King's Maker [+18]

Chapter Eighty-seven

I slumped on a bench near me. Argh, I feel my whole being hurting, even my heart.

I should rest for now, but the sky is gloomy as well, threatening to pour. Now I'm homeless and starving.

An old wagon stops beside me and I watch an old woman go out of it to lift those heavy crates full of vegetables. She seems to have a farm, and there are plenty of crates she has to bring down and bring inside this small mart..

I stood up and I winced from my aching legs. I went to her and quickly lifted a crate. She was startled. "Oh dear, you shouldn't have to." She smiles at me but I want to.

"Please allow me, I want to help." I smiled back but then her smile dropped. "Have you been crying, dear?"

"Oh.. I, yes ma'am." I smiled since there's no point in lying. "Who would bother hurting a dainty lady like you?"

I simply chortled.

-

Last two crates left..

"Dear, are you sure you can still go on?" She held my back when I bent over to lift another crate. "Yes ma'am." I said while grunting to lift it up. I carried it inside the mart.

Okay, last one.

I went back to find none. "Hmm?" I tried to look for it- "it's alright dear, I gave the last crate to my old neighbor."

"Oh.." I smiled at her hearing that. "Sit with me dear." She held my hand and we both sat on the bench I sat on earlier. "What can I do for you?" she asked sweetly.

"Oh no, I have none, ma'am." I shaked my head to be clear. "I believe you are troubled, do you have a place to stay?"

I felt like crying again, someone is finally seeing through me. My eyes couldn't help but sting. She looks at my eyes like she knows. "You know, I have no children.. would you want to go with me?" she smiles and I sobbed smiling at her, breaking.

"I do, however, live in a far away town, would you be okay with that, dear?"

"Y/n." I said, smiling and sobbing at the same time and she smiled, getting me. "Mona." She stroked my hair while I wiped my eyes.

-

I watch the trees and boulders on the side of the road as the wagon passes by them. I believe this is God's way of making it up to me. A new beginning.

"Dear, are you okay?" I looked at her and smiled. "Yes ma'am." she held my knee, "aunt will do, dear."

"Aunt.." I echoed it, trying to taste the new title. "Since we've known each other's name, may I get to know who hurt my little dear?" she chimes and I chuckled.

-

"So you have a daughter behind.." she sounded sad while steering the horse. "No aunt, it's his.." I tried my best to not feel her words soak inside my lungs but it already got to my heart and now I feel it squeezing.

"Dear, I know you just met me, but I can say, it's your daughter too." She looked at me with sad eyes. "It wouldn't matter as I suppose aunt, he's wealthy and capable of taking care of her."

I looked down at my hands that were on my lap. "I see that you're hurting," she then held my hand, "but I can also see why you had to leave." I looked at her with tears brimming my eyes again.

"Give it time." she smiled and I don't know why that gives me hope when I don't have anything to look forward to, starting from now on.

-

I ran rushing to get inside the house. I burst open the kitchen, "Aunt, she's struggling." she looked at me baffled.

"It's alright, girl." I rubbed her big stomach. "Ha! The legs are out!" Aunt Mona shrieked and rushed to hold the baby horse's foot.

Oh God, this is so painfully beautiful.. Reminds me of- "dear, you have to help me pull." she said frantically and I quickly got to my feet.

I also held the other foot and pulled and pulled until the baby horse was out. I gasped with the sight right before me. Aunt sighed in relief. "Well then, we have to bathe again as it seems." she pokes fun at it and I could only chuckle, but at the back of my mind, I wonder..

"Come, come, we have to let her take care of her child." She clings her arm to mine and we left the barn.

"Dear, are you okay?" I quickly flashed a smile. "Yes, aunt." She stopped walking in the middle of the field and so did I.

She faced me and I mirrored her. "Like I always say, you can tell me anything." she held my hands and I was taken aback. "Aunt, I'm well." I then followed, "and~ we may need to wash our hands." I laughed it off and she didn't phase.

She still has that concerned look. "Aunt, I'm really okay." she sighs, "you were staring blankly at her when you were rubbing her stomach, it doesn't seem okay to me."

Oh..

My eyes wavered. "Dear, do you miss your daughter?" I finally broke down and sobbed in front of her. She quickly took my head and hugged me.

"You've been here for quite some time now, I know when you're troubled." I cried harder hearing that.

"I know, I know.." she pats my back. "It's never easy, and I see how you put up a front everyday."

It hurts my heart in both good and bad ways. To hear someone see me. I've been here for months now and I'm content. She's like a mother, us both living in a rural area, far from the kingdom.

With just barn animals and a few neighbors. This town is surrounded by mountains and trees, which I came to love.