DAWN’S POV
I sat down quietly as I listened to Mama Ruth trying to get Scarlet to have a change of mind over her stand on healing the Chamlee through whatever available means.
“You don’t have to ply that route, Scarlet, it is a dangerous one” Mama Ruth pleaded.
“I have never disobeyed you, mama Ruth, and I never hoped that a day like this will come. But when it has to do with my Chamlee, I refuse to see reasons. He must not die and I am ready to make whatever sacrifice there is” Scarlet replied.
“I don’t wish you harm, dear, neither do I wish you any evil. But do you even know what she will demand, have you thought of it?” mama Ruth asked.
“She will be here soon and I don’t care what she will demand. Just so we are clear, I will do anything to meet her demand. She is the only one that can heal my Chamlee and I don’t want you to speak badly of her. Please stop making her appear like the devil. She is not the one who put me in this condition in the first place. Have you ever stopped to consider the good she will do here, for me? Stop being a stereotype, mama Ruth. You of all people should know better than to follow the crowd” Scarlet responded.
I hate to see them like this, I hate to see them against each other. Mama Ruth has always been a shield over Scarlet, especially at the mansion. She has always watched over her and was always ready to bear the brute for her. She has always treated Scarlet like her own daughter, she treated Scarlet even better than a mother could.
I wish I could stop this fight between them. But then, who do I side with? On one part is Scarlet ready to give even her own life to save her husband, and on the other part is Mama Ruth trying to shield Scarlet just like any mother hen would.
I understand the pain of Scarlet and I wish I had the means to make it go away.
“Okay, Scarlet, I agree with you. But, I can’t help but feel that this is not you, when did you become this way” Mama Ruth’s voice was already hoarse and trembling.
“Strong? You mean when did I become this strong? You know nothing of all that I have been through, mama Ruth, you know nothing of how far I have come and the pains that I had to bear. You know nothing of the way life has made me” Scarlet sparked.
Mama Ruth did not give up. She asked instead. “But what if she asks for the impossible, what will you do then?” I could feel the pain in her voice.
“So long as she requests for something that can be gotten in the land of the living then it is possible” Scarlet responded.
“She is a witch, Scarlet, she will never ask for the ordinary” Mama Ruth cried.
“My husband is no ordinary man, how would doing something extraordinary to save him sound like something huge to me?” Scarlet retorted.
On a good day, Scarlet would never challenge or speak back to Mama Ruth. But today is no good day. Ever since after the war, Scarlet has not been the same, nothing has been the same.
“I agree with you, Scarlet. I guess I am just being selfish. I would align with your decision from now on. I will support you to see that the Chamlee is well again” Mama Ruth gave in.
No, this is not a good one. Scarlet is going crazy and no one is able to stop her. Even now that Mama Ruth has given up then it will only get worse. I must do something to stop her.
She is my sister and I will not open my eyes and watch her blindly enter a witch’s hole. I owe her a duty of care and that of love. I owe her very much.
“Sister, sister can I speak with you, can I say something?” I requested.
“If it is on this issue, then it is over” she replied.
“No… no. It is actually about the Chamlee and you too. I mean for his benefit” I stuttered.
“Okay, you can go on” she instructed.
“You are stressing yourself way too much, my Chamlar. You are pregnant now and I know the Chamlee would not want you to overwork yourself. The baby needs to be taken care of” I stuttered.
She sighed and replied. “Oh, thanks Dawn, I will watch myself from now on. However, all this will be over after tomorrow”
Oh no. I don’t even know what I want to say. How do I get her to give up on this crazy idea? She must not push through with this idea, it is going to be a disaster, it is already a disaster, why is she refusing to see?
“Sister” I called quietly.
“What else, Dawn?” she asked impatiently.
“Are you… really going to go through… with… with this?” I stuttered.
She exhaled and shook her head. “Do you want me to be happy, Dawn?” she asked.
“Yes, of course, my Chamlar. You are my sister and I will do everything to make you happy and satisfied” I replied.
“I will leave now. By tomorrow, you will see your sister happy again” she said and walked out of the room.
“Mama Ruth” I cried and ran over to Mama Ruth.
“It is okay, dear” Mama Ruth tried to console me.
“Why do I feel that she is about to do something really terrible? I am afraid for her. Why does she have to go through a lot of pain?” I sobbed.
Scarlet’s life is one that I can never envy. She has been in pain ever since she arrived on this earth. Every day I curse myself for being part of those that caused her pain. I curse my family for the misery we all put Scarlet through.
And even now that it seems all was beginning to work out well for her, she is about to lose the one she cherishes the most, and now she is bent on doing something dreadful. Why is my sister’s fate this messed up?
“You have to be strong, Dawn. If you truly love your sister then you must be strong for her” Mama Ruth replied.
“Are you sure, mama Ruth? I don’t want her to make a grave mistake” I asked.
“Yes, Dawn, staying strong is the much you can do for her” she replied.
“But I know Scarlet, we were never close but I can never doubt her good heart. She will never go to a witch no matter the situation. Even then when we treated her badly, she still loved us with all her heart and was ready to die for us if need be” I continued to sob.
“She is the same Scarlet, she loves with everything in her” Mama Ruth replied.
“Then she needs us to go through this with her, she needs our support and undying love. I will gladly pay the ultimate price if it comes to that” I murmured.
“I hope it never gets to that, Dawn. Scarlet needs us now” Mama Ruth replied.