Gold and Ash (2020)- full story

The story is not for age under 16; it contains disturbing scenes, deals with some of the more difficult topics that appear daily in our society, elements of violence and, although there are significantly fewer self-destructive scenes than in some earlier stories, it still contains their elements. The story is not inspired by real events, but it is generally inspired by real life and circumstances.
---------------------------------------

5.11.2020, Thursday

  Chapter I- Freedom!

 She rushed through the fields like that, not paying attention to the burdocks and thorns that clung to her clothes. She knew that she must not ruin this, otherwise she would be a bird in a golden cage for the rest of her life ... Hell yeah golden. It was the gilded shackles that tightened her neck, but now she was free and dead to all but herself. Complete freedom.

 She didn't know where she was going or what she was doing, she just knew she had to run as far as possible to make sure Eulalia would stay dead in that car that exploded some time ago, to make sure that life was over. She had to disappear completely. Where to go? Taking a break to take a breath, she realized that she could not be in the same city, they would find her sometime, so she had to run to the next place, maybe even further. Where the hell to go? Damn, she forgot about that most important fact - faking death in a burning car was a easy thing to do, she needed to find a place to go after that. She felt like a fool who could not even plan such important idea to the end.

 Little by little, a settlement could be seen in the distance. There were very dilapidated huts, houses that looked more like sheds made of piles of planks, houses made of straw and mud as if they had stood there for decades. Various things were scattered around the yard, adding to the atmosphere of devastation that this place left. She had never seen anything like it - she had seen different types of houses, buildings, villas like the one she lived in, but she had never seen such a poor neighborhood. She was saddened by the fact that many large houses stand empty, serving only to show the wealth of their boss, while some people live in homes like this because they have no other choice. It tore her heart apart, wanting to do something for these people, but then she remembered that by killing Eulalia she also had nothing left. Eulalia was rich but they did not let her see beyond the seemingly perfect world. They did not let her see this side of the picture where it was not painted in gold. They didn't let her see life.

 She approached the settlement slowly, forgetting to be careful. Completely occupied with the desire to reach the settlement as soon as possible she did not notice the three males approaching her, speeding up the step to reach her. The rustling of the grass behind her tore her from her thoughts, so she hurried to the nearest house, hoping to escape before they reached her.

 Man 1 (shouted): "Get her! We could use women's company tonight ... "Man 2: "Certainly, she came as ordered. " Man 3 (to her): "Stop, baby, we won't do anything wrong ... On the contrary. (muffled laughter) "

 The moment she screamed a young man with darker skin and brown eyes came out of the first house, ran quickly and shouted at the men who were chasing her: "You fools, you found to disturb a girl! You are shame for the male gender! (to the oldest of them) And you, you drink all day and disturb everybody around, I'll break your snout if I see you touch someone else, do you understand?!" Man: "And you're much better ... You also drink non-stop! You hang out with a glass more than with women, you will never have a family!" The young man (shouted): "Get lost, you bastard! (they are leaving)"

 The girl watched hidden behind a tree, shaking with fear all the time. The young man approached her and greeted her, to which she replied by nodding her head. Young man: "Who are you? How so that you come to this abyss now in the middle of the night? " Girl: "I'm Eul ... Asya. My name is Asya. I got lost ... uh ... my family kicked me out of the house. I didn't know where I was going. Sorry to bother you, I'm leaving ..." Young man: "Are you crazy to go somewhere now?! You think those three are the only bastards here? Listen, I don't have any special conditions for accommodation, but be in my house tonight, I would feel guilty if someone attacks you. (extends his hand) I'm Emil." Asya (accepts the hand and shakes his hand): "How can I stay with a stranger alone ...?" Emil: "I won't hurt you. (gives her a knife from his pocket) Here, if I break my promise feel free to stab me, but there will be no need to use it. I haven't even touched a woman so far, so I won't now. (laughs) I couldn't say the same for those three anymore, I beat them well several times. Well, to tell you the truth, they deserved it." Asya (smiles slightly): "All right, I'll believe you. In any case, it's safer than wandering alone at night. "

Chapter II- Morning in Waste land

 They entered a small room lit by a lantern. The house consisted of three rooms - one was a mixture of living room and kitchen; with a tattered couch, a table with three dilapidated chairs, two kitchen elements, a bucket full of water and a basin that should replace the sink and tap, the room seemed very modest. The second room had a bed, an old closet, a chest and a rug made of old rags, slightly larger than the other three rooms. The windows were covered with something that looked more like a sheet than a curtain, and the whole house was heated by a stove that was in the third room. Despite the fact that there was not much furniture, there were a lot of old things around the house, many of which would no longer be in use in most households.

 Emil: "Welcome to my palace ... It's not something special, but I guess you'll survive one night. I've always lived like this and I haven't died yet, I hope you won't either. (laughter)" Asya (looks around sadly):" Don't worry, it's okay ... It's so dark - can you turn on the light, please? " Emil (looks at her): "There is no electricity here. There is no electricity in this settlement, there is no water... Here, (he leads her to the bed in another room) sleep here, I'm going to the couch. Do you want a suit? "Asya (looks at her dirty and grass-covered clothes):" You've already given me accommodation, a bed ... I can't ask for that either. This will be fine. " Emil (goes to the dresser and takes out blouse and skirt): “Put this on if it suits you. It belonged to my sister so it stayed in the closet, if it suits you can even take it. Goodnight. (comes out and closes the door) "Asya (louder): "Good night. "

In the morning, Asya woke up and went to the first room where Emil had already set breakfast, modest but enough to start the day. Emil (seeing her): "If I had known that I would have guests I would have gotten something better, this way I have this stale bread, jam and a piece of cheese that I have left from yesterday." Asya: "I don't mind, this is a lot more than I should be asking for. Thank you." Emil: "Why do you constantly apologize and thank me, I'm not a king so that I have such treatment." Asya: "Do they only thank kings? I believe that all people are equally important, it would be nice if everyone treated each other with respect." Emil: "Eh ... it doesn't go that way in life. You see, in this settlement we are less respected than animals, no one visits us, no one even knows that we exist. They remember, for example, when they can take something from us, but never to help. God forbid that we could also have a more normal life ... Or, better said, that we have a life on the first place, because this is not life but survival. " Asya: "Why is it like that?"  Emil: "Some call it destiny, some don't even care ... There are different kinds of people here, with different nationalities, skin colors, opinions. We all have poverty in common, rarely does anyone move from this point. There were maybe two or three who succeeded in something, gentlemen are ashamed of their origin and never reappeared, let alone changed anything. I don't blame them. No one would come here again consciously. "

