The Epiphany

Chapter 2

My usual mornings are greeted with the crowing of the cocks owned by my  neighbour Aunt Serra accompanied by a light streak of the welcoming sun.
Aunt Serra was a nice lady and on the contrary her husband was an alcoholic. Most of the time he came home drunk late at night and occationally would beat his wife.

Yesterday night I could hear the sound of Aunt Serra's husband whipping her with his belt, but not a sound of her weeping.

I quickly brush off my mind and try to  get up but the pain in my temples won't let me. I somehow drag myself to the bathroom where I splash some chilled water. All of my sleep suddenly dissapears as I see a young girl around 18 looking like she was 25 in the mirror.

The only thing I admired about my self was my almond shaped eyes. They were different from any other eyes. The iris were deep charcoal black in colour and a little bigger than the normal size.

I remove a dry napkin from the old trunk where all my clothes are neatly folded.

I smile when I look at the trunk. It is just a huge piece of rusted hollow metal, with a weird carving near the handle. I smile because it reminds me of my late grandmother who always told me stories of how her father saved money and gifted the trunk to her for her marriage.

I pat dry my face which now feels like they developed some cracks due to the dryiness. I remove a washed plain white t-shirt and a pair of black trousers and my undergarments. I close the lid of the trunk when it makes a huge creaking noise. I mentally face palm myself as I see my mother turn to her other side.

I let out a small sigh of relief when she does not get up. I did not want to disturb her sleep. I swiftly without making a sound pick up clothes and neatly wrap it around my towel.

I pick up a small plastic soap dish from the broken window sill which reminded me that I had to repair it.

I opened the main door and was met with a cool breeze which sent a chill down my spine. It was mid December and it was a little more cooler than it used to be.

I slid my feet into the plastic slipper aunt Serra gave me. I don't know where she brought them from but I did not ask and had taken them with a smile.

Walking a few steps I came infront of Aunt Serra's house. I saw her running her daily chores but what I also saw was a fresh wound where the flesh was gash open and cover with dried blood on her right arm.

She saw me a gave me a polite smile which I returned. I did not make her wound obvious or ask her about it because it always made her sad.

Behind her came a little girl running towards me. She wrapped her tiny arms around my feet.

"How is little Mary today?"
I asked her picking her up.

"I am fine than ku"

I chuckled at her baby accent and put her down as it was getting difficult to balance the weight of my clothes along with her.

"Come on now Mary, let her go she might be getting late"

Aunt Serra called for her as she scrambled back into her little shed.

I continued walking to the public bathroom where all of the ladies took a bath as there was not a lot of space in the houses we owned.

I was usually the first one to arrive there. It was always on purpose because that is the only way I could get a clean and a dry bathroom.

I bolted the door from inside and slid of my clothes. Rinsing the bucket I realized I was getting late for work. I washed my body with water dangerously cold for normal human body but I was accustomed to it by now.

Within 15 miniutes I was ready with only my hair undone. I roughly tied them into a high ponytail and left the house.

It takes me approximately 387 steps to reach the cafe where I work. It was one of the most descent jobs I got in the last few years.

The door bell chimes as I enter the cafe and change the sign from closed to open. Mr. Karnig the owner of the shop was already present there.

"Good morning Mr. Karnig"

"Good morning Alisa"

Without wasting time I changed into my work clothes and checked if all the machines were working properly. I cleaned all the tables and waited for our first customer Mrs. Sullivan.

She was a cheerful lady in her mid fourties and was one of our regular customers who was freakishly punctual. She was first customer everyday and no one for an hour after her, she was so early

I looked at the time there was still a minute to go for the arrival of Mrs. Sullivan so started preparing her usual expresso with a hint of cream in it.

The doorbell never chimed for that hour that day.