When Love Runs Away

From Riches To Rags

7th January 1900

Melancholic music was being played as the coffin bearers walked solemnly with a white casket, decorated with blossoming vines and hibiscus flowers, on each of the four's shoulder.

Wearing all black, Anna cried silently as Olivier and Marie held her softly. The funeral procession was held in a meadow, where the soil was rich and flowers were blooming on every perimeter. Anna thought that the beauty of the meadow could mean good was waiting for her.

A priest, clothed in a pearly white told the people that attended, mostly clients, to stand up as he raised his hands and closed his eyes.

"Let us say a prayer for our Hans Schmidt, whom God decided to take and keep him by His loving side. We know that you are in a safer place and roaming with the saints. May his widow be comforted and may Hans receive eternal peace. Amen!"

"Amen." Everyone else repeated.

The priest stepped back and Anna slowly walked over to the coffin and knelt beside it, crying loudly.

"I miss you so much! You should've never left me! I should've died instead!" Anna cried.

Olivier and Marie watched from afar, Olivier with his head bowed and Marie biting her lips so she wouldn't cry as well.

"I'm not sure why she's crying though," Olivier said to Marie, "I mean, the man abused her for two years."

"I don't know why either, but it is sad to see someone lose someone else. I must be there for her."

"You have a good spirit Marie, and I like you for that."

Marie blushed a little and bowed her head whilst listening to Anna's deafening cries.

"Come back Hans! Come back!" She cried.

However, when she leaned closer to Hans' coffin, when she was sure that no one was listening, she whispered:

"Burn in hell Hans."

*

"Well since you are all eager about who Hans has included in his will, I shall read it now." The executor said.

Anna, Marie, Olivier and Mr Schmeichel was with the executor at his house, eager to know whether Anna got all his riches.

"He must surely give it to you. I mean he abused you and all, but I know he loved you." Marie told Anna.

"He never loved me," Anna whispered, "nevertheless, I am hundred percent that he will give me his riches."

The executor looked through all the papers, and when found Hans' will, he jokingly said "Eureka" which made Mr Schmeichel giggle a little.

"Alright, it says here, I, Hans Schmidt, will give all my possessions, my house, my business to--"

"Me!" Anna shouted.

Everyone stared at her, either with embarrassment or just sheer confusion.

"Can you let me finish, madame?" The executor politely asked.

Anna nodded her head, but was still eager.

"Good. I, Hans Schmidt, will give all my possessions, my house, my business to ... Mr Robert Schmeichel."

"WHAT?" Anna and Mr Schmeichel asked in unison.

The executor nodded his head.

"Wait, how's that possible? I'm his wife, this must be a mistake. Can you reread it again?"

"I've already read it, and it says plainly that Mr Schmeichel is the rightful owner to all of Mr Schmidt's possessions."

"That can't be."

"In fact, he does mention you as well."

Anna's face lit up.

"Will he give me something?" Anna eagerly asked.

"Umm ... it's quite the opposite, Mrs Schmidt. It says, Mr Schmeichel must make sure that Anna Maude Bauer packs her belongings and remove herself from his premises. She shall not receive a dime and that's the end of it."

Tears formed in Anna's eyes and she almost collapsed but Marie held her tight.

"Don't worry, you'll find a way." She whispered into Anna's ears.

"Just me? What about you? Will you help me?" Anna asked.

Marie let go off Anna and lowered her eyes to the ground.

"Marie, you're not going to help me? After all we've been together?" She asked.

"I mean, what am I going to offer you? I am already poor and I'm barely making money myself. I'm sorry. We're on the same boat."

Anna's eyes widened and began bawling her eyes out.

"Also, you need to know how to get yourself out of your own predicaments. You can't always rely on people."

"I didn't put myself in this predicament! I didn't make Hans die! He died himself!"

"I'm not sayin--, Anna, you need to stick up for yourself."

"I agree." Olivier added.

"You agree as well, Olivier? H-how? Oh my God!"

Anna ran out of the house, leaving everyone inside stunned.

*

With tears in her eyes, Anna stuffed all her clothes in her bag and looked at her room, in which she only stayed for a week, one last time before she stepped out of the world of riches and into the world of rags. She wanted to say a farewell to Marie one last time before she left, so she walked to Marie's room and slowly opened the door ... she dropped her bag.

Her mouth was left opened wide. Tears ran down her cheeks.

"M-Marie, h-how co-could you?" Anna stuttered.

There was Marie, passionately kissing Olivier in the middle of her room. When Marie parted from Olivier, she smiled at Anna and extended her arms to her.

"Good luck Anna." She whispered.

Anna pushed Marie aside and walked up to Olivier to give him a slap on the face.

"Anna! What the hell?" Marie shouted.

"How could you Olivier? You said you loved me! You kissed me! I was going to tell you that I loved you too! How could you do this to me!" Anna roared.

"A-Anna, I can explain!" Olivier shouted.

Anna turned to Marie, who was surprisingly smiling at the whole ordeal.

"Why the fuck are you smiling? Can't you see here that Olivier is a cheater?" Anna asked Marie.

"He already told me everything. About how he thought he loved you until he met me. About how he kissed you to really see if he loved you, but found out he didn't. He confessed to me yesterday."

"And you're smiling? Can't you at least pity me here?"

"Why do you always want to be the subject of pity here? You always want to be this sort of damsel-in-distress, and I'm not putting up with it anymore! Now go out to the fucking world and understand the meaning of standing up for yourself!"

Anna flew a fist at Marie, which caused Marie to stumble to the floor.

"Shut the fuck up Marie! Also remember the fact that you're still a fucking servant and that you'll never amount to anything in life."

Marie was left stunned as she watched Anna walk out of the bedroom and then out of the house.

"Leave her, she'll learn to have the courage. Maybe, this'll teach her." Olivier told Marie.

"I hope so."

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