 Asya (looks at the pictures on the wall): "Is this your family?" Emil: "It was." Asya: "Where are all these people, how come you're here alone? (lowers his head) I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't question that." Emil (approaches the picture): "These are grandparents, they died of old age. Mother and father too, although they were sick of something, the hell would know what it was about. Anyway, they both left in a short period of time, it was about a years ago. This was my older brother- he was the head of the family and he raised the family after my father's death. He worked illegally with one a bricklayer, but he had an accident when he was injured by a tool. He survived, but in time his wound became infected, we could not go to the hospital and he suffered from blood poisoning. " Asya (eyes full of tears): "So why didn't you take him, maybe he would be alive now?!" Emil: "It's like this here ... Nobody has health care and nobody has money for doctors. We are left to an alternative medicine and destiny, so what happens- it happens." Asya (wiping away tears): "And this boy?" Emil: "My younger brother. He was sick from birth, he was very weak. He was gone last year, a month before that he couldn't get out of bed or to eat, I cared for him every day and tried to get him out- nothing. "

 Asya noticed that a girl was also in the picture, with a very beautiful face and thick black hair. Her picture was also in the corner of that picture, she captivated with her beauty. She guessed it could be Emil's sister.

 Emil: "You're looking at her ... Yes, that's my sister. I'm most sorry that she is gone as well." Asya: "Is she dead too? Oh, that's awful!" Emil: "I am more indignant because of the way everything happened. I don't know if I can talk about it now, it's hard for me." Asya (puts her hand on his shoulder): "Don't, if it's harder than what you told me, then you better not open that wound, there's no need." Emil: "Well, now it's your turn - why did you run away yesterday?" From who? "Asya (gulped): "Um ... My parents wanted to force me to marry a much older man, so I left. " Emil: "Don't you think they'll start looking for you?" Asya: "No, they drove me away." Emil: "You say you left them, not that they drove you away ..." Asya: "Um, yes. My father drove me away, so I ran away because he threatened to kill me if I showed up again... That's the story. " Emil: "Okay ... So where are you going? Do you have a destination?" Asya (thinks):" You say that rarely anyone comes here?" Emil: "Yes, very rarely." Asya: "Is there any chance that I can stay in this settlement?" Emil (laughs): "You must be crazy! As far as I'm concerned you can even live here, I don't mind, but why would you want to stay in this rabbit hole? You're young, you can do more in life than this." Asya: "Don't worry about it, so I can stay? " Emil: "Stay, I'm not forbiding you. You know, the living conditions here are difficult, don't let it be that I didn't tell you." Asya: "I'll get used to it, don't worry. (Slight smile) If so many people can live like this for years, I'll manage it somehow as well. (to herself) Here it's the safest place not to be found, their snobbish feet will never set foot in a place like this. I'm safe here."

 Chapter III- Eulalia

 A few days earlier:

 Eulalia wakes up in her large bed with feather bedding, staring silently at the perfectly white painted ceiling. The maid draws the curtains and lets in a ray of sunshine into the room, thus further illuminating the white walls and then preparing the clothes for Miss Eulalia.
 
 Housekeeper: "Miss, here's your dress - take a shower, get dressed and put a makeup on, and here's the breakfast I brought you." Eulalia (looked at the tray): "You didn't have to bring me so many things, I would be full with way less. (Laughter) You want me to gain weight, obviously. " Housekeeper: "You will need strength for the whole day. Your schedule for today is going to work, going to the gym, having dinner with your father's business partners, buying new clothes for the occasion ..." Eulalia: "Why do I need new clothes when out there I have a full room of clothes that I wore once in life? And what kind of partners are they, what kind of business?" Housekeeper: "I don't know, really. I was just given this to-do list and that's it." Eulalia: "I feel like a robot that others tell what to do, I'm tired of it all. I feel like running away of all this. " Maid: "I'll go out, you get ready and go downstairs."

 She took a shower, wore a white knee-length dress with gold chains instead of sleeves and a belt, tied her medium-length red hair in two buns on the left and right, accentuated the blue of her eyes with light makeup and wore white heels. In the end, she put on a massive set of gold jewelry that she didn't like at all, she was annoyed that this whole combination she wears costs more than the average two-floored house in the center of a bigger city. She never liked these designed things and expensive jewelry, she liked to wear simple things the most, she enjoyed simple meals and walks instead of driving in a limousine. She used to think it would be better to go from there and live a simple life, but she knew they would bring her back, so she always gave up on that idea.

After the standard obligations, at least half of which were not interesting or necessary at all, arrived a dinner with her father, his partners and mother, who would only stay for a short time at such ceremonies, usually leaving as soon as possible. Eulalia didn't really wanted to have dinner with her business partners tonite - it's been exactly three years since her brother was found dead in a nearby river, so she preferred to sneak into her room and cry there all day. Unfortunatelly, obligations were more important.

 The cause of death was never investigated, they declared it suicide and did not go deeper into the interrogations. Eulalia was sure that it was something else, that scenario did not fit into reality at all. Her brother was satisfied in those days, he communicated normally and even planned obligations for the whole next week. She also remembers talking to him the day before he disappeared, leaving no doubt that he could do so.

Dinner with four unknown polished guests went smoothly, but many things were said in incomprehensible words, as if something had to be hidden from her ears. She couldn't understand what kind of job it was, she knew that her father had different companies but nothing had ever been hidden like this. At one point she politely announced her departure, but still left behind the half-open door, and began to listen to the conversation. She felt there was something she should know.

