by Asia
"madam, you have a visitor"
"please tell Pol I don't want to see him"
"but madam, this is not Pol"
suddenly Grace got up and ran to the door with her tail up in the air and her tongue out, she was obviously happy, so it couldn't be him, the dogs hated Pol, and he hated them in return.
Emerald sat up in surprise. "who is it?"
"hello buttercup, how are y...what on earth happened to you? you look like hell"
Emerald smiled weakly at her cousin "hi Sam".
"are you sick Emi?" he was surprised to see her like that. mostly she was happy to see him.
"yes, I'm fine" she said quietly, she wanted to tell him, to cry again, but it looked like she ran out of tears, there was no emotions, she felt empty.
he knew her too well, something was terribly wrong.
"oh Sam, good to have you here, maybe you could do something"
he turned around to see Nanny's pleading eyes "would you please tell me what happened Nanny?" he never knew her name, he asked her a few times but she always said she was Nanny for him too, there was no need for a name.
he listened carefully as Nanny told him the story, "Pol, from where do I know this name? oh, his that bastard that pulled your bra, isn't it?" now he remembered.
"yes" Nanny answered instead of Emerald "and the one that informed her father when we found that wine in the barn, isn't it?".
Nanny nodded her head again, she remembered that day, oh, Joseph was furious, he didn't let Sam come over for more then six month.
Sam was confused, getting to such depression because of a guy she didn't like? a lot of the women didn't really liked their husbands. and then he felt the rage welled up inside of him " that's the one that..." Emerald's face was whiter then they were before.
Nanny looked puzzled, "the one that what?".
"you didn't tell her?" Sam looked at Emerald with surprise. Emerald told Nanny everything, well apparently not everything.
Emerald shook her head slowly. "it is him, isn't he?" he pressed. she didn't answer.
Nanny felt her stomach churned. something terrible happened, she knew, as the fear for her child grew stronger.
she knew now.
*****
Nanny felt the blood rising through her veins. "please, tell me this is not what I'm thinking..." she pleaded Sam.
he lowered his head, but didn't say anything. exhaling heavily she turned to Emerald "I'm going to kill him."
Sam looked at his favorite cousin, his best friend. she just lay in her bed looking drained.
"you can't kill him." he looked sad, wishing she could.
"oh, just watch me, I'm going to rip his stone heart, that..." and then looking at Emerald she said painfully "why didn't you say anything? and Sam, you knew about it and never said anything?" "she swore me not to tell anyone" he tried to defend himself "beside, she never told me who he was"
they looked at her, she was sitting on the bed, looking through the window, she looked desperate, her face was white as the sheets "Emerald!" Nanny turned her face, making her look at her, the eyes that always carried happiness was empty now. she looked at the desolate young woman and suddenly she remembered.
"is this happened when you fell from the horse?" it happened three years ago, it was the only time she ever fell, or did she fell? it was strange to her even then, she had a way with horses, and they never resist her. "oh, I should have known." she thought angrily.
Emerald shook her head "yes, it was then" she replied with no emotions.
Sam looked through the window and saw Joseph mounting his horse, probably heading to the city. "why wont we just tell your father?" he tried.
"no!" Sam turned to Emerald, he was surprised by the venom in her voice. "he doesn't care, he never did!" she cried "the only thing that matters to him now is the farm, he wouldn't even listen."
Emerald started to cry again, she cried for everything, her mom, her lost childhood and her lost future.
Sam and Nanny sat near her bed petting her head until she fell asleep.
"she's right" Nanny said sadly.
Sam only nodded. he had to think of something, he just had to.
ooooohhhhhhh.
Joharran only winced as the whip hit his back.
"yep, his strong looking. I'll take him and the short one with the red hair..." Joharran looked at Thomas, who smiled at him, well at least they would be together.
the seller motioned to one of the guards and he pulled him from the row, then another three men.
"thank you Andrew, I will see you next week at church"
the seller smiled at him "of course, Joseph. I knew you would take the best men."
