Little Eli's expression turned introspective as he continued, "I fell because, when she left me, I also stood up to leave, but something was flashed in my mind, the crescent birthmark of hers. I thought I just recalled her birthmark that I saw on her nape and thought that was what flashed, but now I remember, the birthmark that flashed in my mind was on adult her, not on tiny her." His words hung in the air, suggesting a puzzle being pieced together in his mind.
Grandfather Felix and Granduncle Victor listened intently, their faces attentive as they absorbed little Eli's words. Little Eli's voice conveyed a sense of introspective clarity as he spoke, "But I actually got my memories even without my head injury. Simply to say, I met her today, and my emotions were triggered, and I regained my memories." His words seemed to underscore the profound impact of the encounter.
"And I know how calm I felt, and how much I didn't want to send her away from me at that time." Little Eli's expression appeared wistful, reflecting on the emotions he'd experienced. "But my little kid brain didn't quite grasp the emotions swirling within me, and I thought something was wrong with my health and I wanted to go back to the villa. So I sent her away before leaving."
Little Eli's words a picture of a young child's confusion amidst the emotions he hadn't fully understood at the time. His explanation seemed to hold a thread of self-discovery, as if he was piecing together his past actions and feelings with newfound adult-like insight. Grandfather Felix and Granduncle Victor listened attentively, their faces reflecting interest in little Eli's unfolding narrative. The quiet room seemed to resonate with little Eli's contemplation.
Little Eli looked at Granduncle Victor, locking his eyes with the elderly man's, and said in a voice that was childlike yet carried an adult maturity, "Thank you, Victor." The words were simple, but they held a depth of gratitude and acknowledgment. Granduncle Victor nodded softly, his face warm with affection
Then Eli turned his gaze to Grandfather Felix and spoke, "Felix, perhaps she already left, but try to find if you get any information about her. It's little difficult for you I guess, because we only know her age might be 5 or 6 years old. I didn't ask her name, and we don't know if her name was the same or not in this life." Eli's tone was thoughtful.
Grandfather Felix nodded and stepped out, leaving little Eli in the care of his younger brother, Granduncle Victor. He had also given permission for other family members, who were patiently waiting to visit little Eli, because little Eli's earlier requested to see only his Grandfather Felix and Granduncle Victor.
With a sense of purpose, Grandfather Felix swiftly utilized his influence and connections to try to locate the little girl, the one little Eli had spoken of with such conviction and affection. However, despite his best efforts, he couldn't gather any concrete information about her or her family. All he managed to discover was that a family had stayed in the area for about 20 days before departing, beyond that, there was no further data about them, no leads, no names, no clear trail to follow.
From that day forward, little Eli waited silently, patiently, and with a longing heart for her return, bearing the ache of her absence. His hope to keep living, to find meaning, seemed rooted solely in the prospect of finding her again. The quiet wait was palpable, Eli's emotions held closely within him as time seemed to stretch out uncertainly.
The flashback faded as Grandfather Felix was jolted out of his thoughts by his son William's sudden scream of "Father??", echoing through the walls of his ward. He turned to William with a questioning gaze. "Father, you were lost in thought? Who is she really, Father?" William asked, trying to get answers from his father.
Grandfather Felix sighed, rubbed his forehead, and replied in a hesitant tone, "I can't tell you anything, William. If you want to know, ask your nephew. And don't ask me anymore. You're here to take care of me, not to give me a headache with your questions." Understanding that his father wasn't willing to disclose any information, William sighed and dropped the matter, choosing not to press him further.
William could sense that she was important to Eli, based on Eli's emotional response, but he couldn't quite define the nature of their relationship without hearing it directly from Eli himself.
•••••••
At Lily's home, before Eli call ;
At Lily's home, the family of three had just finished their breakfast. Mark and Selina still had some time before leaving for work, so they casually sat in the living room. Lily was checking her emails when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the caller ID and answered the call. Lily's expression turned serious as she listened to the person on the other end of the call, her tone shifting to a cold, decisive note. "I'll come as soon as possible," she said before disconnecting the phone, her words hanging in the air.
The atmosphere in the living room subtly shifted, and Mark and Selina, her parents, exchanged worried glances. "What happened, princess?" Mark asked. "Is everything okay, sweetie?" Selina chimed in, concern evident on their faces.
Lily shook her head slightly, her voice remaining calm but carrying an undertone of seriousness. "No, Dad, I have to go to WELCARIA now. Little emergency. But don't worry, it's just something that requires my presence." She offered a reassuring smile, attempting to ease her parents' concerns.
Mark and Selina exchanged skeptical glances, their faces betraying a mix of concern and doubt despite their nods of understanding. They trusted Lily's judgment, but it was clear they weren't entirely convinced it was a minor matter. "Alright," they said in near unison, their voices still laced with worry as they watched Lily prepare to depart.
"I need to leave now, I'll get my things," Lily said, placing her phone on the centre table and standing up. She headed towards her room to pack essentials like her passport, ID, and other personal items slipped into her backpack.