 Man 1: "How much cargo will be in this truck?" Father: "About fifty kilograms, more than that wouldn't be safe." Man 2: "Then the next one goes higher, we just got back in the game." Man 3: "Today is three years since another drug cartel wanted to intimidate us, but we didn't give up - we showed that we are stronger than them despite everything. " Father: "Yes, but the price for that was my son! (Eulalia turned pale) Be happy that I even agreed to do this job again." Man 2: "We respect that, for sure. " Man 1: "You should have prepared a boy better for that, you didn't let him know enough about the dangers of this business." Man 4: "But now ... It's time for the female part of the family to take over." Father: "Eulalia? I don't think she'll accept that." Man 1: "Neither did her brother, yet he still had to agree. There no other choice. " Father: "I'll convince her next week when we finish this current job, we don't need her before that." Man 4: "Then we'll make an appointment in a few days."

 Eulalia could no longer stand on her feet from the state of anxiety over the information she had just heard, but she slowly dragged herself to her room and collapsed over the bed. She made an escape plan, a simulation of a car accident in which she would allegedly die, and in a few days she left Eulalia behind in that burning car, getting a new life as Asya.

 Chapter IV- One of us

 For the first time in her life, Asya encountered things she could not even imagine still being used; drinking water was in jars, water for washing hands and dishes in a bucket, there was no bathroom and she had to go outside when she needed it, a metal basin was used for bathing. As there was no electricity there were no devices, although there were some from which parts for secondary raw materials were taken out, meals were prepared on the stove and light came either from the windows during the day or lanterns when night fell.

 Emil was one of the few who had animals - he had several laying hens and a horse with which he transported cargo, both to himself and to others. There were some geese, pigs or goats in the settlement, no one had the conditions for a larger farm so the people who kept at least something were considered somewhat more wealthy. On the other hand, dogs and cats were  standard residents; as if every abandoned animal would find shelter among these abandoned people.

 Emil showed her the rest of the settlement and introduced her to some people. At first they thought it was his wife, but he immediately disclaimed  it as he was not even thinking about it. He introduced her to his closest friend Arvi, then they spent the evening with his friend Clement, his wife Emina and their two children - seven-year-old Ignatius and two-month-old Sylvia. It was interesting to Asya that Emina was her age, although it was difficult for her due to the fact that she got married at only fifteen- Asya would not be sure that she wanted a marriage even now at twenty-two, let alone decide on something so important at such an early age.

 There were also lascivious words  as they passed through those alleys, but Emil silenced them all by not allowing any of these bastards to approach her, protecting her like his sister. That's how Asya felt next to him - she had that feeling of security only next to her brother, but that feeling was gone after his death, until now.

 It was very difficult to have such a change from infinite luxury to mere poverty, but Asya got used to it quickly. She learned how to take care of animals, how to prepare meals from the food they would have that day, how to wash clothes by hand, she got used to the old methods of life. Nothing was a problem for her except the fact that her brother was killed because of her father's illegal jobs, as well as the fact that she was almost involved in it. Not even the black smoke coming from the burning cables and devices was suffocating her like the words she heard that night when she definitely decided to leave.

 They would collect the copper wires that remained in that ash, add some more metal to it and sell them as secondary raw materials, thus earning money for buying some things. They found a lot of things in the trash, Asya couldn't even believe how people are able to throw away functional things, cosmetics, devices, clothes, even food to such an extent. At first she was afraid to take things from there, fearing potential illnesses or similar, but then over time she was better at finding stuff than both Emil and Arvi who would usually go with them. They were a strong trio to find old (and newer) things that can still serve a purpose. In her villa she didn't even notice all those precious unnecessary little things, nor did she think about how much that small indicator of prestige meant to her - here she would be happy with every new thing, no matter how cheap, because in it she saw a beauty she could never see in madly expensive things from the villa. It was as if all those things were getting another life, another chance. Someone rejected them, not thinking about the fact that the object in question could still be used for a while, that someone might even need it - by saving it from breaking, burning or decomposition, it extended its duration.

Certainly, one had to be careful as well; the waste also contained poisonous substances, medical waste, rotten food, the corpses of animals. It happened that some snakes were found there, so they had to be especially careful in the summer. Although over time she got used to the strong smell of rot all around her at first it was very demanding for her. In her original home she was constantly sprinkled with drops of the finest perfumes whose aura was felt all around her, here her sense of smell became dormant until on her way home she would pick some wild flowers by the road to refresh the gloomy house where Emil and she lived. She would put on some perfume here as well, which she would find in her search for useful things, but still the smell of fresh wildflowers was more intoxicating than all of them.

 Earlier the housekeepers woke her up with a sunrise landscape that was just barely entering the room and painting it gold; here she had the opportunity to every morning watch the sky awaken, quickly mixing colors and coloring the sky in spectra from dark blue to soft pink, until His Majesty the Sun appeared behind the hill, illuminating the entire settlement, the fields, as well as her. She did not see the reflection of the sun - she felt its warmth and absorbed its radiance. It seemed to her as if every ray was slipping under her skin and warming her soul. She equated the color of gold with the blandness of the glamor in which she was born - this Sun in the sky was the only real gold, an indestructible source of sparkle. While everyone admired the value of her jewelry, she longed for something that truly shines like an uncorrupted human soul. She wanted to feel life.

 Chapter V- The flow of time

 The only thing whiter than her former walls and dress was the snow uniform that nature would wear in the winter. Maybe Asya eventually started wearing old tattered clothes full of stains and patches, maybe her curly hair was often tousled and carelessly loosened, but she felt as if she was wrapped in white and golden shine more than ever in her life. Who knows, if she might not have escaped after these few months how long she has been here so far, she would likely be found with a large red spot in the area of ​​vital organs, or trapped behind the gray bars.

