Unmasked

Chapter 27

-unedited-

Chapter 27:

I still remember when Micheal became part of the family. My family.

He was an Orphan, he had lost his mother and father to an illness that he never found put what. Michael belonged to nobody, he was just wandering about on his own, but my father found him, took care of him, fed him, gave him a place to sleep at night, and even took him to the town's doctor despite Michael's resistance. He was only a little bit older than I was.

Michael was like the son my father never got to have. They had that sort of relationship, whatever my father couldn't do with me he did with Michael, he taught him everything his father had, with fishing, hunting, fighting... When my father died, it was as if Michael had lost his own father all over again.

I somehow felt my father's presence within him, which explained why I always looked to him for comfort. Michael may have been a son to my father, he was nothing to my mother, nor was I. It was Michael, seeing how poorly mother was caring to me, that took me into his hands. He would leave, returning to give me goods and foods, then going again, staying where ever it was he was sleeping.

It would be a daily routine, wake up early and going to see Michael and what he had brought me, but as the years went by his number of visits would shorten, from one day not being able to make it, to multiple days, to a multiple seasons.

"I'm doing my best to get work," he had said to me, "so that I'll make enough money for both of us to live, for you to live."

That was his last visit until the night of the ball. He was still a child, still so young yet to be willing to sacrifice his life his life to take care of someone else. Just like...

Just like my father.

So maybe that's why when I see him now in the castle's rose garden, I'm able to break down and cry like a child in his arms when I'm missing home. He's all of home I have left.

"M-mary?" His voice was of both shock and worry, his attempt at soothing me by stroking my hair had only made me feel more, making more tears come out.

I'm such a child.

"No, you're not." He tells me. I hadn't realized I had said it out loud.

"I went to check on you... But it was empty, I had to go through so many connections until I ended up here," he explains, making his voice as casual as he can, still trying to calm me down, "Mary, you've been through so much but still manage to keep yourself together. I don't know how you can do it."

If only you knew, Michael.

I wait longer enough until my breathing is calmed and no more tears come out of my eyes until I pull away and look at him.

"You're wrong," I wipe my face, "I'm a mess in the inside. I can still hear her voice, even when she's not here, taunting me, patronizing me."

"It doesn't mean you're weak," he looks at me.

"There's still so much I can't do yet," I take a slow breath, "because of her."

"I know," he sighs heavily, "I'm sorry."

It stays silent for a moment, then he suddenly speaks again.

"I heard of the low rations of food for you, so from now I on I want to check in and make sure you've eaten."

"I'm fine, Michael, I'm still able to manage, the effect of the low rations hasn't set in yet."

When was the last time I've eaten?