I woke up 24 hours later, and I felt hungrier than I had ever felt in my life. I checked my fridge but much to my dismay, all the food had gone bad during my obsessive trading frenzy, as I hadn't bothered eating or cooking anything since Alex left. Besides, the food in the refrigerator was not what I craved. I usually ate a mostly vegan diet because I didn't want animals to suffer, but this morning, I was craving for meat, lots, and lots of meat. I realised that the Brazilian BBQ in Darling Harbour would do the trick to satisfy my raging hunger.
I called my mother Ellen, who was pleasantly surprised by my suggestion and she agreed to meet up. Two hours later, we met up at the buffet for a delicious lunch. Ellen looked at me with a shocked face and spoke: "Oh my god. Sabina, you're so pale! You don't look well at all. Is everything alright? "
"Not really, but it will be," I replied and forced a smile.
"Tell me what happened," Ellen urged.
" I told Alex the truth, and he took off. I didn't want to seek help for my emotional suffering, so I focused my energy on obsessive trading instead. After 72 hours without drinking or sleeping, I collapsed to the floor." I replied.
"72 hours without drinking any water?!" Ellen exclaimed and continued, "That is extremely dangerous Sabina. You have to look after yourself!"
"I know, that's what she told me" I replied in resignation.
"Who is she?" Ellen asked.
"The True Maker, taking the form of Keila Eisenstein. I died, my spirit left my body, but she brought me back to life." I said with a tired voice, before continuing with a more cheerful tone: "On the bright side, she also told me that Alex still loves me. Alex will come back when he is ready."
Ellen looked at me for a long time. I knew the struggle she was going through. It wasn't easy seeing a loved one suffer. Eventually, Ellen spoke: "I understand. Why don't you come home and sleep in your old bedroom for a couple of days? Separating from a loved one is never easy."
"Yes, I guess you're right. I'll pack my bag and come by tonight." I said. I was relieved that I no longer needed to force myself to be stronger than I was.
A waiter came by our table, and he was shocked when he heard my order, "12 chorizos, a kilo of beef tenderloin and a kilo of chicken breast."
"Miss, do you expect other guests? I can move you to a bigger table if you want?" the waiter asked with a surprised voice.
"No, this table is perfect. It's only my mother and me today" I replied, smiled, and gave the baffled waiter a big tip.
An hour of massive eating later, I was feeling very full, and I checked my phone. I had received a message in my encrypted email that both scared and interested me. It was from Martin Al-Sham, who was in Sydney and needed to meet me.
I felt very hesitant and anxious. How could Martin Al-Sham have survived and escaped the Mossad agents in Jerusalem? The last time I saw him, he was shot, and I was running away from pursuing agents. Then again. Could I deny meeting the man who had betrayed his group and saved me from certain death, when Ben Yehuda had tried to murder me?
I looked at my Zeto Crystal, and I felt it's energy vibrating when I touched it. Martin Al-Sham appearing now, just days after my Zeto Crystal was charged? This could not be a coincidence. "Meet me at Barangaroo Wharf in one hour," I replied, and I turned off my phone. I got up from my table Ellen looked at me in surprise and spoke: "Where are you going, Sabina?"
"I need to meet someone, someone who saved my life once," I replied.
"Martin Al-Sham? Ellen asked.
"Yes", I replied.
"Bring me with you, I want to thank him for saving your life," Ellen said.
I considered Ellen's request. I didn't like it. Martin Al-Sham was a murderer, and I feared that danger was ahead of me. The powered Zeto Crystal and the True Maker would protect me, but there was no-one to protect my dear mother. But on the other hand, I didn't want to bereave my mother the opportunity to meet and thank Martin Al-Sham if he had come in peace. I decided to settle for a compromise.
"Ellen, Martin might be dangerous. If you want to meet him, please stay in the background, go, and have a cuppa and cake at the coffee shop. I'll introduce him to you if everything is safe," I said to her anxiously.
"Sabina! Don't meet this man if he is dangerous," Ellen urged me.
"I have to meet him; his return can't be a coincidence. Besides, the True Maker and the Zeto Crystal will protect me," I stated.
Ellen realised that there was no point in arguing with me when I was this determined, and replied, "Oh, okay, I'll stay in the background. Be safe, Sabina."
"Thanks mum, you too," I replied.
After this, we paid our bill and headed for the meeting point at Barangaroo Wharf.