Rhys has just finished cleaning his daughter's wound when he noticed that Eris has been silent for a while now. Thinking that she has fallen asleep, Rhys tried to clean and leave her room quietly. But just when he was about to stand up, he heard her small voice whisper something.
"What was that baby?" not hearing it clearly, Rhys sat on his daughter's bed and patted her long black hair. He always found her hair lovely as it was the same color as Kirsi's hair. While Aiyana's hair is silver, the same as his.
The first time he met Kirsi was when she was playing with his nieces when he once visited his sister's home. She was laughing happily while she let the little girls play with her long black hair without saying any complaints. He knew that what the children were doing was painful as he also experienced his hair being played with by his sister's girls. That was the reason why he cut his hair short even though he spent years growing it.
His sister Estelle, and Kirsi worked at the same sewing hut and became friends. At that time, he stayed with their parents to help work in the fields so he rarely visits her sister who moved to a different village after she got married.
When he saw Kirsi, her hair was a mess and her face red from laughter, but her eyes were so brilliant as if that was the happiest time in he life. And when his nieces noticed his presence and ran towards him, her bubble laugh and shining eyes slowly started to dim and were replaced by a reserved and guarded look.
His thoughts came back from the present when he felt Eris' head move just to look at him.
"Does mommy not want me anymore?" his daughter asked in a small voice, barely audible as if she was scared that he might get angry at her question.
This was the first time he heard his daughter ask that question even after years of negligence from her mother. And to be honest, he dreaded that question because he doesn't know what to answer.
He doesn't want to hurt his daughter by telling the truth but at the same time, he still has hope that Kirsi will still go back to the way she was back then. The woman he fell in love with. The woman who loves kids and will do anything to protect one even if it's not hers. The woman who is happy even if she's living a life in poverty. Who always sees the best in every hard situation. Who's understanding and warm. Because like his daughter, Rhys was also not sure about what his wife is feeling now. Even he has doubts if Kirsi still has feelings for him. Because like his daughter, he also feels neglected.
After a few moments of silence, Rhys finally chose to believe and hope that his wife will one day go back to who she was before that book.
So he looked at Eris and told her words that he wished were true.
"Your mother loves you. She loves you and will always do. Remember that."
***
Rhys left for his hunt an hour ago. The sun is barely up and the morning wind is cold. There were very few people who woke up that early and most of them were men who needs to go to work or start preparing to open up their businesses.
On that early cold morning, Kirsi knocked at their neighbor's door a few times before someone finally opened the door.
Clara is a middle-aged woman with three children and a widow. She was also the person who kept giving their house fruits or vegetables every other week. She looked at Kirsi now with an adverse expression. She wouldn't ask for more fruits, is she?
"Kirsi, what can I do for you this early morning?" she asked courteously since like how she gives their family fruits and vegetables, Kirsi's husband also gives them some of the meat he hunted every other week.
"Carla, can you do me a favor?" Kirsi asked.
"Of course. As long as it is within my capabilities."
"Then please watch over Aiyana for me just for today."
Carla can't believe what she's hearing. Who is this person she's facing now? It's none other than Kirsi! A woman who has a serious case of a daughter's complex! This kind of woman asked her for a favor and to take care of her beloved daughter at that!
"It's just for today," Kirsi said. "I'll be back before Rhys comes home."
"Where are you going? What about Eris?" when Carla mentioned Eris' name, she noticed the change in Kirsi's eyes before they returned to normal. Carla felt pity for the poor girl next door. She also heard about the Book of Prophecy and was like any other person. She was perplexed when she found out who the newly moved family in their village was. At first, she treated them coldly but then after months of living next door, her attitude slowly became that of a normal neighbor.
She also has some reservations when it comes to that girl Eris, but even she can see that that girl is a normal and kind child. That is why it is a pity that her very own mother cannot see that and has been completely blinded by that book and what others are saying.
"I've been thinking hard these past few days and as you might have known, I was completely focused on Aiyana that I've been neglecting Eris. So I decided that I should take her somewhere to fix our relationship, as mother and daughter. And without Aiyana as a distraction." Kirsi said.
After hearing the woman's words, Carla can't hide her surprise and happiness. Has this woman finally decided to change?
Because of what Kirsi said, Carla agreed to her favor immediately. She followed Kirsi to their house and took the sleeping little girl with her back to her own home. As she placed the child on her bed, Carla looked out her window and saw that Kirsi and Eris entered an old wooden coach. The Little girl looked happy as she held on to her mother's hands while Kirsi still has that emotionless look in her eyes.
Carla feels that something wasn't right when she saw the coachman placing a bag on the cargo box. But who is she to meddle in another family's affair? Maybe it was just some things that they will need where they were going. Besides, they were on their way to fixing their relationship so who is she to take away that small chance of happiness from a little girl?
Carla watched as the coach started to move and she stayed there watching as it came out of sight.
Never did she think that the coach which left with two passengers will return with only one of them in it.
***