 Four years have passed like that; Asya did not reveal her identity, nor did Emil tell the story of his sister. They lived as hard as before, but they found their long-lost sister and brother in each other. Asya taught the children to read and write since most of them did not attend school, and she would carefully clean and give away any toys she found to the children from the settlement. She knew that they were not looking for expensive toys to destroy or throw away after a while, nor did they have any desires - they learned from childhood that we could spread our wings only as much as space allowed, and their space did not allow much. Although they were not surrounded by any physical sensations, they never lacked one thing - imagination. They played for hours outside, lost in the game they would create. Asya enjoyed watching how children can be imaginative and create their own world, instead of relentlessly absorbing someone else’s world from the screen, mostly unsuitable for their young minds.

 When she was a child, her parents bought her the latest model of phone - back then models with cameras were just created. It wasn't interesting for her to take a hundred photos of her face during the day like most of her female friends (it's not like she looked any different than the day before), or to brag about a new game, picture or melody like male classmates, but she wanted to do something else with it. She wanted to preserve the beauty of the sunset and sunrise, to contain the purity of the first snow, to immortalize the greenery of the trees around her with that small camera. The quality of the camera at the time did not give it any approximate results, but by improving the resolution the colors and shapes were also improved. Still, even the best camera she had did not convey the feeling inside of her while standing in front of that magnificent sight - visual stimulation was not enough to feel the beauty of that nature around her, she could not convey the freshness of the air, the texture of flowers, the sound of birds that reaches to the ears.

 There were comments from the environment about Emil and Asya, it was uncomfortable to listen to all kinds of nasty things that individuals would say. Asya was often embarrassed that Emil might not be able to bring the bride into the house while she was there because everyone thought he was taken, while he felt anxious that she agreed to stay with him instead of at least trying to find a better life. He didn't mind it, on the contrary, but it was hard for him to watch her go through the same thing as him.

One night it rained more than usually; putting a bucket so that water dripping from the ceiling would not cause a flood, Emil could no longer sleep so he sat at a table and thought while listening to raindrops hitting the tin roof. Asya woke up and sat down with him.

 Asya: "Is something bothering you?" Emil: "I was thinking about  something ... It doesn't matter." Asya: "Tell me if you want." Emil: "I've never told you a story about my sister before. Somehow I feel the need to tell it." Asya (nods her head): "Then I want to hear it." Emil: "It was seven years ago ... She was the most beautiful girl here, I will not exaggerate, you  saw her picture too. She was really something special- in addition to being beautiful, she also had a wonderful voice, danced the best, she was very smart ... She was three years younger than me, and two years older than our youngest brother, so she was fourteen at the time. " Asya (stunned): "Fourteen when she passed away?!" Emil: "No, when that happened... that horrible thing... Her death came a year later. You know, I believed she would have better destiny than the rest of the family, that one day she will have a good husband and children. I did not look at her as if she were my sister, but as if the heavens had personally sent an angel to earth to light this gray reality for us a little, I respected her perfection. People loved her, children loved her, even animals did, she was so kind and spread some strong energy around her. I'm telling you, I believed she was an angel, not a human being, human beings are not so perfect. Human beings are used to spoiling everything , they don't know how to save not even close as much as to destroy. "

 Asya: "In the picture she did look the way you describe her now, she really was beautiful. I'm afraid of what's next, the very fact that she's gone is breaking my heart, and I have a feeling something terrible is coming now, isn't it? "Emil (nodding his head): "Yes. You know, it's stupid of me as a brother to talk about it , but the fact is that she grew up to be a woman, and that was noticed by the guys from the area ... That was fine, you know, I kept her away from all sorts of bastards, but I knew that one day she would fall in love with someone, I didn't want her to be in forced marriage like some girls here, but I wanted her to marry out of love one day. Our mother, for example, got married because a marriage was arranged, she was lucky that my father was not violent, but that's why we had listened all kinds of argues and abuse in this settlement, I didn't want that for my sister. Since I consider you a sister too, I wouldn't let that happen to you either, you as women don't serve to be slaves to someone, I don't even know why are some fools getting married if they don't already know how to respect a woman who keeps their house and family in balance, as if her life is less valuable than his. Anyway, where did I stop ..."

 Chapter VI-  The story of an Angel of bloody wings

 Emil (continues): "It wasn't a problem for someone to look at her until it exceeded some decency, but there were also those disgusting jerks who talked vulgar things to her, approached her too much and sometimes even tried to touch where they shouldn't, but I silenced them all and prevented them from disturbing her. What disgusted me the most in all this was that many of them were older than her and more than ten years, some of them were older than our father, and a few had daughters themselves. Instead of condemning such behavior, they even participated in it. "

 Asya: "Creepy ... It annoys me too when I listen to such primitive things, and to tell a fourteen-year-old girl such disgusting things... Sick." Emil: "As if that wasn't enough... (hits a table with his fist) Ah, damn one, he ruined her life! (inhales) That day my younger brother and I went to collect corn, vegetables and grains that would stay after the harvest as owners leave it to rot like that. We never went in to pick someone's harvest in the field, we waited for them to take their fruits and then pick up what was left behind. Even when I had nothing I didn't go to anyone to steal something, even if I was hungry I didn't take anything from anyone. And so, we got something for the horse, there was some vegetables for us too. It was already autumn time, night was coming faster, so it was already getting dark when we arrived. I expected my sister to greet us, she would usually come out when we come if she wouldn't go with us, but she was not outside. While my younger brother was tying horse in the barn, I entered inside ... The damn drunken garbage took the opportunity that we were not present, he broke into the house and raped her ... He was still in the house, on the bed, he was holding her so she couldn't even run away from him ... She cried and begged him to stop, but the jerk didn't care, he continued savagely ... He stopped when I entered the room, wanting to kill him on the spot. The bastard managed, took a knife and stabbed me in the stomach, got out and ran away from here forever. The sister was shaking with fear, still naked trying to put herself together from the plague that had just happened. I somehow managed to get up, my younger brother came to the room and helped her first by covering her with a blanket, and then by bringing me a bandage for the wound. She has changed completely since that day; she barely ate anything, she was alone, she was sobbing so painfully that my soul was torn and hurt more than the wound that healed over time, unlike the memory of that damn night. The bastard that could have been her father by age became the worst nemesis, he killed her from within, he killed us all. You already know that we lost the rest of the family before that in a short period of several years, but what was done to her hurt me more than all those deaths combined. "

