Heart of Darkness

Roxana was getting dressed in a rush, her heart pounding in fear and anticipation, her palms sweating in worry, and her eyes tearing up. Her sister… her sister was found! After so many years… she found her sister. She kept repeating it in her head, unable to believe it. She was so afraid that this would be a dream and she would wake up.

God, please no. Oh Lord, make this day a blessed one.

Alexander came to help her as she fumbled with her dress. She was a complete mess.

“Roxana,” He stopped her for a moment by gripping her arms. “It is going to be alright. You will meet your sister and hug her and then it will all be alright,” he assured her calmly.

A tear fell down her cheek and he wiped it away gently before pulling her into his arms. He held her for a while, to calm down then he took her away.

They arrived at Vitale’s home and waited in the parlor. Every second felt like an eternity and then she heard footsteps down the hall. She rose from her seat and turned to the entrance.

Vitale walked in with a young woman right behind him. Roxana’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes remained fixed on the woman who slowly came into sight. She walked with her head down at first but slowly looked up. A pair of tear blue eyes met hers and then the girl slowed down her pace, eventually stopping at the same time that Roxana stopped breathing.

Then suddenly all the memories came back. Memories of them playing together and their laughter echoed in the back of her mind. Her eyes tear up, blurring the beautiful sight in front of her. The one she dreamed of seeing and was afraid to never see.

She blinked causing the tears to fall so she could see her sister. “Diana.” She breathed feeling a large lump in her throat and her chest.

The world around them faded away and it was only them. “Roxana.” She croaked.

And then before they knew they had traveled across the distance enveloping each other in a right hug.

Oh! It felt like her heart exploded in her chest. She buried her face in her sister’s lustrous hair, soaking in her warmth and smell. Hugging her was just like she remembered.

“I missed you so much. So so much.” She said.

Her sister cried. “I missed you too.”

“Where have you been all this time? I tried looking for you. I have been searching for you.”

“I have been to many places,” she said.

Oh, god. Hopefully, her sister didn’t go through the cruelty she did but it didn’t sound good that she had been to many places.

She pulled back, holding her by the arms to study her. Diana’s face was wet with tears. Her eyes and cheeks were red. Roxana grabbed her face gently between her hands and her sister placed her hands on top of hers and closed her eyes.

“Are you alright?” She asked.

Her sister nodded. “Yes. I have been living well.”

“Where are you living now?”

“With my husband.”

Husband? Then how come Vitale could bring her here? She looked over at the Lord. He remained quiet so she turned back to her sister.

From experience and knowing how women with no families were treated, she had this odd feeling that this husband was no good. “Does he treat you well?” She asked.

Diana nodded.

Roxana had so many questions but she just hugged back her sister. Then the men gave them some privacy in a room alone, although they could probably hear everything.

Roxana went to sit with her sister. “Tell me…” she said wanting to know everything. Her sister tried to tell her story by leaving the bad things out but Roxana could just tell from the context and her heart broke. This world was so cruel to girls.

She held her sister’s hand tightly and watched her force a smile as she tried to speak of her situation lightly, then she came to the part where she met her husband a year ago.

Her eyes didn’t light up and she spoke about him like everything else she told her. Roxana knew it was bad and she became so angry she wanted to hit something. So much that her sister had endured.

“He is loud but he provides for me and he works.” She said. “He married me even though I am like this.”

Like what? She just had to ask even though she knew exactly what her sister meant. It was so unfair that her tears dried from how hot her face turned from anger.

“Tell me about you,” she smiled.

Roxana’s head was throbbing from all the pain. She couldn’t bring herself to speak. When she opened her mouth a loud gasp followed by a sob she could not hold followed.

“Roxana?” Diana looked heartbroken and wrapped her arms around her. “Oh, what happened?” She cried thinking that Roxana was crying because of her own memories.

Diana has had it much worse than her. All the things that she had been lucky enough to avoid, her sister had gone through.

“I will take care of you,” Roxana said. “No one is going to hurt you from now on.”

Her sister just hugged her as if protecting her. She stroked her back gently. Roxana couldn’t calm down her anger. It took her a while and then she pulled back from Diana.

“Roxana, did you find papa?” She asked.

Oh no! God. Would she survive today? She put on a strong face.

“Yes. Papa is safe now. He is in heaven.”

“No.” Diana choked.

Roxana hugged her as she burst into tears, allowing her to cry.

“I have been looking for all of you.” She cried. “But I didn’t know how. I couldn’t find you.”

“It is alright,” Roxana said stroking her back. “It is alright. I am looking for mama. We will find her.”

Diana just cried until she fell asleep in her arms. Roxana gently let her fall back into the bed and then covered her up. Then she just lay beside her and watched her in silence, tears continuing to stream down her face. As pained as she was, she was also happy. Her sister was here. Now she would provide her with all the joy in the world.

“I will take care of you,” she said caressing her cheek gently.