Carrie's eyes opened to the bright sun shining directly upon her. The gentle
voice of the elder peasant man awoke her. "We have arrived young lady." Carrie
got down from the carriage. The elder man handed her a small box.
"It's been two years since you visited your mother's grave?"
"Yes. I have been away from these parts for all this time."
The elder man saw that she seemed troubled. "Are you sure you want to get down here? I'll take you up the hill. These parts are filled with gypsies nowadays. They are mostly harmless but you never know."
"Thank you, I can handle myself. This is fine, anyway. I want to walk the rest of the way."
"Very well then young lady. Take care of yourself." The elder man pulled his reins and the carriage began to move again. Carrie turned and began to walk up the hill before her. At the top of the hill lay a medium sized grave. The tombstone was laid out on the ground and a cross stood over it. Carrie walked up to it and laid her box on the ground beside it. She opened the box and pulled out from it a bouquet of flowers. She looked up at the sky for a moment and then placed the flowers on the tombstone. The stone was now covered in grass so Carrie removed some of it so the inscription could be seen. Carrie sat by the grave for some time. It was midday when she heard the galloping of horses coming nearby. After several minutes she could hear the sound of boots coming up behind her. Henry sat down beside as quietly as possible. She looked at him.
"We knew that you would come here."
"I had to."
"Reinhardt and Rosa were worried when you disappeared."
"I needed time to think."
"I don't want to influence you, but nothing will change. They have been like parents to you these past two years. The adoption would only make it official."
"You know she was not even my real mother. She found me and raised me. There was no common blood between us. When the time came she was willing to die to protect me." Tears began to run down her cheeks. "I suppose that is what counts." She sniffed and buried her head in her hands. Carrie cried silently. Henry put a hand on her shoulder.
"You know you and I share a unique bond." Henry said softly. Carrie looked up at him. "We are both orphans. We both know what it is to have our parents taken from us. Perhaps you are afraid of betraying those who have loved you before. Perhaps you are even afraid that if they do become your parents then you might lose them, but don't. Loss is a part of life. How we deal with it decides if we are to be successful in our goals. It is also what makes us human. I wish I had the chance you do right now. It is obvious that Rosa and Reinhardt care for you. Let them continue."
Carrie and Henry walked down the hill together. At the base of the hill Reinhardt and Rosa stood waiting. Carrie turned to Henry. "You know you would make an excellent brother," she said smiling. Carrie then joined Reinhardt and Rosa and together they had a group hug. Reinhardt looked at Henry gestured for him to join. Henry smiled and joined in.
Together these four men and women, who are not joined by blood, were now one family brought together by adversity.
"It's been two years since you visited your mother's grave?"
"Yes. I have been away from these parts for all this time."
The elder man saw that she seemed troubled. "Are you sure you want to get down here? I'll take you up the hill. These parts are filled with gypsies nowadays. They are mostly harmless but you never know."
"Thank you, I can handle myself. This is fine, anyway. I want to walk the rest of the way."
"Very well then young lady. Take care of yourself." The elder man pulled his reins and the carriage began to move again. Carrie turned and began to walk up the hill before her. At the top of the hill lay a medium sized grave. The tombstone was laid out on the ground and a cross stood over it. Carrie walked up to it and laid her box on the ground beside it. She opened the box and pulled out from it a bouquet of flowers. She looked up at the sky for a moment and then placed the flowers on the tombstone. The stone was now covered in grass so Carrie removed some of it so the inscription could be seen. Carrie sat by the grave for some time. It was midday when she heard the galloping of horses coming nearby. After several minutes she could hear the sound of boots coming up behind her. Henry sat down beside as quietly as possible. She looked at him.
"We knew that you would come here."
"I had to."
"Reinhardt and Rosa were worried when you disappeared."
"I needed time to think."
"I don't want to influence you, but nothing will change. They have been like parents to you these past two years. The adoption would only make it official."
"You know she was not even my real mother. She found me and raised me. There was no common blood between us. When the time came she was willing to die to protect me." Tears began to run down her cheeks. "I suppose that is what counts." She sniffed and buried her head in her hands. Carrie cried silently. Henry put a hand on her shoulder.
"You know you and I share a unique bond." Henry said softly. Carrie looked up at him. "We are both orphans. We both know what it is to have our parents taken from us. Perhaps you are afraid of betraying those who have loved you before. Perhaps you are even afraid that if they do become your parents then you might lose them, but don't. Loss is a part of life. How we deal with it decides if we are to be successful in our goals. It is also what makes us human. I wish I had the chance you do right now. It is obvious that Rosa and Reinhardt care for you. Let them continue."
Carrie and Henry walked down the hill together. At the base of the hill Reinhardt and Rosa stood waiting. Carrie turned to Henry. "You know you would make an excellent brother," she said smiling. Carrie then joined Reinhardt and Rosa and together they had a group hug. Reinhardt looked at Henry gestured for him to join. Henry smiled and joined in.
Together these four men and women, who are not joined by blood, were now one family brought together by adversity.