Le fantôme de l'amour

Twentythird of october

It was the twentythird of october, 1897, I gazed from my window looking tireless at the sky.
there's no better author than the clouds.
I thought to myself.

All the stories they can make just by shapes. If it were for me, I'd never look down. The clear lake mirrored the sky perfectly, the red and yellow leaves floated in the water harmoniously. Such simetry gave me an endless pleasure. The wind played with my curly, brunette hair gently. Mother always told me my hair had the color of the earth, and that I had been kissed by the sun, for my brown hair had golden streaks around my curls. I was inmersed in the cloud's story. I saw the shape of a man, and he looked rather sad. The wind kept blowing and the shape of the man quickly faded away, when suddently I heard mother calling.

Naidy! Naidy, come child! Quickly. I've got great news.

I rushed down the polished wooden steps carefully, they were slippery, the maids had just cleaned them. My long green dress rushed down the steps and hurdled at my feet. The tapping of my heels echoed through the halls.

"Where are you mother?" I say out of breath. Rushing down all those steps take anyone's breath away.

"In the garden, child!" She said with a sweet, yet excited voice.

I walked to the garden and saw mother sitting at the border of the fountain. Her yellow dress with golden rose embroidery fell effortlesly down to her ankles. Mother loved roses.

"Yes, mother?" I ask sweetly, yet curious.

"Sit with me love" she said concerned.

I looked into her amber eyes. Mother had the most amazing eyes anybody could ever have. Her eyes are a light brown, like a caramel sweet. You could see the fine, golden lines. Her eyes had the colors off fall. Eyes to kill for, father would say.

"My sun, I have great news..."

She carresed my hair with the back of her hand.

"But not everything is pretty. I have some bad news too"

I held mothers hand and looked at her in the eyes.

"Mother, you're giving me a fright... What's wrong?"

My mother looked down at her dress yellow dress.

"Your father has found a suitable husband for you Naidy. A man of status, fit for you... And for our family."

Mother said in a soft, yet sad tone.

"Mother, why those are splendid news! They are. But, why do I see sadness in your gaze?"

Mother let go of my hand and quickly wiped a tear of her face. I couldn't see mother weep, and I felt the tears flodding my eyes.

"Mother, please..."

I said with a trembling voice.

"The bad news... What are they..."

"Naidy"

Mother said sadly.

"You're just a child"

Mother said in a soft tone.

"My gorgeous baby girl... 17 winters you've lived by my side, and now, you'll part on autumn. It saddens me deeply, Naidy"

"Mother please, I'll visit you as often as I can. Don't be like this."

I grabbed her chin gently and her eyes met mine.

"Naidy, you don't understand... You are to be wed sooner than you think. You'll live far away from mama, with a man you barely know. It's not always sunflowers and daisies. Your father and I got lucky. In time, we grew to love one another deeply... But in most arranged marriges, that rarely happens"

I thought about what mother had just said. It is true. I'll wed a complete stranger, and share a lifetime with him, but... What if we don't like each other.

"Mama, please... You're scaring me, Where will I go?"

I waited for the answer anxiously.

"London, my child... You'll have to say adieu to France, little dove. A new life awaits for you, and its sooner than you think"

I stared at mother, then looked up to the sky in hopes of seeing a story. Yet, I only saw a cloud in form of a carrige.