Reflections of the choices

Chapter twenty two. Part 1

"Staring at the ceiling in the dark

Same old empty feeling in your heart

'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep

But never to touch and never to keep

'Cause you loved her too much and you dive too deep"

"Let Her Go" by Passenger

1817

Philip sat in his study, surrounded by the silence and warmth of the old family home, which radiated an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility. It was one of the calmest places in the estate, where time seemed to stand still. Tall wooden shelves filled with yellowed books rose to the ceiling, creating an impression of safety and stability. The light from the large fireplace, where the embers smoldered, cast a soft, warm glow around the room, embracing everything like caring hands.

The air was infused with the scents of aged wood, ink, and a faint hint of fresh flowers that always adorned his desk. This massive writing desk, cluttered with letters and papers, was the center of his little world, a place where he could retreat into his thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, Philip ran his hand across his face and felt his fingers brush against the scar left by a recent encounter, causing him to grimace slightly from the pain. This scar had yet to heal, and each touch reminded him of how his life had changed over the past years. In his attempts to comprehend how it all came to this, his mind drifted to memories of his younger brother—George. He recalled the dreadful day he received news of his brother's death in the war, a day when it felt as if his soul had shattered into pieces. Philip had always considered George not just a brother, but his best friend since childhood. They had grown up side by side, sharing all joys and sorrows, and the emptiness that arose after his departure was a heavy burden he could not cast off. Each evening spent alone reminded him just how much he missed his brother.

But everything changed when it turned out that George had survived. On that joyful day when he learned of George's return, his heart filled with a delight he had long forgotten. The reunion with his brother felt like reclaiming a lost part of his soul, and from their very first meeting, George shared the news of Marina and their children. Philip was shocked, but this shock did nothing to dim his joy; seeing his brother alive and happy overshadowed everything else.

He urged George to return to their family home, where they had both grown up. Initially, his brother was hesitant to agree, but Philip, feeling the weight of loneliness pressing down on him, insisted. The laughter of children and family life—this was what the place needed to come alive again. Finally, George consented.

Their days were filled with joy. They spent much time together in the greenhouse, where Philip worked on his plants, and in the club, where they discussed everything happening in their lives over glasses of whiskey. George shared stories of the war, of comrades, of what he had endured, and Philip felt his heart warm at the thought that his brother had returned not only physically but emotionally as well.

In the evenings, they gathered with the family, and Philip increasingly felt that his life had become ideal. He looked at his happy brother, his wife Marina, and their children, realizing that the only thing he lacked in life was to experience the same. Seeing his brother find his family awakened in Philip a desire to find his own happiness, his own love.

And then came Marina's cousin—Penelope.

Philip remembered that day forever. He had heard about Penelope even before that day. Her name had been mentioned in conversations, especially when Marina was discussed. In the eyes of the family, she was somewhat of a guardian angel. It was Penelope who found George when he seemed lost to the world, and it was she who had told him about Marina. Her efforts led to a reunion that became an important event for everyone. Philip knew that without her, Marina and George would likely never have met again. To Philip, Penelope was not just Marina's cousin but the one who had indirectly given him a second chance at love and family.