Looking For A Legend (Book 1)

Looking For A Legend Chapter 10 - Elijah & Valentina

            Due to Denvellia’s methods of independent learning, active attendance was not mandatory.  This left Eli sitting alone in his lecture hall, trying to translate the book Levi had given him.  On such a cold, wet day, Eli decided to wear a sweater with leather patches sewn on the elbows, over a button down shirt and slacks.  He assumed the weather was what his students out of the classroom.  Of course, that was being optimistic.

            He was grumbling to himself in frustration when the door cracked open.  Eli looked to watch Valentina tap and feel her way inside.  She had a similar idea wardrobe-wise, wearing a wide necked sweater over a silk collared shirt, and a pair of jeans fitted to her body.  Eli caught himself staring at her, and for a moment he was glad she was blind, not to see him ogle her.  He then immediately felt terrible for his thoughts.  Valentina walked right up to his desk, placing her manicured hands on the table top.  He almost signed to her, but realized that alone, they could not communicate.

            “Mr. Coates,” she said suddenly, looking nervous, “I need to tell you something.  I’ve been kind of living a lie, and I need to tell someone the truth.  I know you would keep my confidence, and that wasn’t mean to be a mean joke about you being mute.  I’m not that kind of person.  I know how those kinds of jokes can hurt.  And… I’m rambling.  So, um, please tap on the table if you understand.”

            Eli was bewildered at the speed Valentina spoke to him.  It would have sounded like poetry with her accent, if not for her nerves.  He wasn’t sure he wanted to know her secret, but also wanted to help her.  Eli almost forgot to knock on the table until he saw the building worry on her face.  After he knocked, Valentina took off the sunglasses she was wearing.  Her deep brown eyes met his dark blue eyes.

            “I’m not really blind.  It’s a lie my father makes me tell for my safety.  But I can see perfectly.”  Valentina confessed.  Eli was confused, so she continued, “It has to do with my gift.  I can see the past.  It can get bad if I’m nervous or feeling overwhelmed, but I usually have it under control.”

            Not knowing what else to do, Eli nodded.  Valentina nodded too, and took a seat at a study table without her cane or glasses.  She unpacked her things, a pen, notebook and box of documents.  Occasionally she would look up at Eli.  He was cute.  Much cuter than Billy.  He had a handsome vintage look to him.  What started as a few quick peeks at Eli became watching him.  He did not look happy with the several books in front of him.

            “Mr. Coates, is something wrong?” She asked, looking up at him. 

His response was a movement with his hand on his forehead, near his temple, then twisting his palm away.  He followed that with a movement that looked like he was peeling something apart two fingers and the thumb of each hand.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.” She offered as she approached him.  Eli was scribbling on a piece of paper.

“Me neither,” He wrote, adding, “I don’t know Greek.” Eli gestured at the books before him.

Valentina leaned over to get a closer look, and held back a laugh.  Eli gave her a questioning look to get a response, “Greek wouldn’t help you anyway.  These are in Russian.”

“You speak Russian?” He wrote on the paper.

“No, but I read it.  I went to Russian Orthodox Christian mass since I was little.  I was raised up in it.  What are you working on?” Valentina pulled a chair over to sit at the desk, beside Eli.  He was surprised to see a suddenly extroverted side of Valentina.  Maybe because of the glasses, he assumed she was shy.  But no matter, he liked the attention.

“My brother gave me these books.  We think they belong to this man.”  Eli wrote on the quickly filling paper.  He tapped his pen while he collected his thoughts, “I have a journal, and we think these all belong to the same person.”

“Do you need any help?” Valentina gave him a smile.  A real smile, too - not one of the polite or pitying smiles that he was used to.  Eli smiled back and offered her the note book of M.C.’s writing.  He took out his notebook and turned to a blank page.

“The world is wondrous,” she began, her accent giving the words a special meaning. “I see the mysteries around me, and I think of God as a proud father, watching his child take their first steps.  His grace surrounds.  I see it in all things.”

Valentina read to him for hours.  They only took a break when Eli’s hand began to cramp, but they covered much of the journal.  As Eli shook out his hand, he watched Valentina walk back to the table she had started at.  She started collecting her thing in a neat pile, and picked her bag up off of the floor.  Eli was surprised when he realized he was afraid Valentina was going to leave.  But he didn’t blame her.  They couldn’t really communicate, and she was doing most of the speaking.  Most of?  All of the speaking.

“It’s getting late.  I should get home.  It’s my turn to make dinner.” Valentina explained as she packed up the rest of her things.  Eli scrambled to his feet, and started packing his own things away, hurriedly.

“Oh no, Mr. Coates.  You don’t have to leave on my account.” Valentina picked up her sunglasses.  Eli rushed to her with a note.  He had written it out quickly, but his handwriting was still neat.

“May I walk you home?” He’d written

“You really don’t have to, Mr. Coates.  It’s raining, and I’m not on campus,” Her excuses were weak, even added together.

“All the more reason.  I insist.” He wrote.   Eli handed her the note, and slung his leather messenger bag over his shoulder, ending the debate. He gave her a smile as he opened the door for her.  She felt that giddy thrill in her heart again.

“Well, I guess we should go,” Valentina smiled back at him.  Eli got that same feeling in his own chest.