Twenty years ago.
Nestled amidst a vast expanse of rolling farmland lies a modest abode, its weathered walls bearing the scars of time.
Surrounded by swaying stalks of golden wheat and verdant crops, the humble dwelling emanates an aura of tranquility.
A wood roof worn by years of exposure to the elements, crowns the structure, while a creaky wooden porch.
Inside, the interior exudes warmth, with sunbeams filtering through cracked windows to illuminate the simple yet cozy furnishings.
Inside sits a young girl, seemingly in her teens, crafting some simple accessories.
She is exceedingly beautiful, with wide grey eyes, alluring features, long golden blonde hair, and radiant skin.
While she colored one of them, she compared it to the color of the dress she was wearing. She thought aloud, " This isn't suitable. It doesn't match with such a simple design ; it should be more vibrant. Hmm, I think I'll add the color red…"
She interrupted by someone saying," How many times have I told you not to think out loud ?"
She responded in a frightened tone, " Why do you always scare me like this ? At least make a sound so I know you've come, brother !"
The person who entered looked very similar to her in features.
A young handsome man with well-proportioned features, with the same color of hair and eyes, of good height and graceful build.
His clothes seemed caked in dust and dirt, with a scythe in his hand.
Noticing that look, she said reproachfully, " You should go take a shower right now, instead of standing there watching me."
" Oh, I see Miss Elva is upset again."
" If only you had called me to help you at work and…"
He interrupted her in an indifferent tone, " I told you before that this job is not suitable for you, it is better for you to stay at home making accessories and taking care of it."
She noticed his annoyance with the topic, so she changed it, and said with a smile, "Since you like me making accessories, tell me, is this good enough ?"
He replied with a smile, " Yes, it is wonderful, but I think it needs something to complete it."
" What is it ?"
He approached her, placing the accessory in her hair and saying with satisfaction, " This is it, this is how it is completed."
She laughed hard and said, " You sweet-tongued."
He did not answer her, just watched her laugh. After that, she looked at him and said, " Thank you, Albert."
After Albert rested, the two decided to take an evening walk in the fields. This was Elva's favorite habit, taking off her shoes and walking barefoot on the dirt.
" At this time, she always asked me the same question."
Albert recalls his memories with his younger sister Elva nostalgically.
She was fifteen years younger than him, his mother gave birth to her a year after the death of his younger brother.
After the death of both parents, Albert took full responsibility for the upbringing of his sister from the age of nine.
" Brother, do you think it's time to get married ? You are thirty years old."
Albert replied sarcastically, " I see that you have become bored on your own, where is your speech when you were saying that you are strong and can live alone ?"
She laughed and said, " Haha, I'm saying that you should get married for you and not for me, brother."
He patted her on the head saying, "Naughty, what do you want to know ? Tell me."
She shook her head, saying, " You're the one who has to tell me, you're getting unusually late these days."
Albert laughed at her very hard and said, " You don't think I'm in a love relation, so you get jealous."
She replied flatly, " No it's not, and why would I be jealous of something like that in the first place ? I just wanted to know what you think about it, nothing more."
" Well, well, I believed you. Let's get back. Now it's too late."
After a year.
The two were at home, as usual, one summer night.
Elva was putting her hand on her cheek and looking out the window absently.
Albert looked at her and wondered to himself, " She's been acting weird these days, what exactly happened ?"
Elva's nature was always active and playful, but a few months ago, she just became absent-minded.
She suddenly said, " Brother, I want to tell you something important."
Albert replied while eating the soup, "What is it ?"
" Brother, I have decided to get married."
This answer fell on Albert like a thunderbolt, he spat the soup out of his mouth.
Albert said with a stern face, " With who ? How ?When did you decide ?"
" I will explain everything to you."
The person that Elva wanted to marry was one of the merchants in the village.
A young man who came from the East, he named 'Marco'.
Albert was also acquainted with him, but he did not expect that the two were in a relationship.
Elva said that they hid it from everyone until they decided to get married.
The two decided this because he wanted to return to the East to settle in his village with his family. At first, Albert got angry with her, but after a while he didn't anymore.
The future sister's husband was a kind and hardworking person, came from a good family, also he is not older than her.
Months later the two got married, Elva was very happy, which also made Albert happy, and after days of the wedding, it was time for the two to leave.
After she left, Albert stayed at home alone, although he felt that he would prefer his sister to be happy only, he would see her after a long time because of the long distance, but this feeling did not last long, after a few months his dear friend finally returned.
After years of traveling, Norman returned to his village.
Albert received him at his home, but this time he did not come alone, he was accompanied by his wife Meryl.
The two had been married for a year.
They were childhood friends so Norman suggested that he go on a trip with them, especially after he heard about Elva's marriage, but Albert refused because he would like to work more before going to visit her so that he could bring her decent gifts.
A few days later, the day came when Norman and Meryl left for their new destination in the south because Meryl hails from the region. Norman said goodbye, " See you later, Albert. Give my regards to Elva when you visited her."
"Of course, and you two took care of yourselves."
They say goodbye to each other in the hope that they will meet again soon.
Time passed quickly, it was another year since Norman had left for the South. Shortly after his departure, Albert decided to change his business from a peasant to a merchant.
He created a small caravan with the help of some acquaintances, and little by little he managed to make his business a success.
Albert decided to go visit Elva, more than a year later.
"This has been a long time, I wonder how is she now ? It's been a few months since she sent a message saying she was fine and healthy."
He was very happy because he would see his sister after all this time.
After a few days of traveling, Albert finally reached that village.
" It's only a small village, I expected it to be bigger."
Albert entered with his carriage, which was full of gifts that he had chosen for his sister. Everyone there was looking at him with amazement.
He stopped for a moment and got out of the carriage, to ask one of the men there about his sister's husband, but as soon as the man heard Marco's name, his features changed to sadness, saying spontaneously, " Are you here to offer condolences ?"
After hearing this, Albert felt a strange feeling, something was gripping his heart, he said in a broken tone, " What consolation ?' Who's dead ?"
The man replied, " You don't know right ? Her death has been shocking to everyone here, especially since she committed suicide…"
Albert interrupted, " Who ?"
"Mr. Marco's wife is the son of the Brown family, you're asking about him aren't you ?"
Without feeling it, tears fell on Albert's face, which became indescribable after this news.
His sister, the only person left to him in the world, had died.