother inform

After the queries, Miraki took the elevator.

After working in large hotels, she had experience in searching the rooms. The hospital was bustling with people, the white walls were filled with silhouettes of the crowd.

"Mom!" Miraki brisked as she saw her mother outside the door of the ward. "what?" her mother slightly pushed her gesture to hug. She giggled and walked inside the room.

The room was filled with patients, a total of 7 people were admitted to that room.

Near the window lay her grandma's calmly breathing body. Her ribs had been covered up and her arms were scarred.

"Mo- how did it even… happen?" her lips went dry. Miraki could feel her breath getting heavier.

"We were walking. It was bright sunny weather. I went to get some snacks while she was near the pond when all of a sudden a boy riding a bike crashed into her and then threw himself and her into the pond." she said.

Her palms caressed her granny's cheeks and then her hair. She looked in pain.

She inquired no more as tears in her eyes were blurring her view of the world. With watery eyes, she stayed beside her granny the rest of her days.

She clutched her granny's pinky fingers as she leaned down.

Finally, when she thought she was persisting in life and reaching for success, life had to be sweet and destroy her happiness.

"Miraki did you have lunch?" she immediately sat straight. She denied by shaking her head. " come join me then." she commanded. Unwillingly she let go of her granny's hands.

They descended the stairs in silence. Thousands of words ran through her head, she wanted to comfort her mother but… nothing felt right to her.

The cafeteria was scarcely filled. She took a seat at a table as her mother took coupons and brought lunch. It was a bowl of beef soup.

They ate in silence and although they hadn't shared a word, the soup spoke all the words. It had always been her comfort food.

"Mom" she whispered with a little crooked smile.

As her mother gazed up to see her daughter, her little smile reminded her of when she was just a kid. It reminded them of that sweet little gullible smile, one of the only things in her life that hadn't changed.

"don't talk when eating" she sharply answered.

After lunch, they walked back to the ward. Miraki realized how long it had been since she had left home in pursuit of her job. Each day she was getting older. She had very little time yet she wanted to collect it all.

'Ping' her mother got a message. Her face grew darker as she read it. She halted her steps and said " Miraki, you go back. I shall be back. I need to go to the cashier."

" ok," she complied.