III. The Impact of Her

~ Six ~

Nana's grip on her cutters tightened.

She stood frozen for a brief moment as she stared down at the shrub of roses. For a while, she didn't say anything. Not a single word.

"Nana?" I called out to her.

She blinked quickly as she got out of her trance-like state.

I asked, "Have I said anything wrong?"

Slowly, she faced me and replied, "Robert, perhaps it's better if you don't pay attention to those kinds of dreams. They can be just playing tricks on you. It will make you think that there is something being hidden from you. When in reality, there is nothing."

"But, Nana, these dreams are becoming more frequent," I quickly held onto her hands. "Before, I was able to ignore them. However, these dreams have been a plague in my sleep. I don't know what to do anymore. I need answers, please," I begged, desperate.

She sighed and put the cutters in her apron's front pocket. "Son," she cupped my face as she looked into my eyes, "I understand that you are filled with emotions right now. And I understand that you need answers. But, I'm not the right person to explain everything to you," she replied as she caressed my cheeks with her thumbs.

Nana added, "I promise you: sooner or later, the answers will come to you." She then kissed me on my forehead.

With Nana's vague response, even more questions raced through my mind.

'What does she mean by that?'

'Why can't she explain everything to me?'

'Is there something important behind those dreams?'

'What can the answers be?'

'When will they come to me?'

'How will I know if the answers have arrived?'

I came here to know the possible meaning of those dreams. But all I got was nothing.

"Robert," Nana lifted my face. And she looked like she was holding something back. "Do not trouble yourself over this," she smiled, which was obviously forced. "Do what you usually do at this time of the day. I still have roses to attend to." She lightly pinched my nose and returned to Mother's flowers.

Defeated, I sighed a long sigh and left Nana to her chores.

~*~*~*~

As I prepared Lady for a stroll, my mind continued to question my dreams.

However, the more I pressed this matter, I grew even more confused. It felt as if there was no possible way for me to get answers. Frustrated that I couldn't think of a possible reason, I could only sigh to myself.

Maybe Nana was right. Maybe the answers will reveal themselves once I am ready.

"That is very serious of you," someone spoke from behind me.

I turned my head right away. To my delight, it was Laura!

The right person who I needed to see!

I stood up and rushed over to her, immediately engulfing her in my arms.

"Is there something wrong, Robert?" Laura asked as she caressed my back. "Something seems to be bothering you."

I gave her a light squeeze before I pulled away. "It's nothing complicated, really," I forced a smile. I didn't want to burden her with my worries. All I wanted was to see her smiling each time we met.

"Robert," Laura gently lifted my face. Her soft smile welcomed my gaze. "You can't even look me in the eye. What is going on?"

I continued to stare at her as I hoped that she wouldn't ask more. But her eyes were persistent. There was no use in lying to her. And if no one in this castle could give a different answer other than to ignore it, perhaps Laura's response would be different.