After the fall

Chapter 19

Lapisa chose to stroll around the different stalls before she bought anything to compare prices and the quality between the different stalls. In the end she bought herself a new outfit and some undergarments, even after that Lapisa still had a few coins left in the pouch, how much money was she actually given? she thought to herself. With just a few coins left, Lapisa decided to head back to the inn as she now wouldn't be able to afford anything more. However after only walking a few meters, Lapisa's eyes stopped at a beautiful bracelet, it was some type of braided bracelet made of leather and braided into the leather was a butterfly charm that hung down dangling slightly, the butterfly charm itself had some kind of stone in the middle of it. Lapisa's feet made an abrupt stop as she felt pulled in by the stone, she couldn't explain why but it was something about the charm that pulled her towards it and before she knew it she was standing by the stall inspecting the bracelet.

She took the bracelet and put it in her hand to get a better view of its craftsmanship, while looking at the bracelet Lapisa saw the price tag. A sigh left her as she put the bracelet back in its place, she was a few coins short, Lapisa turned to walk away when her wandering eyes stopped on a basket that stood at the end of the stall's counter. The basket looked eerily similar to that of the elderly lady's from the staircase, could she have actually been there? And could this be her stall? Lapisa looked behind the counter expecting to see the face of the lady, however instead she saw an elderly man looking at her with a sweet small smile. She gave him a quick smile, "it's a basket, everyone in this town owns a basket for goodness sake Lapisa" she cursed at herself under her breath. Just as Lapisa turned to walk away the elderly man spoke up "Are you interested in anything, young lady?". She shook her head trying to politely deny the words of the man, "I saw you looking interested in this bracelet here" he said holding up the butterfly bracelet, once again Lapisa felt drawn in by the charm dangling from the bracelet "It surely is a beautiful bracelet but I don't have enough to pay for it, sir". "Well how much do you have?" the old man asked while he flashed a smile, instead of answering with her words Lapisa opened her hand and showed the man the coins she had left in her pouch before she closed her hand again in defeat.

Surprising her, the old man said "That's enough for me" with a soft smile on his face, Lapisa frowned "but that's not what it says there" she said pointing at the price tag. "I think a beautiful young lady like you have more use of this bracelet than me." he said making Lapisa even more taken back, "but sir I can't afford it and this is your livelihood so I can't just not pay the actual price" she said confused, why would anyone let a customer pay a few coins less than the actual price? What was it with this man? Was he maybe playing with her? Was he scamming her?

As if the old man could read Lapisa's mind, he looked at her and asked "Do you have time to listen to this old man's story?", Lapisa gave him a nod with an unsure expression on her face. "You see, this was my late wife's bracelet, she always wore it. My wife spent her whole days taking care of this stall while I was out collecting things she could sell. In my eyes she was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life and I fell for her at first sight. So when we were young I chased her around wanting to court her, however she always rejected me. Yet I didn't give up! I knew I was going to regret it all my life if I gave up on this fantastic woman so I kept trying. Sure it took me a while to pursue her to give me a chance, but at last she did. And after she did we were married in the span of two years". The old man took a break from talking to look down with a sad smile, before he continued his story "We spent a lifetime together, everyday was fantastic and fun. But then the day I had hoped would never come came. My wife suddenly collapsed one day and there was nothing that could be done, I didn't even have time to bring her to the hospital before she died in my arms. Now why am I telling you this, young lady?" the old man looked up at Lapisa.

"I had a dream about my wife last night, she told me to place her favorite basket, that she used everyday around the town, on the table...", the old man gestured to the basket at the end of the stall's counter, the exact basket that had caught Lapisa's eyes. Lapisa's eyes widened, could she have... no... right?, she started thinking of the lady from earlier that seemed to have vanished into thin air. The old man cleared his throat before he once again continued his story "... she told me that a young troubled lady would find a liking to her butterfly bracelet, and that that young lady would need it more than me. My wife instructed me to make sure that the young troubled lady got the bracelet, and when I saw you I instinctively felt that you were the one my wife was talking about". He finished the sentence by carefully opening Lapisa's hand and putting the bracelet in her palm before he carefully closed it again, "it's yours now".

With too many thoughts circling round in her head, Lapisa stood in her place as if her feet had become frozen to the ground, how was she supposed to react? What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to answer this old man? Somehow she managed to attempt to give the old man the rest of the coins in the pouch, realizing she should at least try to pay a part of the price for the bracelet. However the old man only shook his head "take it and keep the rest of the money young lady", even though he said those words with a smile on his face the tone of his voice indicated that he was serious and that Lapisa wouldn't be able to change his decision.

Feeling as well as understanding that there was no way she would win an argument about paying, Lapisa simply thanked the old man as she looked him in the eyes, getting a feeling that he had something more to say. And as Lapisa expected, the old man once again started talking, however this time it wasn't a continuation of his story rather it was an urging "if you ever find yourself someone you love, make sure to never give up on them, you'll regret it all of your life if you do". Those words, it almost felt like the old man was implying something, however Lapisa didn't know what exactly. So without knowing how to answer Lapisa only nodded, flashed the old man a smile before she bid him goodbye and started walking back to the inn. During her walk back to the inn, Lapisa felt as if her head was about to explode due to everything that had happened in the span of about two hours. Everything she had been told was said in English, however to her it almost felt as if it was a completely foreign language, what had it all meant?

How come this happened to her?

Should she tell anyone about this? Matilda? Lan?

Or Theron...?