With the First Drop of Rain | Aslaz

Spring

Rain was pouring from the sky as if tomorrow had been erased. In the market square, villagers darted frantically, seeking refuge and shielding their wares from the relentless icy deluge. Amidst the chaos, a lone girl with curly hair and thin, soaked garments was rushing towards the open field. She did not glance back, her eyes were fixed on the distant palace, her thoughts consumed by the precious silk clutched tightly in her hands. To onlookers, it seemed like her very existence depended on that fragile bundle.

Her wet, raven-black curls clung to her face, her nose pinkened from the cold. Yet, the thought of shielding herself from the rain never crossed her mind. Nothing would happen to her as long as the silk remained unspoiled.

Her madam awaited her arrival.

Her run was abruptly halted by the cursed mud, and the young girl, unable to steady herself, fell to her knees. Instead of inspecting her wounded hands, her first instinct was to check the bundle. However, her attention was diverted by a hand extended toward her.

Somewhere far away, two pairs of eyes curiously followed the unfolding events.

The gear made its first turn...

***

2024, May

Asi shifted on the hospital bed, its discomfort evident, trying to find a position that caused the least pain to her body. A few minutes earlier, as she casually glanced towards the window, she noticed the huge tree outside the hospital bursting into bloom. Somehow, she sensed that this would be his last spring.

It wasn't the tree itself that she was referring to. It had likely been planted there long before Asi was born, and it would remain long after she left this world. It would stand as a reminder to the hopeful patients and their families that life perseveres, despite the trials within the hospital walls. No, it was Asi who would experience her final spring. That's why she had to ignore the silent screams of her body and witness, one last time, how the world prepared to burst into life.

Despite the pain filling her eyes with tears, she managed to sit up, taking deep breaths. "I wish Sude was here," she thought to herself.

She couldn't recall her so-called husband ever visiting her, but her best friend Sude made the effort to see Asi whenever she could spare a moment from work. A smile crept onto Asi's face as he recalled Sude's latest visit. Sude finally became the manager! She has been dreaming of this since they were children. Asi had hoped to witness his friend's rise, but life didn't always align with one's desires. That was alright. If Sude was happy and she could live out her remaining days contentedly, that was enough for Asi.

The urge to get a closer look at the tree overwhelmed her, and as she looked down to put on her slippers, her mood dampened slightly. The slippers were worn and aged, and her once-white socks had faded to gray from countless wears and washes. She remembered Sude's brand-new red high-heeled shoes she had proudly shown him during her last visit. Asi knew he'd never have the chance to walk around in a nice pair of shoes again like Sude.

If she would never have such a chance again, why was she spending the rest of her time feeling sorry for himself, like a prisoner awaiting her execution, in this hospital room that reminded her of death? What harm was there in going out and breathing in the scent of the flowers one last time and sleeping at home one last time? Moreover, a few days ago, she received a warning from the hospital that her treatment expenses were not paid. On her next visit, she was going to ask Sude to bring her the box she kept at home, but the little bit of strength she felt in her legs seemed to remind her that he could take care of her own business without disturbing his friend.