 Asya (crying): "Then how did she die? You say that she died a year later ..." Emil: "Despite all that, it still happened that she remained pregnant." Asya (stunned): "At fourteen?! She was too young for that ..." Emil: "Of course she was, but the bastard didn't think about it, he was just thinking about his damn needs, I hope he died wherever he was, hope the rats will gnaw him alive! You know who was immoral for other people there? My sister. They said about her that she was this and that, that she was easy and that she gave herself to everyone ... That innocent creature of pure soul became stained by their words, but for me she remained angel, I knew she wasn't and never will be to blame for what happened. You could notice that I barely talk with some people, I won't forgive them even when twenty years pass from that. And so, these nine months passed. I didn't want to risk having a baby born here so I managed and made sure she went to the maternity ward. A boy was born, as a copied version of her. We were all speechless in front of that little perfection, even her face lit up when she saw her son. Forgetting what she had been through in those months, she kept him as something most precious. That lasted until we were supposed to go home. "

 Asya: "Then there was a problem?" Emil: "Yes, a legal problem. I had just turned eighteen and they were minors, so the gentlemen concluded that the child could not stay with us because we do not have favorable living conditions. Instead of if we are poor, as they say, to give some help, they took the baby from us. They took him from us, Asya. They took him because it seems that poor people are not allowed to have children, why to help if someone already has a problem when they can take something from him, right? " Asya: "Oh, for God's sake ... That's awful, couldn't they be sued or something ...?" Emil: "What a lawsuit ... They settled all this without us and took him away, I don't know if he's in a foster family or at orphanage ... Even if I knew what I could do there except watch him like a bird in a cage, I can't bring him home. Maybe they're right, where would I bring him? To a dilapidated house that will one day collapse like a tower of cards? He wouldn't have any future here. Maybe at least he does something out there. (looks at the table) "Asya:" Nothing can replace his family, the fact that you live like this doesn't justify their cowardly act! He was supposed to grow up here with his family, whatever the conditions, not to take him away without your permission!" Emil: "Probably so." Asya: "And she?" Emil: "We came back without a child - I had to put away everything I bought during those months so that she would shake as little as possible, but she  returned to the state she was in the beginning. She was desperate for everything and couldn't stand it anymore. She hung herself on a nearby tree and then I lost her forever. I stayed alive only because of my younger brother, and then he got sick too ... I started drinking, I tried twice to end up this damn thing called life but Arvi got me out, they all left and I stayed. I don't know why the hell I  stayed when I am good for nothing." Asya (hugged him): "There is a reason for sure, only you have not yet understood that reason. If nothing else, I'm here." Emil (smiles and takes her hand): "You brought serenity back to my life at least a little. Thank heavens for sending you to me. " Asya (thought): "It was not heaven, but a demon who let my brother be killed for the damn money. (out loud) I'm glad it's like that. "

 Chapter VII- Gold in a blue sack

 
 Asya, Arvi, Emil and a few other people were in the dump. It was sunny day, only a light breeze was blowing. Apart from their conversation only a few birds and the crackling of fire could be heard - a part of the waste would usually be set on fire in order to make room for new ones. That silence was broken by a truck that Asya immediately recognized - it belonged to her father, so she quickly got out of there until they threw a few sacks out of it, turned around and left. She came over and opened it, fearing she might find some corpse or something, but there were some things inside. HER THINGS. Fools had to throw out all these expensive dresses and other clothes, instead of giving them away for charity or for sale. So typical of them.

One of those men took one of the sacks and started rummaging through it, taking out clothes and throwing them down, thus soiling a few pieces. Man: "Hell yeah with these rich people, they just threw away some rags! Why don't they throw away some million sometimes ?! (laughter)" Asya (looks at him): "These are very expensive rags, you know? They are worth more than our whole settlement." The man (wonders): "This? What fool pays so much money for a suit? We don't have bread here and they pay a fortune for this! Come on, when you know that, how much this dress costs? (shows the one he reaches first)"Asya:" A thousand and a half euros." Man: "A thousand euros for this?! I can buy a car for that money! Well, two cars! (takes another) How much do you think this one is? "

 Asya looked at the dress in disbelief. The dress she wore to dinner with business partners, the night she found out that her father was the leader of the drug clan and he wanted to involve her in it as well. She wore that dress then, she remembers it as if it was yesterday.

 Asya: "Limited collection, worth three thousand euros." Man (even more astonished): "Three thousand? Well, perfect! You poor people could die of starvation while we live surrounded by gold and crave more! I've never seen that amount of money together in my entire life! I'm already imagining a fancy girl who wears things like this - bathed in perfume, dressed up, daddy's little girl that has everything she wants! She snaps her finger - daddy buys it! She wants a new car -puff!- here you go, daddy's sunshine! She wants to travel all over the world - no problem! She wants golden shoes - they bring it to her on knees like princesses! " Asya (angrily): "It doesn't go the way you imagine." Man: "She doesn't have to move a finger like that, everyone else works for her! She doesn't even have to bring a spoon to her mouth, everything is served on a tray. They go to such  prestigious schools, they go there in limousines, while children here can't even go to school because their parents don't have money to buy them even books, let alone clothes, snacks, utensils and the rest of it. "

 Asya was ready to shout before this last sentence, but she calmed down when he got to it. That was true, she couldn't deny it even if she wanted to. She went to private elite schools, starting from the first grade to college, which she finished a few months before she came here. Even job waited right after her graduation from college, while most people her age wait for years at the bureau or accept any job in order to earn something. As much as this man's words hurt, she knew they were true.

