He stopped, just an inch away from my bed, he reached out his hand to me and said "Never mind, Let's start fresh, I'm Aaron White."
I got a closer look at him, he has soulful eyes. 'For sure he is a noble but why is he so nice to me? Maybe, he doesn't know my status.' With a dazzling smile, I took his hand and shook it.
While I shook his hand, my mind was filled with questions, what year is this? Am I still in Galicia? And so on…
He snapped his fingers, bringing me back to reality, Our faces were inches away, my eyes roamed, studying his features and was drawn to his sharp eyes. I gazed into his, his eyes were darkened with desire, his breath against my face. Thoughts of his lips, smacking mine with passion, ran through my mind, my heart raced. Overwhelmed and flustered, I bit my lips and broke our eye contact.
I don't know what's happening? but I definitely don't want to be involved in some kind of scandal or rumor. if I was in Galicia, I would be the talk of the capital. That was close...
Humored, he chuckled. Feeling awkward, without looking, I asked Aaron "Sir Aaron White, Do you know what year and and date it is today?"
Aaron chortled, he said "Aaron is fine, Solana. Today it is seventeenth of April, 2021" he gently brushed my hair.
What I m not in 1221 anymore? That's eight hundred years into the future, no wonder why everything is so different!
"Hmm, Aaron are we in Galicia?"
Bewildered, Aaron raised his brow, he said "What is Galicia?"
Not expecting his response, I said "... Galicia is a place, you know a Kingdom"
Aaron scratched his head, he shook his head and said "I never heard of Galicia, but we are in America, Massachusetts, Boston"
Shocked, I blurted out "What? why aren't we in Galicia."
"Why should we be in Galicia?" Bewildered, Aaron replied with skeptisism in his tone.
Speechless, I stuttered...
His rough fingertips, traced on my face and stopped on my lips, he breathed on my ear and whispered "Now that I think about it, I don't mind fulfiling your wish now.. "
In a soft voice, I said. "What wish?"
Aaron smirked mischievously, he said "That thing from last night! Let me show you"
He held me gently in his hand, his lips drew closer to mine... 'Oh no' He is way too fine! if he does gets his way. I'm sure, I wouldn't be able to control myself'
My mind went blank and just before his lips landed on mine, the doorknob made a creaking sound and opened. Aaron backed away, smoothening his shirt and hair.
'phew' I thanked my lucky stars.
From the door, a man in his forties rushed into the room, with worry etched on his face. And I could see the dark circles under his reddened eyes. And when he saw me, his drowsy eyes sparkled to life. He ran over to hug me.
Confused, I asked myself, 'Who is he?'
He sniffled and cried "Solana, Solana my girl... I thank God, you are all right!" He broke his hug, tears ran down his cheek. With love in his eyes, he rubbed my cheeks, holding my face in his hands.
I don't know who he is but my stomach suddenly felt warm and fuzzy. Touched, his love flowed through me... I held his sleeves, my eyes moistoined, I said "Father? Daddy is that you?"
In my head, I saw a blurry image of a girl shouting, her voice echoed in my mind 'Ahh I hate you, Dad'
Why would she hate her father? I never met my father, he passed away before I could... Mom was always there for me, but I always longed to have a father.
I broke down and cried in his chest, he patted my back. He said "My darling Solana... there, there, it's me, I am here"
I held him tighter, afraid to let go. For the first time, I felt safe in a long time. I calmed down. He cupped my face, gently wiping my tears with his thumb. Dad said "Solana, do you remember I said 'I would bash up the guy who makes you cry'?"
Unable to remember, I just nodded.
"Well, it looks like I have to bash myself up" Dad said, as he comically punched himself.
"Haha" I laughed at his antics. Dad turned away from me and questioned Aaron with a scowl "Who are you?"
Aaron unfazed by my father's hostility, he yawned and said "Her savior"
Dad reacted, he shot back "What do you mean by 'her savior'? huh punk" I tapped my father's arm. I said "Calm down Dad" he looked at me and whispered "Is he responsible?" I shook my head and showed an 'I don't know' hand guesture.
Bored, Aaron walked to the door,
My Dad saw his disrespect, said "Boy, where are you going? I'm not done with you"
Aaron ignored him but when he reached the door, he winked at me and said "Next time, I will fulfill your wish!"
My cheeks heated up, Dad felt my temperature rise, he forgot about Aaron and said "Solana your head is hot, are you catching a fever?"
"Hahha" Aaron guffawed, he walked away, his heavy steps became distant.
I said "Dad, I think you made him upset? Beside I think he might come from a higher class"
Dad shrugged, he said "So what? Its his fault for acting mysterious, he should be upfront with his feelings" I nodded at the side, I agreed with Dad.
He asked "Why do you mean he comes from a higher class?" before I could answer, someone entered, we looked behind.
An old man in a white labcoat entered the room with a stack of papers on a wooden board in one hand.
He looked at us, he gasped and murmured "My patient, she is awake... amazing"
Dad saw him and asked "What's wrong Doctor?"
