Beyond the Veil

Chapter 27

The rest of the day went by slowly. She was sad that things ended how they did. She spent the remainder of her Saturday cleaning up her apartment, and calling people for quotes to fix her broken window. The cheapest she could find was 270 dollars, and even then she didn't really have the money for that.

She hoped that more places would be open to call on Monday, because she really did not want to lose her deposit, or call her parents. For now, she taped a bed sheet around the window and just tried to stop worrying about it.

Armed with a plan, Sera put on her favorite playlist, and started to clean. She opened the windows to let in the crisp air, and the sunlight poured in, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the rays.

As she worked, Sera found herself lost in the simple rhythm of cleaning. Each task felt like a small victory, a step toward reclaiming her space and her peace of mind. She took a break to make herself a cup of tea, savoring the warmth and the earthy aroma.

Time seemed to slip away as she cleaned, and before she knew it, it was late afternoon. But Sera was in her element, finding satisfaction in the order she was creating around her.

Her thoughts started moving to the past few days. The house was still stuck in her mind. The journal entry was hard to believe, it was like she was holding a real relic.

She made her way to her bedroom. As she neatly made her bed, she caught her reflection in the mirror. She looked tired, but there was a hint of contentment in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

She really had come a long way. Just the other day she was adventurous enough to explore an abandoned house. She'd have never imagined herself to be so curious and so fearless.

When she sat on the bed, thinking wistfully about what she found in the house, a conversation from months ago came to her mind. She remembered when she went to the forest to talk to Saul, and it was the first time he shared about his mom.

"'I always thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. But with where I am in my life right now, I'm not so sure anymore," Sera said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Saul nodded thoughtfully. "I thought I had everything figured out too, but life seldom goes to plan."

Sera turned to him, curiosity in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Well, for one, I always thought I'd end up going to college, I wanted to study medicine." Saul replied with a shrug, trying to shoo away the longing pull of nostalgia sinking deeply into his chest.

"What stopped you?" Sera asked curiously.

"My mom got very sick, I had no choice but to take care of her. It was tough, but when you're on the other side of it, you start to see that things all happen for a reason." Saul said, focusing on the water before them.

Sera felt a pang of sympathy for him. "I'm sorry to hear that. How is your mom doing now?"

Saul smiled softly. "I'm sure she's doing much better now." "

Sera considered this talk, and the gravity of it all hit her all at once.

She thought back to yesterday.

""When did you die?" Sera asked curiously.

"You really want to know?" Saul asked her, leaning his elbow on his knee.

"Of course."

"October of 1913" Saul replied. "

The journal.