 The man took the things, put them in a sack and put the sack on his back, and then shouted: "You know, if these rags are worth half of what you said, I'll fix the house ... hell yeah fix, I'll buy new one somewhere closer to civilisation, I'll live like a human too! I'll buy you something too, just say what you want - I'd throw this away if you didn't tell me, although I still don't believe it's that much." Asya:" Then we'll bet - if I'm right, don't buy me anything but bring electricity into the settlement. It won't cost you more than one of those average dresses." Man (shakes hands with her): "We made a deal! (goes away)"

 Emil and Arvi approach. Arvi: "You let him take the whole bag of things?" You were joking about them having so much value, weren't you? "Asya:" Nope. " Emil: "How do you know that?" Asya: "... I read a lot of fashion magazines so I remembered ..." Arvi: "You could have sold them and do something with that money, not giving it to him- he'll spend that money." Asya (loads the other bags into the carriage, Arvi and Emil help for the others): "Don't worry, there's enough for everyone. Do you think the "daddy's girl" only had one bag of fancy clothes? After all, I have a better idea than him, he only thinks about his needs and this can help everyone."

 She managed to sell all the clothes, albeit at half price, but that was enough to realize her plan, and soon the water supply network passed through the settlement - first there was only a fountain in the center, then people brought water to the houses, including their. Since she got the bet the man who took that one sack had to bring electricity to the settlement, which was a more difficult task. At first he pretended to be just joking about the bet, but under pressure from people he gave in and brought electricity to himself and later, through the newly built transformer, others could join and light their homes for the first time. There was money left for the repair of very damaged houses, they also repaired the roof on their own. Emil didn't want them to buy stuff for his house, even though she suggested it to him, he liked her idea of ​​doing something for all people. It may have been a small step forward, but it was extremely important for the people who have lived there for decades. The gloomy life of these people has been made at least a little easier by the things that we are all surrounded by almost every day and we don't even notice them, not realizing how much they make our everyday life easier. Small lanterns were replaced by a golden beam of light bulbs, heavy buckets full of water of dubious quality remained in the past and were replaced by gleaming faucets from which clean, fresh water flowed. Still, Asya wanted to do even more.

 Chapter VIII- Picture

 There were no clothes in one of the bags but some of her personal belongings. There was her favorite doll, some crayons from her room, little things she kept on the shelves, books, some more dolls and plush toys. There was also paper, notebooks and documents, she had to examine it secretly so that Emil would not accidentally see the similarity between her and Eulalia if a picture or something similar appeared somewhere. She tossed most of those papers into the stove, leaving only a few. She gave toys and books as a gift to the children, and gave the doll she loved the most to Sylvia, who recently turned four and was a two-month-old baby when Asya came. Ignatius got a book as he didn't want toys because now, as he says, he is a "big boy". He is old enough to help his father Clement in some business, while Emina still got along well with Asya. Asya loved Sylvia a lot, she loved her as if she were her daughter and often brought her some toys that she would find, she also brought various things to others but tried to bring Sylvia something especially beautiful, to which she always thanked with a gentle hug and a sincere childish smile.

 Asya thought about how much only a few bags of clothes changed the lives of about two hundred people, and how much could be done with other unnecessary things that she owned before ... How to get to all those never used expensive decorations, valuable books which no one has ever opened, all sorts of inconspicuous and yet expensive things? How is she going to get into the house and take anything now when she is only a poor girl in a dirty clothes and with messy hair? She can dress more decently and go back there like Eulalia, but then everything will fall into the water and she won't be able to come back here. She wanted to take a risk and investigate the situation.

 While Emil was working during the day she took the horse, rode to the vicinity of the villa and observed the situation. She knew about the secret passage in case of danger, so she tied horse and passed through that passage. She found herself in the library - perfect for a start. She grabbed a dozen more expensive books that were imperceptibly lurking somewhere in the shadows, stuffed them in a bag and also imperceptibly came out. Upon her return she took them to an antique shop and took the money, which she then hid in a chest of drawers in a box.

 At the beginning she only took books from the library, but she did not want anyone to suspect that the books were disappearing so she also took things from other rooms. It was very difficult to do because there were servants in the house, but she used every moment to grab as many things as possible. She felt like a thief, she was comforted only by the fact that she's taking from someone who doesn't even know about the object in question and giving it to those who don't even have a normal life.

 After about a month she had a considerable amount of money, and she knew she had to use it before Emil saw what was in the box. She distributed the money to families with more members or with poorer material conditions, hoping that she would soon be able to help others as well.

 Emil had a break for a few days and they returned to collecting raw materials and trifles; while Asya was dizzy with collecting spilled buttons not far from him, Emil was putting old newspapers to light up - some newspapers attracted his attention with their picture. "The daughter of a millionaire was killed in an accident." Newspaper were from more than four years ago, next to the photo of burning car was the photography of Eulalia- if we ignore the fact she was dressed glamourously it could be said she was same as Asya! Emil looked at Asya for a moment, then the picture from the newspaper ... "No, that's impossible ... Come on, it's impossible! Emile, you fool, why would a millionaire come to your house, how are you so stupid?! It's not her ... Why would a girl who has everything leave her life and be surrounded by waste instead of luxury? But why do they look the same...? Is that her sister or something? Oh, I speak nonsense, how can that be her sister? And again, this newspaper came out the day Asya came to me, the accident happened that night ... What if she has a memory loss and she is Eulalia ?! "