Wait he is a doctor, I thought he was some kind of alcamist, I listened to their conversation.
The doctor chucked said "Why no? in fact, it's a miracle" Dad said "I know she is my miracle baby but Doctor, why do you say so?"
The doctor said "You must be her father, right?" Dad nodded.
"Well your daughter, was really in a critical stage when the young man brought her in. She was suffering from brain hemorage, it was horrible!"
"We were able to save her life and we expected her to go into a coma for a few months... but look at her she is awake and healthy" Doctor explained.
Dad butted in "Yes, you are right, its a miracle"
Doctor said "We have to do a checkup on her first, then you can take her home"
Before the doctor left, Dad asked him "Doctor, one more thing, you said a young man brought her here."
"Yes" Doctor replied. "I want to thank him, do you know what he looks like?"
"Sure, He was a young chap with long, white hair, he wore a white shirt and tight black jeans with red sneakers."
Once he left, Dad questioned me, he said "Who is he?" "Who"
Dad said "I mean that obnoxious brat!" "Oh, you mean Aaron White"
"You know him? Is he from your school?" Dad said.
I shook my head, I said "No, I just met him... I can't remember, everything of last night is fuzzy"
Dad patted my head, he said "Thats why I told you not to drink. if you want to drink, all you can have is a sip and that's it!"
"Anyway if you ever meet him, invite him to our place, I wasn't right about him and secondly he saved my sunny girl!"
Dad straightened his back, raised his chin, he said "And I as a man always repay my debts"
I giggled, he turned and started tickling me, he jokingly said "How dare you make fun of me, your old man?"
I laughed, I begged him to stop, he let go... He laid his black backpack on the table next to the window, he unzipped it, opened a box and poured it into a bowl.
I took a sniff of it, my mouth watered and just in time my stomach rumbled.
He then handed me the bowl. He said "Have it while is still hot"
It was chicken soup, forgetting my manners, I digged in, my tongue tingled, it was delicious.
While I was eating he chuckled, he said "What do you think?"
Half-full, I paused and said "Its great" He said "Don't you remember?" I sheepishly grinned with my tongue sticking out from the corner of my mouth, scratching my head.
Dad reminised, he continued with a bitter smile "I guess you were too small to remember, but when you used to fall sick, your mother used to cook chicken soup and the next day you were all right... haha... that woman was magical in her own way"
I held his arm and smiled, he looked down and ran his hands through my long hair, he said "before she left, I learnt the recepie from her but I never got the chance to cook it!"
"Until last night when you scolded me over the phone, I thought you would come home drunk. So, I prepared a pot of soup... anyway, it's not good to sleep with an empty stomach besides they say 'chicken soup is good for the soul'. "
Feeling bad for the previous Solana's Dad, I said "Sorry Dad... that I made you worry" He smiled and kissed my forehead, he said " How can I stay mad with you?"
He took my bowl, gave me another serving of hot soup then he served himself.... We ate in silence, the soup along with the tanquility was enough to touch my soul. My mind wandered.
I thought about my mother, the princess and everyone else from my past life. But, I couldn't recall this familia love.
Sure, I had a mother, she was there yet she wasn't, bound by our duty, we weren't allowed to express ourselves. I know my mother loved me, but she was very reserved with her emotions. And often, I felt lonely in her presence.
For a long time, I haven't laughed heartly, nor has anyone cared so much about my well being, I almost felt like a princess though not exactly.
Freedom and love is what I could taste for the first time, it wasn't a dream nor an idea anymore.
I might miss my old life, but since I am here. I will make the best out of this chance...
I looked at the bright sun outside, blazing with determination and great expectations.
=====
Half an hour later, from outside I heard the clicking of rushed shoes, it got louder. It suddently, stopped, the doorknob turned open and a young man stepped in.
When I saw him, I saw flashes of pictures of him in my head, Dad greeted him "Hello Robby, How are you?"
Robby smiled, he unstrapped his bag, dropped it near the door, he pulled out his hand, he said "Goodmorning Mr. Van Gogh, I'm fine!" my father nodded and let him talk.
Robby then turned to me, he said "Amelia how are you?"
"I'm much better now and you don't need to call me Amelia anymore! Solana is fine"
I took a peep at my father, saw his neutral face cracking up, I giggled.
Robby surprised said "But Why?"
I said "It is only now, that I realised how special my name is!" I gazed at the sun.
Robby grinned, he stepped forward, he took my hand, he said" It isn't just a name but it is you, who is special"
Dad said "Ahem. Don't push your luck kid!" Robby gulped, he blushed and looked away. Dad laughed, he said "I'm just kidding" he slapped Robby's back...
At the same time, someone knocked the door, Dad said "Come in"
A doctor and a couple of nurses entered the room and asked them to leave the room. Dad left the room first. Before leaving, Robby whispered into my ears and pushed a crumpled piece paper into my hands. 'Solana this is for you'.