Chapter 2: The Beginning Of A Long Journey
Death is the end. Everyone says that. Most of Mila's friends are afraid of death. Sophie cried the entire day when Ella joked her palm shows death at twenty. Luke is afraid of death but tried to conceal it like most of us. He always tells, "Any way we will die once and we don't know when. So what's being afraid of". But he stayed away from drugs, he never traveled on a motorcycle and he drove his car at a limited speed, he visited a doctor even when he had a mild cold and always checked his vitals even though he is eighteen.
Mila stared at her mother. What she is thinking now? When someone tells you, you will last only for a day or two, what will be in your mind. Mila cannot understand her mother. She never loved her life. For her mother, death will be easy, not like Luke or Sophie. Death will be a long, quiet sleep without pain that would have woken her every two hours. Mila doesn't have to give her any more medicines now. The doctors stopped her treatment, and she is taking only a high dose pain killer. And is not working either.
Both of them were silent. Mila had a lot to talk to her mother. She wanted to ask about her father. How they met and how is he like. She wanted to talk more about the place where her mother trying to send her. She knows her grandmother is there. And she wants to know more about her, too. At least she wants to know how her mother is doing now. Is she sad to leave Mila alone? Is she afraid of death? The questions stayed in her throat and never came out. All she said were some simple words like. "You want tablets". Or "You want to sleep". Or "You want the window opened" or something like that.
"Go to your room. I am alright." She finally said.
Mila hesitated.
"Please, I need to be alone".
Mila slowly raised from the chair and left the room. She wondered what her mother thought alone. Camila was like that.
They never had a mother-daughter kind of relationship. Mila used to think her mother was angry with her. Maybe she is the reason her life went like that.
Mila took the phone number Luke gave her. Her hands were shaking. It is her dad's number. She never saw him, never spoke to him. And now she has to do that. Even though she hated it. She thought about it again. Luke said it and Luke never force her to do anything. But this is for her. Luke did a lot for her and Mila has to do at least this, for Luke, for them. There were 6 missed calls from Luke and 2 from Ella.
Both of them messaged her to call him before late. Mila checked the time. It was 9.30 pm. She dialed the number and waited. A rough male voice responded.
Mila paused for some time, then continued. "I am Mila. You know my mother. Camila".
There was a long silence from the other side, and Mila waited. Mila was burning inside. She felt dizzy. She felt like knocking on his door at night when he was expecting her the least. Mila was silent, too. After a few moments of more silence with no words, he cut her call. Mila has not expected that. She called again, but the phone was off and then she realized her last hope was failing her. She tried a few times and then dialed Luke's number. Luke heard a suppressed scream when he took her call.
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"I am afraid, Luke. Let's go back".
"Let's try. He is your dad and when he sees your face, he may have a change of mind".
"Luke, this is not a movie, and he is not like you".
Mila was looking around the street. This is the place where the men with fancy cars and women with glittering costumes stay. The street is empty and Mila supposed everyone will be inside working out in their gym or swimming in the pool or just walking through their splendid gardens. Finally, Luke found the house. The board had the name of William Gerald on it in a fancy font. Mila was about to turn back. Luke held her hand, and he opened the gate slowly. They waited for some time. There were no dogs or securities. An old gardener was tending the grass, and he stared at them, rudely. Luke pressed the bell and waited. A woman of forty, in her silk nightgown, opened the door. She stared at Mila for some time.
"You're, you came here. How dare you?" She slammed the door shut before them. Inside the house, they heard a man asking her what happened, and the lady cried and shouted aloud.
"She came here. Why she came here if you have no relation with her?" The man appeared a moment before the door and opened the curtains of the window. Mila saw him at once, and she forgot him the next second. The curtains closed again. One thing she remembered, he is bald.
"My God, Lisa, I told you the truth. I have no relation with that girl or her mother. Please trust me." They heard him talking behind the curtain.
Mila and Luke walked faster. The gardener stared at them a little ruder this time. Mila was about to break and Luke started talking.
"What kind of dad is that? Now I got it. He left your sick mother to marry this rich woman. Poor Camila. That's why she doesn't trust any of us in the city. Leave it, Mila. We don't want his help. We will find some other. Hey, Mila".
Luke has already crossed the road. A car rushed towards them and hit Mila. Mila has thrown from the road and she hit the bonnet of the car. The driver put on the brake and threw Mila to the road. Luke rushed towards her. The driver reversed and got away without looking back. Luke called her, Mila was not responding. Luke took his phone to call for help.
Mila was in another world. Mila felt better, a lot better. She was lying in the grass facing the blue sky. A wind passed through her body and Mila shivered. When she opened her eyes, she was lying on the footpath, and Luke and two others were staring at her.
"Are you alright?" Luke was shaking.
"Yes, what happened?" Mila slowly stood up.
"You must go to the hospital". A fat man in his tracksuit said.
"Why?"
"You just had an accident, and it was. Thank God you are safe." Luke replied.
"No, I must go home. Mom is alone".
"But are you sure, you alright?" The man asked again.
Mila smiled. "Yes, I am fine".
