Chapter 6: A Parting, an End, and a New Sign
“NINA, come look at the flowers with me, would you?”
One day, Aida was out of bed for the first time in a long while and looking at the flowers in the garden. She didn’t look very well at all, but Nina hadn’t seen her sitting up in a chair like that in what seemed like days.
Honestly, she would have been just as happy if she stayed in bed, conserving her strength.
Nina moved another chair over beside Aida’s and sat down.
It was a small garden. There was a time when they’d grow vegetables there, but they had a little extra money now that Nina was working, letting them grow flowers again instead.
Her father had loved flowers, and because of him, Aida began gardening.
Most of the flowers were transplanted wildflowers, nothing extravagant, but Nina still loved them all the same.
“They’re all blooming beautifully since you’ve been watering them so carefully,” said Aida with a happy smile.
Nina glanced over at her face. Her cheeks were hollowed, telling Nina that the moment she feared this whole time was looming closer. So many times she’d wished she could heal Aida in the same way she cared for these flowers, by working the earth, watering, pulling weeds.
But reality never changed; it was always there. She needed to face it without running from it.
“Mom, are you in pain? Is it bad?” asked Nina.
“No, it doesn’t hurt. I haven’t felt any pain ever since I started taking those pills you got. I really appreciate that.”
“I’m glad…”
Even if she couldn’t keep Aida alive, if she could just relieve her pain… So long as she could do that, she would have no regrets no matter what sort of downfall she had to endure.
“Nina, do you know what those purple flowers are called?” Aida pointed to a plant with round clusters of tiny purple flowers.
Nina picked one bunch and gave it to Aida. They smelled faintly sweet, like vanilla.
“It’s called heliotrope,” she explained.
“They smell beautiful.” Nina had been tending the garden in Aida’s place, but this was her first time hearing the name of that particular flower.
“Your dad planted these flowers before he passed away. In the language of flowers, they mean ‘eternal love’… He knew he wouldn’t be with us much longer.”
Nina was at a loss for words as she watched Aida smell the flowers, a peaceful look on her face.
“Nina, your mother has a prediction for you,” she continued. “You’re going to meet an absolutely wonderful young man who will treasure you.”
“Come on, Mom.” That wasn’t a prediction; it was the sort of wish every mother in the world had for their daughter.
Nina tried to laugh it off but couldn’t. Aida’s smile was too gentle. “Nina, you’re such a good girl. You have a great head on your shoulders, and you can do anything. But it’s about time you start thinking about your own happiness. It’s okay to rely on someone else, to ask to have things your way sometimes.” She softly reached out and placed the heliotrope in Nina’s hair. “And remember, your mom will always be with you. I love you; I’ll love you for all eternity.”
What she said carried both eternal love…and an eternal farewell. When Nina realized that, she put her arms around Aida. “No!” She’d hid her feelings for so long because she didn’t want to worry Aida, but she couldn’t hold them back any longer. “I don’t need eternity. Just be here with me, now! Don’t go! Don’t leave me alone!”
Her cries were quickly taken over by sobs. All she could do was cling to Aida. She was usually so warm, soft, and graceful, but Nina felt like she could snap her in two if she held her too strongly—she was so fragile.
That made her even sadder because she was forced to look directly at reality, even if she hated it, to acknowledge that Aida had very little time left.
Aida gently stroked Nina’s hair as she cried. “I’m sorry, Nina. I love you. I’ll always watch over you, forever and ever…” Her voice trembled as she put her arms around Nina.
✦ ✦ ✦
That night, with her hand held tight in Nina’s, surrounded by the sweet scent of heliotropes on her pillow, Aida slipped into sleep and began her journey to the heavens.
✦ ✦ ✦
🐈 🐈 🐈
THE next day was busy.
While this world had a Medieval Europe flavor to it—meaning Nina expected a burial—Aida was instead cremated.
If you weren’t a member of a family with a magnificent crypt, you were generally entombed in a communal graveyard. These were limited due to health and space-saving restrictions, making cremation commonplace.
Laying Aida to rest passed quickly; it was like Nina was watching someone else do everything.
After that was done, she cleaned the house. She weeded. She polished the floor. She dusted.
Nina couldn’t relax if she wasn’t doing something; she couldn’t focus if she were—she just kept moving.
There was nothing else she could do to distract herself.
“Maybe…I should have a cup of tea.” Night had fallen while she’d been mindlessly cleaning. Nina hadn’t eaten since the night before, having not felt any hunger.
Thirst still came, so she boiled the kettle and poured herself a cup of tea. Drinking the warm tea made it feel like the past few days had all been a dream.
Her eyes turned toward Aida’s room. She felt like Aida would come through the doorway at any moment, even though she knew that was impossible.
“I should sleep. I have to go to school tomorrow,” she murmured, the words echoing through the empty house before fading.
No one responded. There was no one there to wish her sweet dreams.
It felt like there was a hole in her heart, and all her emotions had spilled out of it.