Chapter 6
Eva stares at the flowers in front of her. A small card is attached to one of the stalks:
I've won the first round in the Championship!
I'll come to visit you soon!
Love Matthew
This is already the fifth race Eva is unable to watch in person. Ow, she tried in the beginning. Begging, shouting, crying, cursing, but nothing had helped her to get permission to go and see the race in person.
The old woman sighs while she looks out over the giant garden filled with flowers and plants. People are walking and riding over the paths between the flowers. Some are patients and some are their caretakers. It is ridiculous, but Eva misses her black cat the most of all. Lost in memories she can even hear her precious friend meow at her. It sounds so lively and so real that she almost turns around to look at the animal behind her, but of course it is all just a memory.
When the she hears the sound again followed by a loud purring and something pushing against her leg, Eva opens her eyes. 'Satis!', Eva laughs happily. The cat is really walking in front of her and after just a short moment of hesitation the little animal jumps upon her lap.
She strokes the animal affectionately. 'How the hell did you get here, my little friend?', she asks the cat.
It is however not the cat who answers her...
'He was very persistent', a voice sounds behind her.
'He came to my residence shortly after your family had taken him in', the voice continues.
'He clung in the flesh of my leg for the better part of the day', chuckles the voice.
'He was very angry with me and told me all about the years he spent with you. It was a long, and most of all, a very sad story. I listened to him. I listened to my son. I listened to my daughter. I listened to your family. You are not a mad, old, lonely woman, Eva. You are just as bright as when I met you and you did not deserve what my son has done to you. So I followed Satis and came here, to your prison. I came here to take you away.'
Eva wants to turn around to face the person behind her, but the dramatic effect is lessened by the left wheel of the wheelchair, which gets stuck in the sand next to the path. 'Owh shoo', Eva mutters angry. 'Now the dramatic effect of my turnaround is destroyed.'
She hears the voice chuckle again, but this time it is not behind her. The man bows and a strong, tanned hand pulls slightly at the wheel to get it loose. Then, in a swift and fluent motion the man bents his knees and turns around so that he is kneeling in front of the old Mrs. Wei. His strong hands clasps her frail and old ones and holds her hands like it is the only safety line to reality.
Eva looks finally up into the deep blue eyes she has not seen for over sixty years. They stare back at her filled with an emotion she can only identify as love, the real deal. Before she can open her mouth Aikka speaks to cut her off. 'I know I cannot be forgiven for the pain and sorrow I have caused you. That you would even consider to give me another chance at regaining your trust is only a faraway dream, but let me tell you this before you get angry and shut me out. I love you, I have always loved you. I have violated you and myself by choosing a Nourasian bride when the time came I had to take over the throne. I have two beautiful children, but I cannot love them with the whole of my heart, because I did not have them with you. You have always held my heart and therefore my children despise you and my love for you is hurting them as well. I can only ask you this... Will you come with me and see if you can ever find a place in your heart to forgive me?'