The Lost Paradise

Chapter 34

I heard a familiar voice in my head. "No don't, Eliza", Yivan said. I stood up wide-eyed in confusion. "Listen to me Eliza. It's part of the test. To bring your bad memories to you so that you step back from it. It's testing you. Don't let it win", he said, hurriedly.

"Noo", I shook my head, negatively, tears were still rushing through my eyes. I even thought of what Stephan had told me yesterday. He would never forgive his parents, he had said. Maybe some things were unforgivable. "I cannot forgive them", I told him aloud, as I had no idea how this communication worked.

"I do not know what you have been through, Eliza. But I'm sure it's something very bad that it has traumatized a strong person like you", he agreed. "Yes, it was", I told him. "They were bad", I said. "I understand", he told me calmly. "But think of it Eliza", he started off slowly. "I know you are angry of what they were, angry of what they did. But can you agree that it was their mistake completely?", He asked me. I paused for a moment before answering him again.

"What do you mean?", I asked him, puzzled about where this conversation was leading. "Is it their mistake that they never got a chance to practice love, faith, courage, determination, peace, work, prayer, every quality that the individuals in Welcimson carry?", He asked me. "You must have had a bad childhood there Eliza, but you at least got a chance to improve it, but think of them. Your parents. They don't know what living with love means. Because they have never felt it, maybe even their parents treated them wrong. But you got a chance to feel love in your heart, Eliza", he said softly. I raised my hand and covered my face.

"You should not hate them Eliza, but feel bad for them", he said. I looked up at all the people who walked across the street. The street was noisy like always, because of constant brawls and fights. I looked at their faces. They had no love in their hearts, I thought. They don't know what love feels like I thought. I loved so many people. Vanya, Stela, Ryan, Lianne, Yivan, Henry. But these people didn't know what friendships and love, and living feels like. Suddenly I wasn't angry anymore, I sympathized them. It wasn't their mistake, I realized.

Wiping down my tears, I stood up suddenly. "You are right, Yivan", I told him. "I'll do it", I said, nodding. He did not respond back, I thought he went back to complete his own task.

I walked towards the door for the second time. This time too I hesitated, but only briefly. "Who the hell is it?", I could hear my father complain. "Strica", he yelled loudly. Strica opened the door and looked at me too dumbfounded in the beginning, then I saw a tear forming by the edge of her eyes. She was happy to see me. She moved ahead and hugged me. I hugged her back. I had missed her so much.

"Who is it?", My father asked loudly from the living area. He came out to see on his own, saw me, and got stunned. "What...what are you doing here?", He rushed towards me, He pushed me to the wall and wrapped his fingers around my neck, strangling me. I tried hard under his grasp to breathe. Strica came forward and struggled to separate us apart. When she finally succeeded in tearing us apart, I fell on the floor, gasping for air.

"I want to talk to you and mother now", I told him after I regained myself. He pounced at me again, but this time I was quick and dodged from his grasp. I showed him my zarkis out. "Do you have any idea, what this can do?", I warned him. "I can do many things with this, don't forget that", I told him. He looked at me wide-eyed. For the first time in my life, I saw a small fear on his face. The fear brought a smile to my face.

"I just want to talk to you and mother, please don't start anything", I requested him. He didn't say anything in the beginning, but then slowly nodded. I walked ahead now and took a place on the couch. The couch on which I was never allowed to sit before. I could see my father flinch at that site, he did not like my new attitude at all. My mother entered the living area to have a look at the commotion that was happening. She took a look at me and stood there speechless. "WHAT...", she started looking at me and her husband back and forth.

I remained silent for some time not knowing how to start and where to start. I wanted to say many things but didn't know how to say them. "I have people who care about me finally", I started. They didn't respond back but just stared at me, calculating where I was getting to. "I am sorry that you both did not get the life that I got", I told them. This startled them. My mother opened her mouth few times to respond, but she couldn't.

"You both were very bad parents", I told them, trying hard to swallow my tears back. "But I understand that you both couldn't help it. You both simply didn't know how to love", I told them. "And it's okay", I told them. "I wish that you could have gotten a chance too. A chance to embrace a new life like me. But it's not your mistake mother and father. There are things, many things that you don't know. The misery we all have been forced to go through is not our mistake", I told them. Strica, listened to me very carefully, but my mother and father, I just thought that they were lost in some memories of their own. I paused for some minutes waiting for them to come back to reality.

"I will end this all", I told them, walking towards them and taking their hands into mine. I did not know how much of what, I said they understood, but I hoped that they believed me. "I will have to leave now", I told them finally, starting to leave. "I will not disturb you anymore, mama...papa", I looked at them and smiled. I almost reached the door, when my mother stopped me. "Eliza", she called out softly, almost like a whisper.

"Forgive me for I have failed in giving you a happier life", she told me after a long pause. My father looked at her flustered. I never understood if they loved each other truly, but my mother and father always seemed to be on the same page for whatever decision they ever took. He looked at her with an expression that I couldn't decipher.

"I forgave you already mama", I told her, genuinely. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and fell on the ground. A tear that did not disappear, but glowed brightly forming a gem. The gem that moved towards me. On reaching my hand it started glowing brightly in red. "It takes courage to maintain peace. They both work together. For speaking up with courage to what you fear the most, and trying to maintain peace with yourself. You receive the Gem of Peace and the Gem of Courage for your act", a sweet voice announced loudly, from within the gem.

"Both factions?", I asked out loud to no one in particular. I could only see a huge smile on Strica's face from the corner of my eyes. "I hope you stay in good health mama...papa", I told them starting to leave now for real, wearing a huge grin on my face. "Wait", my father said. "Next time, I want you to bring me back the gollas that you stole from me. That's your punishment", he said. I turned around and gave him a small nod. He wants to meet again, I thought to myself. I now left the house and stood at the entrance gate, waiting for someone in particular.

"You are one of the protectors!", I said, as she closed the door behind her and came out to meet me. She simply smiled at me. "What makes you think that?", Strica asked me with a bright smile. "You could love", I pointed out. "It was you, who thought me, what it feels like. If it weren't for you. I wouldn't have had it inside me and I would have ended up just like the others", I said pointing at the people around me. It was a theory that I made in my head, as soon as reached Welcimson.

"You are smart", she said, "You have grown so well, Eliza", she looked at me proudly. "Yes I am", she agreed. "I was assigned here to protect you and help you heal from your miseries. I do not know how well I did my work, but I did my best, Eliza", she said, teary-eyed. I approached her and hugged her again. "Thank you for everything, Strica. Thank you for being there for me, and never leaving me even when they treated you bad", I told her, holding her closer.

"It was nothing", she hugged me back. "That's why they call us protectors", she said, painstakingly smiling. I now pulled back and wiped her tears. "But if you were here for me, why are you still here? your work is over right?", I asked her, doubtfully. "No, Eliza. Your mother and father need me. You might hate them for what they did, but they are regretting it. I can say it. They will need some emotional support for some time. They do miss you", she said.

"Take good care of them and you then Strica", I told her. "I will", she agreed. "All the best for your next test. You will become a very good Protector", she told me, brushing off the hair that slipped off my hairpin. I nodded at her, thanking her in silence. The badge on my beret had now started glowing. "It's time for you to leave", Strica observed. She gently placed a kiss on my forehead, before I disappeared from that place.

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It was a big Chapter, sorry for that. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Do let me know about your thoughts in the comments. AND PLZ VOTE :))))))