A few hours passed and Ruby regained her strength to stand and walk on her feet; Eve and Lilim helped our guest to feel more comfortable with the surroundings. While Skoll is busy with something else and Clover was still in his bedroom doing god’s know what, I decided to take part in the small talk between Ruby and the others.
As a father, it is my duty to keep everyone’s mind occupied in case any of them are thinking too much about their problems. Thus, the atmosphere is lighthearted while the topic of discussion revolved around Ruby.
The girl is sixteen years old just like my daughter, which surprised them as Lilim is shares the same age as hers. For now, they all have fun talking about things like music, books, and games. We discussed a substantial amount of topics and the four of us were able to get closer to each other.
Not long after; Eve brought her a new clothes and directed Ruby to take shower in the bathroom. When she is out of sight, the three of us can finally relax.
“I cannot believe I am getting a sister! She agreed to live with us!” My enthusiastic daughter was jumping from joy while excitedly ranting to myself.
“I am so happy for my daughter…” Eve commented with a smile of her lips, the corners of her mouth slightly raised. A smile of pride on her face that only mother could give. Their happy, excited, and eager faces; they looked like they are meeting a friend that will stay with them for quite long. They are all smiles, laughing and giggling like happy family. Seeing them so delighted made me want to join them also.
Yet, Skoll’s words about that girl has made me doubt if the person we adopted into our family is really who she claimed herself to be.
Is there anything wrong with letting Ruby be with us? What if the girl isn’t telling the truth about everything? What if she is just pretending to be someone’s relative or someone who wants to be helpful and be in this house to do harm to my family?
What the hell am I bubbling about? These are all crazy conspiracies, nothing more. If Ruby was lying or not telling the truth, I would have known from the start.
Although, I cannot help but comment on the way I analyzed her body posture, tone and use of words. Don’t get me wrong, I believe she is telling the truth and Ruby appears to be just a victim of someone’s hands. However, I am unable to let go of this doubtful feeling in the back of my mind that I made the wrong choice of letting her in our household.
“Honey, what is the matter?” The voice of my wife brought me back to reality, snapping out the distressing thoughts that came to my head.
Rubbing my forehead and sighing, I tried to look at the two women; my wife and my daughter, answering what they wanted to hear: “Just worried about where to place Ruby in having her own bedroom,” lying to both.
My wife and my daughter did not appear to notice anything was off. No one said anything about the way I speak and the tone of my voice. I can’t blame them since I was a former detective and world’s best psychologist, although the latter was a claim and title I made up to sound more important. Now, that is the past, like all my past lies, deceits and pretenses.
Seeing how happy they were made me also realize something else; the title or claim of being the world’s best psychologist was just an empty title with no meaning behind it, for the simple fact that no one can ever be the best or be better than anyone. Everyone will only know as much as they have learned in life.
Lilim’s eyes sparkled from hearing this, “don’t worry about that father! I’ll let her stay in my bedroom, she and I are going to be best buddies,” smiling happily at the idea.
My daughter is not the brightest bulb in the box but it seems like she has taken a liking to her new friend and sister. With a quick glance from me, my wife gave a thumbs-up sign; approving the choice of Ruby to sleep in the same room with our daughter.
Ah, well. It is not like it is a problem for me or anything, after all, the fact that my daughter is capable of regenerate from losing limbs is the one thing that made me feel not so worried about the thought of her being killed or attacked because of her nature.Talking about Ruby in the main lobby of this house, we were casually spoke about her and the future that holds us. So far, everything about it is uplifting and positive; especially, Lilim and Ruby are getting along great through their first interaction.
We talked and talked, letting time pass by. Mundane conversation to allow us to occupy with something else as we wait for Ruby to finish taking a shower and dressing up in the bathroom. Then, finally, after more than a couple of minutes of waiting, we heard the door open, followed by footsteps approaching the room.
Our attention perked, listening to the approaching footsteps heading towards us.
Ruby revealed herself, wearing the new set of clothes that Eve gave her. She now wore a red t-shirt with black short shorts, and the long brown hair tied into bun on top of her head; her usual style.
“You are so pretty,” Eve said with admiration.
Lilim went up to her and gave bear hug much to Ruby’s embarrassment, “we are going to be the best friends, ever!” Cheering with excitement.
The poor girl was about to pass out, her red face slowly turned blue, gasping for air, “L-Lilim? C-could you let me go? I-I can’t breathe!” Ruby is already weak to begin with because of the Lilim’s powerful grip.Seeing Ruby’s desperate expression of escaping, I intervened and tapped my daughter’s shoulder, “she is unable to breathe properly, release her,” I explained to Lilim; being her voice of reason.
Frightened of this notion, Lilim promptly let go of her and swiftly apologizes for almost choking the life out of Ruby, “I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!” The thought of upsetting or scaring Ruby had made her panicky.
Ruby smiled to ease her worries, “apology accepted. Just don’t do that again,” she replied with a giggle of her own, slightly amused from the entire event.
Changing the subject, Lilim grabbed her hand, “come on Ruby! I want to show you my bedroom!” With that, the duo left us to head to the second floor; leaving me and Eve alone with a smile of amusement on our faces.
As the pair of girls run off to the second floor, Eve walked closer to my side, commenting about the situation, “the girls are so cute when they are together, aren’t they Adam?” Laughing softly.
