~Agathe~When morning came, I woke up brimming with such joy that I momentarily forgot all the troubles burdening my heart. All I could think of was Gunther and how we cuddled on the carpeted floor of the library after what we did last night. My face heated up as I began kicking the air and tossing and turning on the bed, trying not to scream too loudly. "Damn, I couldn't believe I made love to Gunther so many times." I whispered in the air. I felt like I was dreaming. It felt weird but somehow familiar. As if I had done this with him before, even though I knew it couldn't be possible.I then sat up, realizing that I was on Gunther's bed, dressed in his clothes. I recalled him cleaning me up last night before I blacked out.He took care of me and just thinking about it made my heart skip a beat again. I looked around his room, perhaps to thank him, but he was not there. I was about to get up when I noticed Carlyle entering the room with a big smile on her face. "Good morning, Mo
~Agathe~Carlyle was gasping for air, drowning, while those other little girls simply laughed at her. The class had barely started ten minutes ago and things were already taking a turn for the worse.Tears streamed down my face as I sprinted down the bleachers as quickly as I could. My only thought was to save Carlyle and get her out of the water.However, before I could even reach the edge of the pool, Calixto had beaten me to it, diving fearlessly into the water. In a matter of seconds, Calixto had swum over to Carlyle, scooping her petite frame into his arms. Carlyle was sobbing and trembling uncontrollably as she clung tightly to Calixto.I was so stunned that I couldn't move for a few moments. My heart was racing, pounding against my chest, and I could still feel the tears streaming down my face.I only came back to my senses when I saw Calixto swimming back toward us. As he approached the pool's edge, Yesenia and I rushed to help him lift Carlyle out of the water.I took off my
~Agathe~"I was so terrified, Daddy. I thought I was going to die." Carlyle sobbed on Gunther's shoulders. In that instant, all my thoughts about Gunther disappeared completely. I knelt beside him and softly tapped Carlyle's back, reassuring her that her feelings were valid and understood. Carlyle noticed my presence and released herself from her father's embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck. I continued to gently pat her back, allowing her to cry on my shoulder as well.We remained in that comforting embrace for a few moments, while I could sense Gunther's eyes were all over me.Then, I noticed Yesenia bowing towards us before she turned and walked away, seemingly heading towards something or someone else. I followed her movements with my eyes and noticed how she walked directly towards Calixto, handing him clean and dry clothes as well.Although they were too far away for me to hear their conversation, I could see the shock on Calixto's face. It seemed that he had forgotten a
~Agathe~‘The lady who gave birth to Miss Carlyle also came from Snowflake Village.’Those words echoed in my mind, repeating over and over again. I felt weak as I heard a ringing sound filling both of my ears.I nervously sipped on my glass of water, my hands trembling as the weight of realization dawned upon me. That simply cannot be true!Snowflake Village is a small village. I am not kidding when I say that I am familiar with every person who resides there.If the old attorney's statement holds any truth, the only people I can imagine being Carlyle's mother would be myself, my best friend Graziella, and Filomena, who was the manager at the restaurant where I formerly worked.We were the only people who were still unmarried among the residents of my village. All the other women residing there have either been married, divorced, widowed, or are over the age of fifty, including my mom. Filo, on the other hand, would be swiftly excluded from the list since everyone in the village is
~Agathe~I spent hours and hours and hours crying in the library, in a hidden and dark spot where no one would find me.I was screaming, but it was the kind of scream without a voice because that was the only way I could vent my feelings. [Flashback]"We shouldn't talk here, young lady." Yesenia murmured, her eyes darting around nervously, clearly filled with fear. "Let's find another place to talk.”She took hold of my arm and guided me into the mansion. As soon as we were inside, we walked down the hallway and made our way into the private library."There's a cozy reading nook toward the far right side of this library. We can have our conversation there." She said, her tension palpable.Sensing her unease, I remained silent as we made our way to the reading nook she was talking about. "Woah." I whispered in astonishment as we arrived at the reading nook.The reading nook was nestled in the corner, surrounded by dark wood bookshelves. There was a central table and a plush cushioned
~Agathe~Drops of sweat slid down my forehead, our nerves on edge as we wondered about who entered the library just now. Time ticked away in silence, without the sound of any footsteps, yet neither Yesenia nor I dared to take a look."Let's find out who it is." Yesenia suggested, but I quickly shook my head in disagreement."Let's give it a little more time. It could be Gunther." I whispered back to her.However, our patience wore thin as time went by. “Young lady, should we-”I hushed Yesenia again and was about to speak when I felt a cold and wet nose nudge my arm. I turned my head in surprise, only to find Mishka, wagging her tail cheerfully at us."Mishka." I excitedly murmured, and a smile spread across my face as I stroked her head.However, my eyes widened as a thought crossed my mind. “Gunther must have been the one who brought Mishka here.”To finally ease our worry, I cautiously peeked behind the couch and scanned the entire library from our hiding spot."Goddamn. There's no
~Agathe~I died inside, my heart was profoundly shattered and crushed. She cannot remember Gunther, but those memories can return.It can come back. I married Gunther without realizing that the woman he truly loved was still out there and just could not remember him.“No, this can't be happening.”"Hey, young lady, are you still with me?" Yesenia asked, waving her hand in front of my face as if I had been lost in a daze.I abruptly stood up and left Yesenia without uttering a single word."Young lady! Where are you going?" She called out in a loud voice, clearly taken aback.I was nearly at the door when Yesenia grabbed my arm. "Young lady!" She exclaimed."What?" I shouted back, with tears streaming down my face. Yesenia's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in surprise."What else do you want me to hear? Yen, for goodness' sake! Carlyle's mother is still alive! She's out there! She may not remember everything now, but what will happen when she eventually does?” I turned to face
~Agathe~ The pain is overwhelming and the truth is too much to bear. The realization that I have been deceived and lied to, even by my own mother, is agonizing.The pain was so intense that it numbed my entire body, making me paralyzed. Despite desperately pounding my chest multiple times, the pain stubbornly persisted.I couldn't recognize my voice anymore from too much sobbing. But, I couldn't care less because I was in so much pain.How could my mother keep the truth hidden from me? Out of all people, she should have been the one to stand by my side.She was supposed to be the one to tell everything to me. I am her daughter, her own family.How could she betray me like this?I woke up with no recollection of everything that happened between me and Gunther. However, that didn't mean I wouldn't notice the physical signs.Four years ago, if my memory serves me right, I repeatedly asked her about the strange scars on my body, the sudden weight gain, and why the bloody hell my stomach