บท 11: The Silence

The whole night I spend weeping on the pillow made me exhausted and before I know it, I went to sleep, next day I woke up in an empty cottage, the kitchen that always echoed with my mother's humming in morning was silent, the table where a bread always been kept there with a glass of milk was covered in dust, I looked at the time on an old watch in the cottage, it was 10 o'clock, my stomach growled again, I looked around and I saw a small plant of tomatoes my mother was taking care of, on that plant, there were some small green tomatoes, I plucked few from it and ate them, I did not feel their taste probably because of hunger and when they were finished too, I drank some water and picked up my book.

I started studying, I know she will come back eventually and she will be angry be if she catches me slacking off, so I should study I thought, It was not shallow hope I was giving to myself but a stern belief my mother told me to believe in she never lied to me and she promised me that she will return so I have to believe in those words.

So I went to the forest, I was reading the book or more like staring at the words with a blank mind, I lost count of pages I turned and the sun came above my head it was already noon, what's the point in going back there is nothing kept for me there, I resumed to watching the letters in the book.

"AARIS!!"

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU? HOW DARE YOU HIDE FROM ME COME HERE RIGHT NOW!!" a boisterous voice shook the forest, it was Crius's voice, he was looking for me but somehow I was not scared, I followed the voice and came out of the forest.

I saw three people waiting eagerly to welcome me,

Ulios grabbed my collar, as soon as I appeared in front of him "What were you doing inside the forest?",

besides him, there was winter holding a basket with few pieces of bread in it she was looking at me,

"Brother Aaris you shouldn't do that, look I ask maids to bring me fresh bread for you I was really looking forward to giving them to you but why we're you hiding, don't be afraid brother Crius said he will easy on you toda-" gently she said,

"Afraid? Who? Me? Nope?" I glared at her,

"Oh okay quite brave you have become, is it because you think you defeat us or because you have a death wish along with that bitch" Crius spoke to me and then he kicked me I fell on the ground after a few rolls, then the usual started they were hitting me as they were given a toy to break,

Luckily this time my eyes were open through the end,

"Hei! Congratulations brother Aaris you did it but unfortunately I think you won't celebrate this with us anyways as I promised I leaving your reward here be sure to eat them and grow healthy let's practice again tomorrow" Winter left the basket near my hand and they left without saying anything else.

Till the evening I stayed on the ground and thinking why things like this happening to us? was it my fault? my mother's? what should I do I was too weak to yearn for revenge neither I will gain anything out of it if I try to upset them more I don't know what will they do to her? I collected myself from this thought grabbed the basket and went to the cottage, after eating some of that I used Druid stone and went straight to bed.

Days to weeks the same thing happened again and again but they stopped coming after the start of 2nd week probably because they became bore of me yet still maids came to deliver my bread at noon every day, on 18 June my body turned skinny, I lost too much weight and skin turned pale and my hair and nails were dried and rough, there were bags under my eyes and stomach went inside, but I was still alive still waiting for her at 20th I woke up on the smelly bed but I didn't have an ounce of strength to leave it I tried hard but still I couldn't.

In the end, I gave up I thought I will wait for like this but I will not get rid of my breaths until I see her I won't break my promise, I will wait...

The time felt like going slow I peeked through the window it dark outside perhaps it was night time, little by little my body was turning heavy and heavier with each second, my vision was getting cloudy and slowly my eyes were closing themselves little by little and I uttered,

"I am sorry Mother"

and closed my eyes.....

I was waiting to fall asleep but then I felt my face somewhat wet suddenly in my mouth there was water and now I was feeling my face getting constantly wiped with a wet cloth and a troubled voice reached my ears...

"AA.... AARI...AARIS WAKE UP I AM HERE AARIS..... PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE.. I AM HERE... LOOK AT ME OPEN YOUR EYES YOU ARE SCARING ME AARIS....PLEASE DON'T DO THIS IS TO ME.... PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES.. PLEASE!"

"MOTHER?"