They took a taxi back home. Mila was fine, but Luke insisted and continued talking about the accident. Mila doesn't remember anything, but she was glad that it happened, otherwise their conversations will be awkward and Mila doesn't want to think about that visit again.
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Camila's face was calm. It had a fresh glow, and it surprised Mila. When she had her last spoon of porridge, she looked at
Mila's eyes.
"Are you angry with me?"
"No". Mila faked a smile.
"You are. I was not a good mom. I know that. But you were a dutiful daughter, always. Thank you for being there for me, always".
"Mom, stop it. Why this talk now?"
Camila took an old diary from her table and tore a page. It was a phone number. "Just call him and tell him to take you, now itself. You must leave tomorrow".
"But, mom".
"Listen to me. You will like that place". She leaned slowly to her bed. Mila stared at the number.
There was a soft scream from her mother. "I am sorry, Mila, forgive me, if you can".
"Mom, what happened?" Mila rushed to her. But her mom had already closed her eyes.
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A few moments later there was a small crowd in their home. Somebody has taken the body of Camila to the church. Mila cried the whole day. Ella and Luke stayed with her. She has expected this day from her childhood. But it was difficult. She wished she spoke something more that night. She wished she had more memories of her mother. At least a photo, but there wasn't any. Everything happened fast. They have cremated her.
Mila spends the entire day in her mother's room. She stared at the blankets, her dress, sewing machine, her medicines, and everything. It was only two of them here the whole time, and they lived together for 17 years. Mila sat on her mother's empty bed. That smell of medicines, blood, and wet clothes were still there. Mila could sense her mother too in there. She hoped her mother was free and happy now.
A few moments later, Ella and Luke came inside and Mila talked to them about the number.
"You're going today? No way. We need more time to plan everything." Luke said.
Mila had to agree with him. She was alone that night. Luke and Ella called her to their homes, but Mila stayed there. She must learn to be alone from now. It took a long time for her to sleep, and it was the first time she had that dream.
Mila was standing under a bridge. A hanging bridge with wooden boards tied in thick white ropes. Fog covered the bridge. She couldn't see the end of the bridge. It looked as if it goes towards the sky. Suddenly someone shouted from the bridge. It was loud and scary. "Come back. Comeback".
Mila woke up, she was sweating. The phone number her mom gave was at the table. Mila couldn't sleep that night. The next day, she had the same dream, and it followed for two more nights or whenever she slept. Mila was anxious the next day. Luke still has no plans.
"I must go, Luke. I promised her and I am having weird dreams".
"But, we know nothing about the place except its name and how can I send you to a strange place?"
"No, let me stay there for two months. Then our college will start, and I will tell my grandmother that I have to come back, and I don't think she will make me stay. And if she does, I am not a kid. I can come back anytime and I got you all for help".
Luke was silent.
"Please, Luke. If mom was so strong about that, there must be some reason".
"I don't feel good about this. I feel like I am losing you." Luke's eyes had a rare expression.
"I will come back. I got only you in this world." She leaned into his shoulder.
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Mila called the phone number, her mom gave her. To her surprise, there was a sudden reply from the other side. Mila had
a confused voice.
"I am Mila. Camila's daughter. You know her?"
"Oh dear, she is dead? I will come now. Get ready with your things". He cut the call and it surprised Mila. How he knows where she is living.
That evening itself, the old taxi reached her house. The driver was a good-natured man in his forties.
"I am Peter. So shall we leave now?"
"I have to pack and I have to say goodbye to my friends." Mila was looking out. There was no sign of Luke.
Mila packed her things slowly. Luke was missing the entire day. Suddenly she heard someone talking in the hall and Mila went there. Luke quickly dragged her into the room and closed the door. Leaving Peter and her other friends confused.
"Mila, don't go. There is something wrong." Luke was panting and sat on her bed.
"What? And why are you sweating?"
"Leave it. I searched about this place. I asked officials and everyone. But nobody knows a village by this name. It is not even in Google".
"It is a small village. And they must not have listed some villages. We lived in this city for long. I don't think".
"No, I don't feel this right. Wait for one more day. We can".
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Mila opened the door to find Peter looking impatient.
"Shall we start now? It is a long journey".
Mila took her luggage and followed Peter. She looked back at Luke.
"Luke, you love me a lot and we never stayed apart, that's why you are tensed. I feel the same, but I must go there and I promise you. I will come back as fast as I can. Believe me".
Luke smiled to make her comfortable. Their friends helped Mila with her luggage. She hugged everyone and Luke a little longer. When they got inside the car. Luke appeared at the driver's window.
"Sir, shall I come with her. For one day. I will return tomorrow".
Peter looked surprised, but he frowned at the idea. "No, our village won't take outsiders. I am sorry". Luke's face fell. Peter started the car. Luke stayed there. Luke and Mila looked at each other till the distance blinded them from each other. Mila wiped her eyes.
"It is fine, dear. Our village is beautiful. You will have a good time." Peter consoled her.
Mila didn't care. Her tears were falling again and she couldn't control them. She took a last glance at her street and it slowly faded to unfamiliar roads. Mila was getting scared. She thought of telling him to go back, but her determination stopped her. If it is not for now, she will never go there and her promise to her mother will break. She stayed quiet. And the car and her life turned into a different path.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone