Beneath the Veil of Tragedy

Eleven Years Ago

It was eleven years ago, pouring outside the winds were picking up. We closed the restaurant that day as it seemed no one would be out that day anyway. Kimiko was pregnant upstairs with Tapian and Xena both too young to remember anything. Yumi and I were downstairs cleaning up; she looked out the window to see someone out there. She opened the door and gestured for them to come in. It was a woman and she was soaking wet her cloak and everything. She seemed to have been holding something, and I guessed you answered that for us as you started to cry.

"Thank you." The lady said, taking off her soaking wet, dark blue cloak. She was beautiful. Her emerald green eyes and long, wavy brown hair cascaded her face. Her hair also seemed to be wet due to the rain.

"Of course, it was no problem, really. Let's get you warmed up upstairs." Yumi said.

I was still observing the whole situation.

"Before we do that we're did you come from? Where are you going?" Mamba said. He wasn't gonna let some stranger in upstairs child or no child she could have been bait or something worse.

"My name is Melina and please, I'm just trying to get to the Whispering Willows." She said her voice cracking.

"Whispering willows? But there's nothing in there but trees and animals! How would you survive you have a child!" Yumi said.

"Well, it's home." Melina said cradling her child.

It struck me as strange that this woman was so intent on going into the woods, which most people referred to as Whispering Willows. What was drawing her there, especially in such inclement weather? The idea seemed illogical, so I resolved to keep a watchful eye on her. Something felt off about her story, and I couldn't quite piece it together.

As Yumi disappeared into the kitchen, I seized the opportunity to probe further. "Hey, you never answered my question: where are you coming from?" I asked, my tone edging on stern.

Her gaze fell to the floor, and I could see her instinctively clutching her child closer, as if shielding them from the uncertainty of the moment. "Please, I'd rather not talk about that. I promise I'll leave as soon as the storm lets up," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure despite my mounting curiosity. Why was she being so evasive? Did someone-or something-follow her here? The thought unsettled me, especially with my wife and soon-to-be-three children in the house.

"Fine, but please answer me this: did anyone follow you?" I asked, focusing intently on her eyes, searching for any hint of truth or deception.

"No! I ensured that no one was following me," she replied, her voice firm, radiating an air of sincerity that left little room for doubt.

At that moment, Yumi returned, cradling a bowl of soup, which she gently placed in front of Melina.

"Thank you," Melina said, her voice filled with gratitude as she began to eat the soup as if she hadn't tasted a meal in days. Rushing it down, she devoured each spoonful with a fervor that suggested she had indeed been starving, and my concern deepened. Where had this woman and her child come from, and what had they endured?

"Wow, you must have been really hungry," Yumi remarked, taking the empty bowl from her. "Why don't we get you and your child upstairs? You can stay in the guest room."

"I appreciate your offer, but I really don't want to be a burden," Melina replied hesitantly, glancing around as if weighing her options.

"Oh, nonsense! You aren't a burden at all," Yumi insisted, her voice warm and inviting as she helped Melina to her feet. The two of them made their way to the spiraling staircase that wound elegantly up to the second floor.