A long silent pathway. A wooden seat. A book on my lap.
I don't remember reading anything nor wearing this type of cloth. Why am I sitting on the last bench of a church? Long black...dress, is it a priest's clothing? I was at Lin Castle...how did I end up here?
In front of me, there was a candle lighting the crucified Jesus. A little girl was lighting the candles. She prayed for a while. She was around eight or nine years old?
'Please let my sister live. I have no one without her. The doctor said they can't do anything, the orphanage has thrown us out because she is sick. They don't want us there. They don't want the disease to spread. Please save her. Please save us.' She cried for a while praying.
Then she got up and was walking towards the exit. But she saw me and was coming towards me,' Please, Father. Help me pray for my sister.'
I didn't know what to say to that little girl.
Just which timeline am I in? Where am I? How can a girl be this skinny and unattended? How many days has she didn't eat?
I never prayed on someone else's behalf. I have only read how to spell and cast manipulating mana, practiced but never know how to pray on others' behalf. When humans are helpless only then do they wish for a miracle from God and then forget to thank Him for the miracle He had granted you?
This little girl is really desperate. I wonder if my praying would really work or not. What can I do inside this dream? God has given us rationality and has let us walk on the earth. If only birth and death are fixed then we will have to accept them. We really do live on our deeds. What happens if her sister dies even after the miracle? Maybe you were right Reiji. If this girl's sister dies then she will have a regret that she couldn't save her. Will that regret trap her soul and let her soul be reborn again?
What am I thinking?! As I was lost in thought I forgot that I was looking at the girl's eye. Her eyes were sad and hoping for help.
'I can pray on your behalf but He may not listen to me cause you are the one in need. So your desperation needs to reach Him. You have prayed and I'm sure He has listened to you. Don't forget to thank Him, little girl.' I wanted to say something else but could say nothing more than that.
'Thank you, Father.'The girl was leaving the church.
I really wanted to give something to the girl. I got up and searched the pocket. Found some coins called "shilling" with a picture of Queen Elizabeth. I had no time to stay surprised, 'Little girl! Wait!'
'Yes?' she looked back.
She was really small as I stood in front of her. I knelt down and gave her the money, taking her hand then closed her palm, 'Please eat something before you go and buy something for your sister.'
'It's ok, I have money. I work.' She answered.
It felt really bad that I had hurt her self-esteem. To think a little girl like her can mind something from help, I never thought so.
'I know, little girl. This is just a little token of showing respect to you, for being very brave and having patience.' I tried not to hurt her self-esteem. The girl accepted the money and smiled. Her eyes were teary, 'Thank you, Father.'
I really don't know why I am dreaming this. Something was not adding up. A surge of emotion, totally unknown, had been barging through my head and heart as I was watching that girl leave. My feet unconsciously followed her, keeping a far distance. I really wanted to know her name, 'What is your name, little girl?'
The girl smiled, 'I'm…'
The buzzing tinnitus sound started. The sound felt like pulling me backward and made me fall in the abyss of darkness. I was able to open my eyes when the sound disappeared. The soft morning light was still harsh on my eyes. I sat up covering my eyes. Reiji was sleeping beside me. I didn't wake him up as we were talking till it was very late. But he hasn't eaten anything since we got here. I was about to wake him up when a voice told me to stop.
I looked in front but no one was there. I got up and searched.
'I'm here.' I found Reiji's mother standing next to the Lily flower bed line.
I bowed to her. She accepted. She seems taller than before, 'This is my natural height.'
'I'm sorry! I didn't…' I couldn't hide my thoughts.
'You don't have to explain. I understand. Come here.' She sat on the edge and offered me to sit. I did.
'Are you ready to talk with me?' She asked with a smile,
'I'm sorry I was not prepared to back then.' I was embarrassed to recall the last incident.
'It's ok! I understand.' She kept looking at the sky. For a while, she didn't talk.
The haze was still covering the mountain view.
'I'm Rose!' She was still looking at the sky while saying that.
I couldn't comprehend what she meant. As far I know she's Ruan Sayo. Is she telling me her blessed name? She smiled suddenly.
Then looked me in the eye, 'You asked me my name. My name is Rose.'
She wasn't moving her lips. She was talking inside my head. I looked at her not knowing how to answer.
'You can talk or just think about those answers.' she suggested.
'You can converse Inside anyone's mind?' It was really a stunning ability.
'Yes. I can look into their memories as well.' She got up from the edge and walked to the rose line. I followed her too.
She asked how much I like it here. Consciously It's like I'm on a tour. But somewhere the feeling is not exactly that...it feels... different but I can't answer that.
'like it's home?' Her finishing the line was exactly how I was feeling. I was surprised how she caught on to that.
She said she will discuss it after breakfast. Everyone is waiting to meet me.
'Let's wake him up and go downstairs.' This time I stopped her from waking Reiji.
'You said your name was Rose, why?' Her expression was sad.
For seconds my heart had stopped. Her side face looked just like Mei when we were in the hospital or when she used to get lost in thoughts.
'Rose was the girl in your dream and I…' She extended her hand and in her palm, there were 3 coins that I saw in my dreams.
'...was her. Rose.'
The scent from the roses was in the air.
For a brief moment, I could see the golden mist entering inside her body and she began to glow like the little girl from the church.