 Asya (approaching): “You are pensive. What's up with you? (takes the newspaper from his hand and turns pale) Where did you get this?" Emil: "I found them a while ago. How come you look so much like Eulalia? " Asya (looked at him scared): "Who, me? We don't look alike at all." Emil: "Did you have a memory loss or something? Listen, unless this is your twin, it's impossible that it's not you, you're the same! If we don't count those clothes and the fact that your hair is tousled this is the same you!" Asya: "That ... is me, that Eulalia. I guess you're going to betray me and ask for something for it. "Emil: "I'm not going to betray you, but I expect you to explain this to me. Why the hell did you leave luxury and come here, become one of us and do this?! I assume you had everything there, why did you leave it?!" Asya (looked at him): "I didn't have anything, even though I had everything materially. He ... let them kill my brother ... (starts sobbing, Emil hugs her) ... my father started a drug business ... he wanted to get me involved ... that's why I ran away. Why do I need his damn money earned by a bunch of ruined people, ruined families? Those clothes belonged to me, that's why I knew the price, I never liked that it was so expensive, but my mother insisted that I dress like that. You saw for yourself how many things could be done with money from those clothes. So, I took some more things from the house last month, sold them and gave the money to some of the people who were the poorest." Emil: "Wait, wait ... Did you go to that house again? Are you crazy, they could have caught you! After all it's a robbery, you can go to jail for it! " Asya (confused): "Because of stealing my own things?" Emil: "They think you're dead - if they catch you, you will either go to jail or they will take you back to the old way. You say they killed your brother - if they take you back and  make you do that, they'll kill you too someday! Listen, if something happens to you, Arvi won't save me this time, I'll follow you right away, do you understand? Asya: "Yes ... But how can we do more? I could pull something out and help someone else ... I'd risk again just to see someone else happy." Emil (sighs): "Oh ... good, good! Let's go together next time. You control me when it comes to empathy. (Asya smiles) You have a good heart, but I'm worried about you, you're going to get in trouble." Asya: "I'll try not to let that happen." Emil: "And ... do I have to call you Eulalia now or ... I've never heard of that name, who got that idea? (slight laughter)" Asya: "Call me Asya as before, I'm already used to it. My real name is from Greece and means "eloquent", while Asya represents a lively person." Emil: "Then we'll see to go there tomorrow, let's collect something else and go home. " Asya (smiles): "Okay, boss!"

 Chapter IX- Robin Hood and the Hippies

In the evening they sat in the living room, which this time was lit by a light bulb and not a lantern. Asya: "You know, I was thinking something ... Maybe, if your nephew is in a orphanage you could adopt him. That way he would be with you again." Emil: "Your idea is good and I would like it, but there are some problems with it - in the first place the same reason why they took him from us, and that is that we did not have documents or adequate accommodation, the second is they only allows couples to adopt. I can wait for him to grow up and become an adult in twelve years, but again he wouldn't know that I am his uncle and where I live. Let's imagine that I get documents somehow- should I get married too? Listen, I won't even touch a female person. For me, a naked female body will remain a painful sight, never a source of lust. If there were another man who knows what he would do to you, I am not like that, I respect women as friends, as sisters. I could never throw out that scene from the head. " Asya (smiles): "Oh, you don't have to marry a girl ... There's a certain person you were jealous for a month ago ... (laughs)" Emil (blushes): "Arvi ?! I wasn't jealous of anything ... He's a friend of mine, so I was worried ..." Asya: "And how relieved you were when you heard that it wasn't his girlfriend ... (laughs)" Emil (blushes even harder) : "Eh, that's not true! Don't speak nonsences." Asya: "And how do you look at him secretly, specially when it's summer and he's in that T-shirt ... or without it ... (laughs even harder) But oh well, he's looking at you too, it's not just that you're staring at him." Emil: "I didn't ... Wait, really? Now you're mocking me, leading me to thin ice ... That's what you do to me, huh?" Asya: "Go and ask him." Emil: "You're kidding me, you want to embarrass me completely! Afterwards, he'll tell everyone that I'm you already know what, hell no! And how can that be, two guys ..." Asya: "A girl who was in a relationship with another girl worked with me in the company, also a woman who changed her gender to a man ... Are you going to hide something that is a part of you whole life just because it doesn't fit the standards of society? It's not like those standards have brought anyone anything good. It's about you, not society. No one can forbid you to have your privacy." Emil: "Okay ... But be careful, if it's not like that I'm going to crush you, I'll lock you in that villa of yours where you lived, so do what you want. " Asya: "I trust my instincts." Emil: "What about you?" Asya: "What do you mean?" Emil: "What do you like - male, female, both?" Asya: "Oh ... For the twenty-six years I've had I haven't really fallen in love with a particular person ... I'm a weirdo who falls in love with the colors, the sounds, the beauty that I find around me. I love people too, but not so much in the sense of love, but as a whole of this planet." Emil (laughs):" You're like these ... What was it called like ... hippies. (bursts out laughing) I saw it somewhere. All you need are some flowers and an old van and that's it! " Asya (laughs): "I'm not a hippie! And even if I was in my soul no problem, that's nice. We can really go, all three of us sometimes- Arvi, you, me ... We sit in that van, we travel the world, collect what we find and don't think about anything." Emil: "It's a nice idea, but you forgot one thing, smart girl. Where's your driver's license?"  Asya (grabs her head): "Oh, it burned in the car, plus it was on that name. Nothing, you're going to drive. " Emil: "Forget the van, we could go as nomads in a nice horse-drawn carriage, it would be like some old-fashioned hippies. (laughter) " Asya:" That will do. We'll pack up and leave as soon as we leave a little more money for these people." Emil: "Okay, I'll see with Arvi what he thinks about that idea. If he goes too we'll leave next week, if not we'll agree on what to do next. "

 The next day they went to the villa; Emil couldn't believe how big the house was - the house with the yard occupied the area of ​​half of their settlement, its whiteness caught the eye of every passer-by. They entered slowly in the same place, sneaked through several rooms and took things that they were sure no one would notice. They took out four full bags of precious items, took them to another man who bought them at the appropriate price (he could not deceive Asya when it comes to their value) and again they had a larger sum of money. They helped some other families with that money, while Asya convinced Emil to save part of the money in order to make gravestones to all members of his family, since he no longer wanted to buy anything for the house. He supported the idea and ordered the first two gravestones, promising Asya that he would fulfill her wish and go with her again.

 Arvi agreed to go on the trip with them, he even wanted to help them with taking things from Asya's house, but they didn't want to drag him into it because it was very dangerous even for the two of them. This time, Asya wanted to try to get upstairs to her former room and take her old things, including jewelry worth dozens of thousands of euros - a lot of things could be done with that, much smarter things than that piece of jewelry that just stands in a box or possibly get worn from time to time to emphasize the prestige of the person who is wearing it. It was time to take what belonged to her, but only this time those glittering things will not serve to show their wealth, but to help the poor.

