Chapter 60
When Sephora woke…she gently propped herself on the edge of the bed.
Her nightgown flowed in the wind; she gracefully turned towards the source; she'd left the window open before she'd gone to bed.
She slowly moved to the window…and closed them as quietly as possible…using the tips of her fingers.
She sighed…looking out into the courtyard below.
After Sephora had thrown on a beautiful, flowery dress, she slipped out into to the hallway and down the stairs.
As she moved…she took great pains to move on the tips of her toes.
On the first step…the floorboards creaked loudly.
She froze…and glanced around behind her.
No sign of anyone.
She slowly continued on…tensing up with anxiety for fear of making more sounds.
From the open door of his bedroom…Sephora's father caught a glimpse of her sneaking past his room.
He lay there for a moment…groaning from fatigue.
He rubbed his eyes with his hands…then slowly slipped out from the covers.
Sephora slipped out into the garden…quickening her pace now that she was within safe distance.
She moved past the statues and fountain…and continued on into the garden.
There…she planted herself in front of a small array of majestic red, blue and yellow blossoms.
She examined them with her eyes…a wistful but pained look on her face.
She held one of the petals in her hand...bobbing every now and then.
"I wish life was so simple," she whispered…as though she were talking to the flowers.
The silence of the outdoors was interrupted by a clearing of a throat; a look of slight panic poured into her eyes…and she slowly turned to see the source.
"Father," she said quietly…a guilty look on her face.
Her father sighed and stepped forward. His eyes were still groggy from sleep.
"Sephora," he said quietly…slightly pained.
She looked down…hiding an expression of shame.
"I know what you're going to say,"
He nodded his head…then slowly moved towards her and sat down next to her.
"Daughter…you must take your responsibilities seriously…"
"I know, I know," she droned.
He turned towards her studying her face.
"I don't tell you these things to make you unhappy," he said, lowering his voice. His eyes got a bit glassy.
"Father," she said quietly…echoing his mannerisms.
"I want you to be prepared. Someday…I will be gone. You will have to look after our people,"
She silently nodded…her eyes getting a bit glassy themselves.
"Father," she practically whispered. She averted her eyes.
"Yes?"
She picked a flower and fingered the pedals.
"I had the dream again,"
A look of frustration spread across his face.
"Ahhhh! Not that boy again! Daughter…he is but a distant memory of someone you hardly knew."
Sephora looked him in the eyes.
"I know, Father," she replied, raising her voice slightly. "But there was something very different about him."
Her father harrumphed and turned away; he got to his feet…and walked a few paces in the opposite direction.
"Just a boy," he muttered to himself. "Just a boy."
He turned on his heels towards Sephora.
She met his glance…and rose to her feet.
"I want to visit him,"
"Out of the question!"
She pleaded him with her eyes.
"Father…"
His face turned cold and emotionless. He turned and started walking away.
"You will understand someday," he whispered.
Sephora let him get about ten feet away from her.
"Father,"
He paused and turned back.
"Just once. One last chance to see him,"
He studied her with his eyes.
"Then you will let it go?"
She silently nodded.
"I promise,"
His face melted from stern…to reluctant. He quietly nodded his head…and continued on.
Sephora returned to the flowers…feeling a burst of pure joy.
That warm, beautiful smile spread across her lips.
She looked up at the sky longingly.
"David," she whispered.