Reflection

"Sibel! Sibel, come!"

"I am coming!"

"You are taking too long, my love!"

"No, you are moving too quickly, Love!"

"I adore the way you call me Love!" He stopped walking to wait for her.

"Where are you leading me?"

"To a place that I created just for us. Come, we're here!" He said as he opened up some bamboo plants to take her into Dreamland.

"Do you like it?" He asked, noticing her silence. He turned her to face him, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Thank you," she mumbled as a tear rolled down, but he quickly caught it with his lips.

"I deserve more than a simple thank you, my beautiful rose!" He whispered against her soft lips.

Without saying a word, she kissed him deeply, drawing him into a passionate embrace.

The clock on the cupboard chimed, "Ding-dong."

Under the blanket, she lifted her head and then her hands reached out to touch the headboard. Blinking her eyes to adjust to the light, she stretched her hand out to shut off the clock alarm.

"Me to kiss him?! Ew, just the thought of him touching me makes me feel sick. What kind of dream is this? Calling him Love, I would rather kiss a frog!" Sibel chatted with her mirror reflection after realizing that the dream she had been seeing for so long finally matched a face.

Glancing back at the clock, she slapped her forehead.

"Late again!" She scolded herself, then, like every morning, started to rush around until she was finally ready.

"After 9 long months, I am finally going to have him here. Although I don't want to admit it, I miss his breathing ever since I revealed he is back in my life." She spoke to herself in front of the mirror as she fixed her white hair, making sure everything was turned off before closing the door to her small apartment near the Colosseum.

(Just for information, Him, His, and He aren't the same person.)

🌹 Sibel 🌹

I thought my life was over when I got robbed that night as I stepped out of the airport.

Starting from the bottom and working my way up again was tough without my family, but in the moment, you don't realize someone unexpected can lend a helping hand.

Those months were difficult, but I managed to get through. Luckily, I still had my small notebook with me, so I could contact Peri from the monastery where I found refuge.

After that horrific incident, I had to cut ties with my family, as it was necessary even though they didn't agree. However, there wasn't much they could do in that situation.

As soon as I heard his deep breaths and that painful sobbing, I couldn't help but cry. His suffering was so hard to bear. Even though I didn't like him, I still felt his pain. He had lost the person he loved the most. I saw him in need at the end, but I wasn't able to give him the chance he was asking for.

Something terrible had occurred.

Every month, we would trade my scarf for my son's shirt. I never knew that hearing someone breathe could be so comforting.

It was tough going back to my family home for the first time. Those memories from our first week of marriage were still fresh in my mind. It might seem strange that I feel disgusted thinking about him romantically, yet here I am, talking about his breathing.

Ugh! I feel so lost, and now I'm stuck in traffic.

Just my luck! The intense Mediterranean sun is blinding me.

I'm searching for my sunglasses, and the rosary that I received from nuns fell into my hands. Bringing back memories from a previous life.

Whoever would have thought that the chores he made me do would lead to finding shelter at the monastery I sought refuge in. I never had to sweep because I was always the youngest one. Growing up, my fingers were delicate and dedicated to playing the piano. So, all I could do back then was make my bed, take care of myself, and go to school.

The monastery also served as an orphanage where I shared the love I had reserved for my boy with all the unfortunate little angels. Working daily made my hands and fingers stronger. One day, while cleaning the dungeon...

Yes, you read it right. The dungeon.

I discovered an old piano. God knows how much I missed its tunes. Despite betraying it, the music never let me down. As soon as my fingers touched the keys, I forgot about the physical pain and started playing, letting my emotions merge with the music.

I didn't realize that I had been playing for hours, nor did I notice that my fingers were bleeding or that I had attracted an audience.

Their applause made me think about my past when I played before thousands of people and their clapping matched my heartbeat. Kids surrounded me, I never made a difference between them. I missed my boy so much when he wasn't the first one to call me mom. It was a little girl that called me mama. She wasn't an orphan child, but her parents came to donate often and the girl enjoyed staying around more than going with her parents. She was the only daughter of the couple and barely ate at home, but surrounded by other kids she got her appetite.

As I was busy with my past memories, I didn't realize that traffic was over and other drivers behind me were honking their horns.

Phew! Finally, I am free from that road. Now I have less than 10 minutes to arrive.

As I was telling about my life in the monastery. After they discovered my hidden talent, they brought the piano to the main room and I started teaching kids, bringing joy to their faces. I know the doctor said I will never play for hours, but the pain inside me overcomes the physical pain of my fingers. To earn money so I could rent a house, I started playing for different restaurants. I found a job as a teacher at the summer camp here in Rome where I am late as usual on my first day of this year.

Wait a minute, my phone is ringing.

"Andrea, Scusami! Lo so che sono in ritardo nuovamente! Sarò lì tra due minuti! Ti sto già vedendo!" (Sorry, Andrea! I know I am late again. I will be there in two minutes. I am already watching you.)

I lied to him because I am still two blocks away.

You heard it right, Andrea is the same Andrea whom he separated from me years ago. And the reason why he and I interrupted our breathing sessions. He was really immature. After all those years talking through our breathing, he decided to interrupt everything. He made me wait for his call. I am so afraid that he can take revenge and poison my boy against me, but I will not think about that now.

Well, you may wonder how Andrea became part of my life again.

Well, he is the director of the campus where I teach. He got divorced three years ago and has three children that live with their mom. We started as friends. I told him what I could, because some pains are better kept inside me. He knows that I have a son that I left with his father. We don't touch his name as a topic ever, because he can't forgive him for separating us like that.

I need to admit he has become a good shoulder for me, although him whom' I don't want to mention thename, insinuated something else when I told him. Well, then it was nothing but now he has it right. The ashes of our love are ready to be born again as Phoenix.

Finally, I parked as I arrived, too.

Now I am getting out of the car, closing the door as I stride towards the gate. Kids have crowded the campus again, it looks like a busy hive. I see Andrea and my best friend, Livia. I am waving at them.

"Anne (Mom)!" His voice calls out to me.

_______________

The most expected encounter is about to happen!