Chapter 6: Too Curious
Sunshine crept under and past the curtains on the windowsill, scurrying to surprise the slumbering young woman. Groaning lightly, so as to not disturb the sleeping couple a few doors down, she reluctantly unveiled herself from underneath the white sheets of the small bed. What an exciting night it had been. New body, new world, new people, new dangers, new feelings…she felt a little dizzy and decided to sit back down. Right now was not the time to think about how one day became the next, it was about surviving the present. But that just became infinitely easier, hadn't it? Although, she knows almost nothing about this new body, its weaknesses, strengths, and needs. More talking with the nice man and woman would help. Good plan, now to wait for someone to come get her.
Boredom quickly made its way into the room. The room! She hadn't had enough time to expect it when the two women first came in here, and exhaustion had knocked her out as soon as she landed on the soft bedding. It really wasn't as small as she thought. The furniture was just her size, she could wander a couple of feet with plenty of space to spare. There was an uncomfortable thrum in her head as she began rummaging through all the drawers, but she ignored it as she continued to disregard any respect for privacy of this family's lives. Again, she felt confused and wanted to smother it out with answers to her burning questions.
For the most part, the drawers were filled with more clothes and the occasional balls of tangled up thread. She went back to the photographs on the wall, looking for insight on the couple's life. Upon further inspection, the girl realizes that the man and woman are in only three of the ten frames on the wall. The focus seems to be on a girl with bright hair and dark eyes wearing several dresses at various ages. In the last one, she is in a long white dress with some fabric on her head. She is a beautiful young woman, an angelic figure standing beside a young man with equal features. They're smiling, the essence of happiness and it makes the woman in the room dizzy. Her heart constricts, breathing quickens, and she nearly collapses on the floor had it not been for a dainty hand that reached out for her.
"Oh, heavens! Fra-a-ank! Help! Quick!," The elderly couple lead the young woman down the hall to the kitchen table. Frank steadies her by the arm while Martha fetches water. The woman is heaving like she had been punched in the chest and doesn't seem to have calmed down at all.
"You're alright, take deep breaths, but not so fast," Frank soothes softly. He puts a reassuring hand on her back as she slowly takes his advice. Once Martha returns with the water and a towel, the girl is okay and takes the water.
"I'm glad you're alright, sweetie. Almost died of fright seeing you looking so ill"
"See! I knew that boy did sum' tin to her! We've got to tell the law or maybe his father! Or I'll march right on up to their door and give the boy what's comin' to him myself! I- I'd-"
"N-no"
"I-, what?"
"…no." The room was silent as all occupants were baffled by the speaker, including the speaker herself. She ran her fingers lightly over her throat, her voice was raspy and quiet. The pleading look in her eyes stopped Frank from arguing, so Martha took this as an opening to speak.
"I saw you looking at the wedding photograph of our daughter," she paused in case the girl gave a reply but she did not, "I'm not sure why it bothered you, and I don't want to cause you any more grief by explaining it to us. We don't have to talk about this anymore if you don't want to." After a moment, the girl spoke.
"Where is she?"
"P-pardon?"
"You're… daughter."
The husband and wife locked eyes, feeling unsure but ultimately deciding that there was no harm in answering honestly. After a deep sigh and weak smile, Martha shakily spoke.
"Sh-she, ahem, moved on some years ago."
"She was prone to sickness as a little girl," Frank continued for her, "and couldn't fight it that time. We are thankful she was able to start a family, do what she dreamed, and had her own life."
"Our angel, Macy's her name, loved to travel. She'd always hop on the train when she could, saved every penny for it. We miss her with all our hearts, but I bet she's happy where she is, soaring in the heavens. That's how she looked when we last saw her, the perfect picture of serenity."
"That's beautiful," the woman whispered almost to herself.
"Hm?"
"What you said about her, 'the perfect picture of serenity.'"
"Oh, um, thank you." The three sat there at the table, hands in their lap or on the surface of the smooth wood. The town outside was busy on the chilly week day, an occasional automobile would pass by, its gears cranking loudly. The elderly woman rose up from her chair to prepare their meal while Frank set about preparing his tools for the workday. From the kitchen, Martha calls out gently to the girl to help her set the table. They haven't even mentioned the night before, or when their guest would be leaving, but the couple proceeds with their daily routine anyway as if having a stranger waltz in the night before was completely ordinary. What a strange pair these two make. But then again, their guest doesn't exactly understand what ordinary is either. She's just content to be alive with nice humans; although, after the morning's discovery she feels that she has overstayed her welcome. A slither of guilt anchors into her mind for asking about something so private. Tragedy is hard enough without nosey beings forcing wounds back open if only for a peak inside. If it hadn't been for Martha's trained, calm response, the girl would have left right away. Only till tomorrow evening will she stay.