A Winters Farewell

Chapter Two:

My first day in my new home was grandeur of course with my mother finalizing every last detail of the exterior. She couldn't wait to get me here after the last few months. I felt established now as I turned eighteen four months ago. Before my eighteenth birthday I had helped in the fight for women's rights. Before we left our old home, I was able to vote, a feat my mother always wanted for me. It was a special time for us, one that we could be proud of and I used that momentum to strengthen my future plans. Although I had no plans set in stone quite yet, I was still observing my options, this upset my father. He strived on knowing exactly what he was going to do. He was very sure of his abilities to move forward where I was not. My mother called me a bird; swift to move in any direction that the wind carried me.

It was near the end of nineteen twenty, fifteenth of December. The air was crisp, snow blanketed the earth gently. As I stood on the veranda adjacent to my room looking down to the courtyard, I was struck with an image of my late sister. She was as delicate as a flower and she wilted away too soon as the Spanish flu took her. My parents and I tried everything we could to keep her spirits lifted. Our way of combatting the disease, but in the end it was out of our control. She has been gone for two years now, but I've never went a day without thinking of her as I am now overlooking the courtyard. She would have loved the courtyard. She loved the snow and she…

"Bella sweetie, would you be a dear and help me decide…"

My mother would never learn that the subtle tap on the door would be appreciated before entering a room. She had no boundaries when it came to her children. I turned quickly to her voice and I tried to change my mood before she noticed the distained appearance on my face. I was too late. She came to me suddenly with a warm hug, a very worried warm hug and then pulled me away to look at me.

"You were thinking of Lucy, weren't you?"

I swear she could read my thoughts. I didn't want to talk about it, so I simply shrugged and kept my eyes to the floor. I knew she would want me to look at her, but I just…couldn't. It still hurt as it had two years ago. I knew this kind of pain would never go away. She was my best friend and that would never change. My mother could see that I couldn't discuss my beloved sister at the moment, so she whispered when there was no need for it,

"I love you Bella. I'll let you settle before dinner."

She walked away quietly after a light kiss on my forehead and closed my door, leaving me to mourn my own way. I couldn't have been more grateful.

That's all I have for now. This chapter had no need to go further. I wanted to highlight the years and Lucy with the Spanish Flu. So I hope you can all notice at least a hint of where I'm going with this for now. Please let me know what you think so far. Comments very much appreciated.