*****
she was lying in the meadow, the flowers were in the peak of their blossom , the view was heartbreaking, just like her heart, a single tear rolled from her left eye.
it looks like she would never stop crying.
it's been two weeks since her secret was out, two long weeks. Sam tried to comfort her the best he could, the only thing they all thought about was how they would get her out of it, but it seems all their efforts were in vain.
now Margaret was in their secret also, she heard them talking one day, so they had to tell her. she agreed there was no good reason to tell Joseph about it.
she felt a shadow at her and open her eyes, then saw who it was and closed them back trying to hold her tears, she didn't want him to see her crying.
"please, go away!"
"you know, it has been a month since our engagement, and you only talked to me once" said Pol.
'I wish I never had to' she thought to herself, but didn't answer him.
"you know, you would have to talk to me someday" he said with a smirk on his face and turned to walk away.
as she watched his back she tried to shut her eyes, to squeeze back the tears, but they manage to escape, she felt the hot tears streaming down her cheek.
she was running in the rain, the running water washed away her footprints but also slowed her down. her hair stuck to her face, the drops of rain stab her face like little needles. suddenly she lost her balance and slip on the cold and wet ground.
she was afraid, wet and cold, and she knew she wouldn't make it.
then all of a sudden the rain stopped. she looked up and saw a woman standing next to her. "mother" she whispered "where have you been? I missed you so much, why did you leave me alone?"
"I didn't leave you alone, you have a lot of people who loves you very much. and I'm watching you."
"why didn't you do anything when he hurt me?" she cried "I needed you, but you were not here"
"you should stop thinking about the past my beloved, let it go, your future is much greater then that, let go..."
"but my future would be just a long torture..."
"no!" she was surprised by the loud voice. "your future is what you want it to be, i want to see you laughing again, he wants to see you laughing again..."
"who?"
"he would come honey, he would come for you. just let it go..." she started to fade "I have to go now, listen to me..."
"no mommy, don't leave me here alone"
she kneeled and gave her a kiss "you are not alone, I love you, my laughing child..."
"no...motherrrrr"
there was no answer, the rain started again, she felt a drop on her nose.
she was alone.
she opened her eyes to a yellow green eyes and a tangling tongue licking her face.
it took her a few moments to get used to the surrounding.
"oh mother, I miss you" she said at loud, and then she remembered what her mother said to her.
thinking about it clearly now she realized her mother was right, she was acting like a baby.
"I wasted so much time" she didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry at her childish behavior.
she realized she wanted to laugh.
and with that change of mind she got up and started to run, the dogs welcomed her back with playful barking, wanting her to come and play with them.
she laughed and started chasing after grace, it felt just like the old days.
now with her head clear from the bad thoughts, she could think about getting out of that mess. but right now she wanted to have fun.
she started laughing again "what a stupid I have been, wasting my time on crying" she thought. she had a feeling that everything will be alright.
*****
Joharran woke up to another day of working in the fields.
as they worked he suddenly heard something, a familiar voice.
he started shaking, not knowing if he actually hearing it or he was just day dreaming, he closed his eyes and concentrate on the voice.
he smiled as he realize it, there was no mistake, it was hers.
without realizing that he stopped working he turned to follow the voice, but stopped when he felt a surge of pain coursing through his back.
*****
Emerald laughed her heart out, paying for all the tears she shed.
as she ran through the filed she notice the slaves working there. and then she saw one of them on the floor, one of the guards was beating him hard.
she ran to there, the anger filling her.
"what the hell do you think you are doing??" she demanded.
the guard looked surprised "just a stinky slave madam, no need for you to worry"
"get out of here" she said in a angry voice. "help me get him to the clinic" she ordered one of the other guards.
she turned to the man lying on the floor and gave him a hand, but when she looked at him she blenched, and her body start shaken.
*****
Emerald took the key out of her pocket. she trembled when she tried to put it in the lock and the key fell. blushing, she stooped to get it. the second time she managed to open the door.
she beckoned the men that helped to carry the wounded slave to follow her to the nurses room.
"it's alright" she tried to reassure him.
