"W-who are you?" the old frail man was trying to sit on his bed. Liam went closer and helped him out. and while adjusting to the bright light in the afternoon, he tried to gawked at the man's face for quite some time.
Liam teared up. he can't even look at the man in the eyes. he can't lift his eyes to watch the man's horrible situation. How did he end up like that? he mourned.
The old man was so thin and wrinkles are all over his face. he almost gets bald and was obviously very sick. Liam isn't even sure if he is eating properly.
The old man tried to examine the new face in front of him and after a few minutes passed, he teared up as well.
How can he forget the face of this young man?!
"I-is that you? Is that really you, my son?" he was breaking in between his sobs. Then he slowly lifts his fingers to caress the man's cheek, not believing his eyes.
Liam couldn't say a word but he kept shedding tears. He is in pain to see the old man who became a father to him during the most gruesome point of his life. During those moments he thought of ending his life, this old man appears at the right exact time like an angel sent in the sky.
"L-liam… my son… is that really you?"
Liam nodded in acknowledgement.
"B-but how? I… I thought you died that day!" the old man's cry and Liam's sobbing can be heard outside.
Yes! it was him! the woman waiting outside held her breath. Yes, that's why he looks familiar… he was that slave! Of course, she remembers him.
Beverly was supposed to go back home but she wanted to wait for the man.
If she recalls clearly, her brothers' said that the young Liam got lost in the forbidden forest. They waited for him to come out for three full days but neither his shadow nor his body was found so everyone concluded that he died. No one had ever survive that forest anyway.
She was 10 years old that time and she knew how her big brothers treats the young child back then. It was bearable and she wanted to help him but she was powerless. She could only bring the child food whenever he gets locked up at the empty compartment in the house.
Therefore, she promised herself back then that when she is in the legal age, she will marry Liam to save him from all the craps of life. But looks like fate have a separate story for them. When she heard that she disappeared in the forbidden forest, she cried terribly and promised to herself that she'll never marry anyone.
But of course, that was a childish promised and she laughed at it when she recalls how she cried for him. she then looked at the man's back and smiled.
"Liam, I never thought I'll see you again. I'm so glad that your alive and seems like you're doing just fine. you did grow up to be a handsome man." she dreamily whispered within her.
"Lady Beverly?" she heard a tiny voice behind her. "What are you doing here, miss?"
It was Mr. Simon's granddaughter, Lily, who just turned seven years old the other day.
"Lily!" she bends to caress the child's hair. "I came here to bring your grandpa's friend."
"Friend? Grandpa has a friend?" she was amused at the fact that a slave like her grandpa has a friend since she never saw one. She must have heard their cries so she looked up and saw a big guy at the door.
"Who is he?" she asked filled with curiosity.
"I'll introduce you to him later. But for now, let's wait for them to catch up, okay?"
"Alright!" she beamed and run to the other tent beside their house. "I'll just prepare a snack for everyone!"
After some time of calming themselves, the old man once again asked the man.
"I survive… When I went with the young masters that day, I have already made my resolve to escape from them at all cost. They were planning to kill me anyway so I tried my all to save my life. the forbidden forest was the only way for me to get away from their radar. As I have expected, they couldn't follow me so I run farther and farther away till I couldn't find my way out anymore." Liam explained.
"It must have been so hard for you back then, huh." Liam could feel the old man's sincere worry as he caresses his arms. "It must have been hard out there." the old man tears up once again.
"It's the most terrible phase of my life. Fighting with beasts and having to endure so much pain and sleepless nights for years was totally gruesome, I didn't even expect to escape the forest alive. But I did and I don't know how. And now, here I am."
"Now, I could die in peace. I've been blaming myself for your death for years now. If only I did not tolerate the young masters before, then you should have been alive!"
"But I am Mr. Simon. I am alive. I should thank you because if you have fought for me that day, I might be working with them until now. I was able to get my freedom and I like the way I am living now. I have friends to rely on and faithful people to stand with me now." he tried to force his tears back.
"I'm glad to hear that, my son. I am so glad. But as you can see my situation right now, I am not doing well. I wish I could stand up on my own so I can follow you wherever you go. I want to see you soar high because I know you are capable of doing great things on your own. You are not born to be a servant… you are born to be more than that."
"I kept your words in me, father… that's why I became the person I am now." he sniffed.
"I'm happy. Truly happy for you my son. But I have a favor to ask you right now. I know its burdensome but I couldn't just leave this world without entrusting such a precious gem to someone whom I know a good man."
"Please tell me anything!"
"Lily… my granddaughter. Please take her with you. her parents died during the plaque years ago and if I die, she might spend her whole life horribly. Don't worry, she's sweet, kind and smart."
"I will, I promise. But please hold on a little longer. I will definitely help you recover."
"I am too old to be cured, my son. I'm not hoping to be alive for a few more years right now… but…I… I am…. Ha…ppy… to… see…. y-you… my so----"
"M-Mr. Simon! Mr. Simon! Father…... please…. Please wake up!" Liam yelped helplessly when the old man suddenly became unconscious.
"Somebody, please call for help!"