Cute? I think so, the two are really like sisters. Almost sound as we had just another child in the family. Which is the case, but not exactly since Ruby is not our or my biological child.
Nevertheless, if having Ruby makes my daughter happy, then so be it. Their happiness will always prioritize over mine because my wife and kid are the most important to me. They are what helps me feel alive; the reason I continue to live. My existence is meaningless if not for them.”Eve, uh, you want to hang outside in the snow, probably watch the sun or something?” I asked with an uncertain tone.
A slight smile formed on her beautiful visage, Eve replied to my question, “of course. We could have a nice chat while admiring the winter scenery. Just like two lovers,” she said in a sweetly voice.
With a nod of my head, we went outside the house, snowing and the orange sky of the descending sun were the perfect background to the mood of romance that was going on in front of us. We walked through the winter wonderland; letting ourselves be transported by the beauty of nature and the cold airs that came with it.
We cannot hold our hands because of my phobia, but the presence of someone I cherished is enough for either of us to enjoy this date together.
As we continued to walk through the snowy grounds, Eve asked me a question, “Adam?”
“Yes?” I replied in the same tone as her, looking at her face with my own two eyes. Her gorgeous, blue orbs is like gazing into the depths of an ocean. Bluntly speaking, everything about my wife is strikingly beautiful. Though, the way her hair falls over her shoulder is the only thing that gives her such beauty.
But the most important of all is love; the purest and truest form of love—the bond between husband and wife. Love that is eternal and everlasting; love that can last a lifetime and beyond. She and I are in loved, always and forever. No matter how many centuries pass, the warmth of this relationship will never be dimmed.As the silence was drawn out for a moment or two, Eve broke the quietness, asking me again in an inquisitive voice, “what are you thinking about?” She asked with a curious gaze, “you seem lost in thought, mind sharing with me what it is?”
Embarrassment, that is what I feel now. Besides my face turning red, she smirked when Eve found the clue, “are you thinking about something naughty, Adam?” Belittling and teasing; it is like her to be so blunt to my feelings.
I shook my head, denying it, though, my denial was weak,”w-what are you talking about?” Big mistake was that I stuttered in my first word and acting hesitant, which gave Eve the answer she wants.
My wife, the one woman I loved and married; laughed at the sight of me. She leaned on to me as if to say that she already knew. That this was obvious to everyone. A shiver of fear ran through my body and a sigh escaped my lips.
Eve won.
“Ugh, fine,” rolling my eyes, “I was thinking about how pretty you look,” truthfully though. With a flustered face, I confessed, “I also thought of ways of complimenting you being the best lover I ever have,” telling her with a sheepish grin. When my words reached her ears, she became embarrassed too. Her cheeks blushed like roses while she kept staring at the ground. Eventually, Eve raised her eyes to look at mine, but after a few seconds of holding her stare, she looked down once, steaming and blushing, “you really mean that?”
This feel like we are some high school couple, thinking about that makes me want to laugh a bit from it, “yeah, not like that but I also thought that you are kind, beautiful, sweet, caring; the perfect woman.” My smile was visible in my expression. Even though it is embarrassing to be called this; I felt so much more confident and comfortable in saying this than anything else.
She unexpectedly sat on the snow-covered ground, staring at the orange horizon from afar, “can I ask you something?” Following suit, I responded, “sure, ask away.”
Eve turned to me, her face serious and asked, “remember the time we had sex before? And how devastated I was from those two years ago when I had miscarriage?”
I remember, two years ago, she was forced to have an abortion due to the high risk of dying from childbirth. Just losing my wife, I cannot imagine the world without her. Through our constant arguments about whether to keep the baby at risk of losing her own life or have the child with no mother, I picked the first option.
Pains me to say this, but; the doctors and nurses were correct, there is no choice of having either my child or wife alive.
Losing either is difficult, but if she cannot give birth without dying, then I will not take the risk. Eve means the world to me as I mentioned before. So now what is implying? Could it be about reminiscing the memories of our discussion from those two years ago? Or simply talking about the past like this? All these thoughts and possibilities run through my head.
Studying her body language, I finally gotten the answer, Eve wants to have another baby.
“Adam…if there was a time that you do not have the phobia of being touched anymore, then could we try again and have another baby?”
Words were not needed but did; they could be expressed with the look on her face, although she said them anyway. It is difficult to express or even talk about since we lost a child of our own.
But having another one? Isn’t that a bit too soon and selfish to talk about it?
Looking up in the sky, I opened my mouth, speaking my own set of words concerning this subject, “having another baby, huh? Can’t blame you or myself, though. Reproduction is a fundamental feature of all life. Especially for human beings like us. Still, is what we do in bringing new people to this world a cruel fate worse than death?” Pausing briefly to consider it.
We stayed in silence, staring at the beautiful orange sky together as it slowly darkens inch by inch, like an endless night. A waning moon reflected from the other side of the horizon.
Eve’s quiet voice came from my side, “perhaps you are right, perhaps bringing another person into this world will cause more trouble than it is. One child is enough,” she paused for a moment; looking around, as if to ensure that no one was eavesdropping.
Her voice then became soft.
“If only the world wasn't so cruel and harsh.”