"he does not understand you, miss." one of the guards informed her.
she looked at him for a moment, she had a feeling he did understand. "Henry, please go and get the doctor." she asked one of the guards. he left immediately. Emerald looked at the other guard.
"my name is John, miss." he was quick to informed her.
"well, John, you can go back to work now" he hesitated a bit.
"it's alright, the doctor will be here soon." she sigh when he left and closed the door after him, then went to one of the closets and took out gauze and a bottle of pure alcohol. she motioned him to pull of his shirt, and started to disinfect his wounds. he winced a little, feeling she was burning his flesh.
"I'm just cleaning your wounds a little bit" she said, she didn't want to hurt him but it was necessary.
"you understand me, don't you?" she asked nervously.
he nodded.
she smiled a big beautiful smile and reached his hand to shake it. "my name is Emerald".
he was familiar with the gesture and shook her hand. "I am called Joharran." he answered and felt her hand shaking.
'the voice' her mind was racing, 'it's his voice, I know it'. she felt a chill going down her spine.
suddenly a knock on the door interrupted them.
"just a second" she said out loud, and in a quiet voice she whispered in his ear "meet me here at midnight". then walked to open the door to the doctor.
*****
the full moon that peeked through the clouds was surprised to see the small figure getting out from the window, climbing on the tree branches and jump on the cold ground, sneaking it's way out. not wanting it to see him, the moon stayed hiding behind the clouds. but still watching the thin figure.
Emerald jumped off the tree, as she done many times before when she wanted to walk in the night breeze, and looked up. not like the other nights, she had to be very careful now, not to make a sound. she watched the sky for a minute. she was afraid that the full moon would show her to everyone, but it was behind the clouds, it gave enough light to show her the way, but not to much to show her position. the sounds of the grasshoppers and night birds silenced her footprint.
as she got near the clinic she saw a big figure standing near the door, and smiled a broad smile, he made it. he turned around and saw her coming, before he could say anything she shushed him and took his hand, leading him away from a possible watching eyes. they walked in silence, hand by hand, until they reached a tree near a small stream and sat beside it.
Emerald looked at him for a moment, she didn't know where to start. she decided to go around it. "why did the guard beat you?"
he thought for a second, trying to find the words. "I stop work and walk away." he answered finally. she looked puzzled. "I hear your laugh, and I miss it very, I have to come to you" he said in a lame words, he wasn't fluent with the language so much.
"you heard me laughing and came after it?" she asked. he nodded. "miss laugh very much". she wasn't sure she understood him. "you heard my laugh before?" she was amazed. he didn't know how to explain her "not know words".
she shook her head and smiled "it's o.k., where are you from?" she didn't recognized his accent. he was not from anywhere near here that's for sure.
he thought about it for a few minute, what was he supposed to say? he couldn't just tell her he's from the past. just as she thought he wasn't going to answer, he shook his head sadly "not know words".
"tell me something in your language" she asked him.
"I've dreamed about you for a long time, I heard your lovely laugh every night. one day you stopped laughing and you called for help so I had to come."
she loved to learn new things, especially language. she knew five language by now and wanted to learn more, and his language sounded beautiful and exotic. she smiled to him.
"you are so beautiful when you smile" he said quietly, leaning forward he placed his lips over hers. the feeling that coursed through her spine was unbelievable, she felt he touched her soul. her knees melted, her heart leaped to the sky. she felt butterflies flying in her stomach. she never knew she can feel this way. it was wonderful and she hoped he would never stop. they kissed for a long time, and when they separated she felt like some of her own soul left her.
he saw a tear threatening to fall from her left eye and kissed it, tasting it's saltiness. "why crying" he asked nervously. now he was afraid he hurt her feeling, they had different customs, he didn't know hers. he didn't want to cross a line.
"it's a story for another day, the sun is about to come up, I have to go now, and so are you" she said in a gentle voice "I don't want you to get caught".
he took her hand and kissed it "we meet again?" he asked hopefully.
she was hoping he would say that "tomorrow at the same time?" she asked with a big smile. he nodded, then kissed her lips one more time and then turned away and left.
Emerald put her hand on her lips and breathed heavily. she could hardly wait.
*****