Meanwhile, Selina and Mark walked into the kitchen, quietly discussing and preparing some snacks for Lily to take along on her trip. They knew her tendency to get absorbed in pressing matters, often forgetting to eat, packing snacks would ensure she had something to munch on during her journey. Their movements were efficient, driven by parental care and concern for their daughter's well-being amidst whatever urgency had arisen in WELCARIA city, the capital of ALHAI Country.
As Lily was busy packing, her phone on the table started buzzing with an incoming call, only to disconnect a moment later. The same thing happened again before Selina and Mark returned to the living room. While at Upstairs, Lily was oblivious to the phone's buzzing, busy finalizing her preparations felt a inexplicable unease within her.
Hearing the phone buzzing once more, Mark assumed it might be something important related to the earlier call. He decided to answer it before it disconnected again. "Hello?" Mark said, but there was no response. He repeated "Hello?" several times, but still, there was silence on the other end. After waiting for a moment, Mark hung up, deciding to tell Lily about the call when she came out.
Selina looked at Mark with curiosity. "No one there?" she asked softly. Mark shook his head. "Nothing. Might be a wrong number or something related to her emergency. But weird no one was responding." They both stood there quietly for a moment, awaiting Lily's return, their minds likely pondering the sudden trip, this odd call and emergency.
Lily's face looked pale as she returned after packing, her steps seemingly slowed by an inner turmoil. She seated herself on the couch quickly, closed her eyes, and rested her head back, her posture conveying a mix of vulnerability and discomfort. A heavy burden seemed to press on her chest, its weight palpable.
Mark and Selina exchanged worried glances, and Selina immediately moved to grab Lily's hand, concern etched on her face. "What happened, sweetie? Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Lily shook her head slightly, her voice low and laden with emotion as she replied, "No, Mom. The same... pain again. It's... It's suffocating." Her words tumbled a little and carried a sense of carrying too much in her heart. She moved her hand to rub at her chest, near her heart, a gesture underscoring her unease.
The pain felt unbearable. It seemed to overwhelm her. A tear slipped from beneath her closed eyelids, tracing a path down her cheek. Mark and Selina looked on, their expressions filled with concern for their daughter.
Selina's voice was tinged with worry as she asked, "Where's your tablets, sweetie?" Lily responded without opening her eyes, her whisper-like voice conveying vulnerability, "Bag... It's in my bag, Mom."
Selina took the backpack Lily had placed on the centre table before sitting down and searched for the medication, locating the tablets easily amidst the packed items. She pulled out the medicine and handed it to Lily. "Here, Lily, first take this tablet."
Lily opened her eyes, tears filled in them as she accepted the tablet with hands that trembled slightly. Mark, standing nearby, poured a glass of water and handed it to her. Lily took the medicine with the water, then closed her eyes again, seemingly trying to compose herself before opening them slowly afterward.
All the while, Selina held one of Lily's hands gently, offering comfort. Mark's face reflected deep concern, his expression was etched with worry as he watched his daughter struggle to find some calm. Lily's eyes moved between her parents as she spoke softly to reassure them, "I'm fine now." Her attempt at calmness seemed fragile, her emotions still palpable in the tense air of the living room.
Lily's experiences with this mysterious pain and suffocating feeling had been recurring for 15 years, casting a pattern of unpredictability and emotional toll in her life. The sensations varied, ranging from intense pain and bodily discomfort to subtler feelings like sensing a reminder that someone is thinking of her. At times, she'd perceive someone calling her name with a sense of earnestness, as if reaching out across some unseen divide. And often, there was the voice she heard nearly every morning laced with anguish, loneliness, and longing. The emotional weight of that voice seemed to seep into her days.
Lily was just 6 years old when she first felt this pain, a memory that seemed to linger vividly. The pain she experienced that first time was unbearable, catching her parents off guard with concern. It happened on a day they were heading home after a vacation with Lina. Thankfully, the people assigned by King Riette to look after them were also there, and they acted swiftly. They quickly called a doctor to examine Lily, anxious to understand the cause of her distress. Despite the medical checks, the results showed nothing abnormal. Lily was deemed fine with a good health condition. The doctors couldn't pinpoint why she had felt such intense pain when she appeared to be perfectly healthy, a medical puzzle that remained unsolved, adding to her parents worry about her well-being.
After that initial encounter, Lily continued to experience pain intermittently. King Riette, concerned for her well-being, took her to consult renowned doctors in an effort to understand and address her condition. However, the medical opinions seemed to converge. They couldn't find anything physically wrong with Lily. Eventually, a psychologist was consulted, and he proposed a possibility, it might be a case of telepathy. He inquired about Lily having any twin siblings, probing for potential connections. Upon learning Lily didn't have a twin brother or sister, the doctor found himself unable to identify who might be linked to her telepathically. Typically, such connections were noted among blood-related siblings or most commonly twins born at the same time. But Lily's situation didn't fit these usual patterns.
The psychologist concluded it might indeed involve telepathy with someone connected to Lily, though he couldn't specify who. To manage her symptoms, he prescribed medication aimed at alleviating the pain she experienced, leaving King Riette and her parents with lingering questions about Lily's condition and the nature of this possible connection. From then on, this pain became part of Lily's life.