Nick is pensive, thinking about Dev’s difficult request. If he refused, then he would once again hurt his child’s feelings. Whatever the reason, Dev has the right to know who her real mother is. He had no right to object. Moreover, the child already knew that Jess was not the mother who bore her.
“How can I meet you two? Your mother lives in a dangerous forest. I still remember very well when the demons in the form of a beautiful woman tried to snatch you from me. In fact, they are eager to kill you, Dev.” Nick took a deep breath.
“Maybe it’s about time you knew.” Nick added. Dev looks at her father with a serious expression.
“Your mother was part of a group that killed many men in a savage way,” Nick said, then he recounted a series of horrific events at the time. Devada listened. In certain parts of the story, it managed to make Dev’s eyes turn red. There was a heavy sigh, a series of turmoil playing in her chest.
“Why did she let me live?” asked Devada.
“Love! She has great love for you, Dev.”
“Also for you?” Nick looked down, the question made Nick both ashamed, and guilty.
“Are you sure that mother is not human?”
“Who knows! However, she admits it like that.”
“I have to meet her to find out the truth!” Dev’s voice trembles. Nick knew the kid was holding back a tantrum.
“If I could, I would do it now. Dev, right now ….”
“You’re thinking about mommy, aren’t you?”
“You must know what is happening to her right now.” Clear crystals began to fill Devada’s eyes.
“You think so much at the moment, but what about me? You should think. You’ve already sacrificed mommy for the eternity of your community. Are you also going to sacrifice me to atone for all your sins to mommy?” Devada said in a tone full of disappointment. Nick close his eyes, and shake his head. A gasp could be heard coming out of his nostrils. Nick opened his eyes again, then shrank, Devada’s tears that had already spilled down her cheeks.
“My child is an adult. I’m sure you can be patient, and wise. Give me time!” Nick gently patted his child’s thin cheek.
“Okay! I believe, you will not forget your words!”
“Thank you, Dev!” said Nick.
“Stay here with me!” Devada stopped walking when Nick made a request. She could read a hope lodged in her father’s eyeballs.
“I’ll take my things at home,” Devada said after thinking for a while.
“I have prepared all your needs here. Just leave your stuff there. I’ll have someone pick up only the essentials. Get some rest, all the rooms are upstairs! You can find it easily. I’m going to see Jess for a bit.”
“Okay!” Climbing the stairs, Devada looked for the room Nick had told her about. She passed a room door that read Elfara. Sadness buried in the corner of Dev’s heart re-emerged when she remembered the girl, who had been her sister. She did not deny the growing longing for the fierce girl.
“Where are you, Elfara? I miss your cursing.” Stupid for a moment, Devada walked back. Right beside Elfara’s room, her name was plastered. Turning the door knob, she saw the luxury of the room, complete with all the amenities. The first thing, she did was check the contents of the cupboard. Rows of clothes with various models are available. Her little smile spread.
“I don’t know how you understand me. You know that I don’t like woman’s clothes, and will still wear man’s clothes even though I am physically a woman now,” She muttered. She grabbed a black T-shirt, and knee-length jeans, and rushed to the bathroom.
***
A pair of Nick’s eyes stared blankly at his wife, who was sitting in the corner of the iron curtain wall. The lump of flesh lodged in his chest throbbed in pain. He knew, exactl what it was like to walk past a row of numbers perched on a calendar in a cold, depressing patch of space in an environment filled with horrible strangers. Nick had swallowed that bitterness for years, albeit in a different space.
“Jessy!” he called softly. The woman lifted her head, which fell on her knees. She got up, and swung her legs over to her husband.
“Forgive me being useless!” The woman was silent.
“You must be cold!” A smile suddenly appeared on Jess’ face.
“Of course! This woman you love has even become an ice sculpture at the peak of darkness. Alone, feeling the pain of the blood clotting process for an excruciating duration. If it’s like that, this wife you love will let out a silent scream of pain, and I really like it!” Jess said with a loud laugh at the end of her sentence.
Nick gasped because the woman in front of him uttered a sentence that was difficult for his mind to digest. Jess’ face didn’t look the same as usual. Nick felt something different, like talking to a stranger. Jess’ laughter grew louder, and unusually louder, until Nick finally noticed a sinister difference. Where he got to see his wife’s neat teeth grow long, and pointy, just like the ones he saw when he was at home.
“Jessy, what’s wrong with you?” Instead of answering, the woman suddenly strangled Nick’s neck until moans could be heard. Jess was getting more, and more, terrifying in Nick’s eyes.
“Mr. Nick … Mr. Nick!” A warden came, and patted Nick on the shoulder. The sound of breathing was loud, Nick’s body recoiled after he felt the strangulation release.
“Are you okay?” asked the warden. Nick immediately woke up.
“It’s okay, Sir. I just don’t feel well,” Nick said as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. He looked back at the woman behind the bars. He couldn’t believe it, Jess was still in her original position, sitting in the corner with her head tucked between her knees. Before long, Jess raised her head. Her face was still the same, flat, and pale.
“Is my wife in trouble?” asked Nick.
“No, your wife is fine!” said the male warden.
“Alright, I’ll visit again later!” Nick stepped hesitantly out of prison.
“What is wrong with me?” he muttered to the wind.
Along the way, Nick just pondered. Let the two wheels roar in the hot sun. His confused thoughts made him reluctant to go home. He needed ammunition to calm his inflamed brain.
“Mehmet!” he said. The name just slipped from his lips. They haven’t seen each other in a long time. Nick remembered his wisdom, even though he was sometimes very annoying in his eyes. Finally, he decided to take his motorbike to a mental hospital.
There, Nick did not see the figure of Michele. Maybe the psychiatrist was treating another patient. Nick walked slowly towards the figure of a man sitting in a wheelchair accompanied by a male nurse. Both are facing the pool. The nurse seemed to be actively talking, and smiling cheerfully, while the man with bushy beards in a wheelchair just stared at the wind blowing on the blue expanse of the pool water, without a smile. In fact, almost expressionless. Nick sighed heavily.
“Have you lost the One you have always been proud of?” Their gazes met. The man in the patient’s uniform looked at Nick’s face.
“Did you forget me too, Mehmet?”
“Nick!” A small call came softly from Mehmet’s mouth.
“You always said to always remember God under any circumstances. Have you lost faith?” Mehmet’s black eyes suddenly watered.