 Chapter X- Dazzling whiteness

 Early morning. Asya and Emil sneak to house, Emil is standing in the yard and Asya is going inside. She climbed the stairs quietly, making sure no one saw her, but ...

 Maid (seeing her in the hallway): "Who are you? How did you get in here ?! Wait ... Miss Eulalia ?! You are alive?!" Asya:" Quiet, Celestina, no one should hear that I am here." Celestina: "What is it, miss? Where have you been all these years and why are you wearing those unsightly clothes? Are you coming back?" Asya: "No, I didn't come back. I live in a very poor neighborhood and I used things that no one uses to help them, most of them don't even have the basic living conditions ... With the clothes from my room you threw away water and electricity were brought out there, these people saw light in their homes for the first time in their lives and brought water into their home! I want to do something else. I want to take things that were mine. " Celestina: "Ah, miss, you have always been like that ... You wanted to help everyone but your parents didn't give it to you; your mother wanted you to be a lady who only thinks of luxury just like her, your father didn't want to deal with what he called trivia. You are not like them, you have a much better soul. I believe you would do much more than they do." Asya:" Where are they now, sleeping? " Celestina: "Your mother is in Rome, your father is on a business trip. I think he got involved in some dubious business." Asya: "Yes, four years ago - that's why I left." Celestina: "I will try to keep the rest of the service from coming upstairs, and you take what you want. They only entered your room when they threw out the clothes, it is not used. Good luck, Miss Eulalia." Asya (gently): "Thank you, Celestina. I'm going to finish what I have."

 She put as many things as possible in the canvas bag, lowered the rope down where Emil was waiting, filled the other bag and slowly lowered it as well. She secretly left the room, having some problems with the maids not seeing her, but Celestina helped her reach the exit and they quickly fled the yard.

 Although there weren't many people in the neighborhood, and  even these few were usually busy with business duties, this time they didn't go unnoticed - one of the neighbors saw them and decided to inform her parents that some suspicious people were moving around the house and that they were carried some bags.

 Most of the houses were repaired with the money they took, all the tombstones for Emil's family were placed and food was bought for all the inhabitants of the settlement. Arvi, Emil and Asya were getting ready for the trip, knowing they wouldn’t need a lot of things. She didn't want to go to that house anymore, she took more than enough money anyway, so she didn't want to risk being seen when there was no need for that.

 The day before departure, a white luxury car was parked near Emil's house. Already on the doorstep of the house Asya knew whose car it was. People gathered around the car, admiring the vehicle they had never seen in their entire life, and the children came with a roar and wished to touch the miracle that had just been created in their neighborhood. Eulalia's father got out of the car.

 Father: "From all the places on the world you found to escape to this rabbit hole, Eulalia? From satin bedspreads to plain tarpaulins, from a villa to that pile of planks that someone would dare to call a house? Look at you- did I send you to the best schools and dress you in the most expensive dresses so that you would stand here in front of me like a beggar, in those patched rags and with a dirty face? You, who shone like a white swan in that luxury to come and live like this? Did someone make you do that?! Tell him who he is and I'll shoot him in the brain!" Asya: "I came alone, no one forced me. I left you and I'm fine here." Father: "You're coming back with me right now, you can't stay here." Asya: "I'm an adult and I have the right to choose, and I said not to go with you." Father: "Okay ... (takes a lighter out of his pocket) How fast do you think these piles of boards can burn to ashes? (points towards the houses)"Asya (anxiously): "No, you can't ... " Father (while his men take the guns out of their pockets): "Or when would someone notice that these people are no more? Nobody knows about them anyway - they have no documents about their existence, nor do they have anyone in this world who would whine about them. However, if you stay you will probably cry, as they have already grown so close to your heart. I ask you one more time - are you going?"

 Asya looked at Emil, Arvi, Clement and Emina, and then hugged Ignatius and little Sylvia. Emil tried to hold back his tears and hugged her, she told him that she would try to do something and that this was not the end, then said to Arvi to take care of Emil. Reluctantly, she got into that dazzling white car, which brought her back to her old life.

 There they made her change her dirty clothes, take a bath and fix her hair, as well as put on a new suit. She was disgusted by herself for allowing herself to return here again, knowing that now she could no longer escape and that she would have to be an accomplice in the drug business. Celestina told her that a neighbor across the street saw her, told her parents, they hired a detective and found her. Asya hated herself for not paying attention to it; oh, how does she always forgets the damn details ?! She had to think of something, even if she had to destroy the whole empire ... Demolition of the empire, of course! No, she will not demolish the house, but will demolish what caused the problem, even if it pulled everyone involved in it.

 Chapter XI- Blue stained with blood

 The very next morning Asya called a lawyer to her office. Asya: "So, this is my personal fund. (provides the paper) Get involved both you and a few other lawyers, there will be a lot of work around the obligations that I will dictate. First, help the people from the settlement with obtaining documents, which they will need later because of receiving social assistance and health care. That goes for each of them. Secondly, pay this amount of money for Ignatius and Sylvia- Ignatius will probably not go to school but will be able to start some business with that money, Sylvia will have this for schooling. She and the other children have to go to school, they are no less valuable than the other children. Get utensils for all of them with this money. (provides money and continues) Arvi's father disappeared five years ago, find out what happened to him - hire a detective for that. Emil ... I have several requests as far as he is concerned, so I wrote them down in this instruction- for a start, start from the first task and solve them one by one. Not a word about this to my father, he wouldn't understand." Lawyer:" All right, colleagues and I will start working on this today. You will be satisfied." Asya: "Great."

 Meanwhile, in Emil's house:

Emil (pours a drink into a glass): "Arvi, I'm an ill-fated man! Everyone leaves me! Okay, she didn’t leave, but they took her from me! She's so uncorrupted, she's going to be killed by these bastards for a damn drug, and she doesn't even want to do that! What do you think, let's try to get her out of there? "Arvi: "They'd find her again and maybe really hurt people, we shouldn't take any risk. Listen, I'm here for you whatever it is, and she's here with you in mind but we can't do anything to get her back. You and I are unarmed, they have two guns in their pockets. There are dozens of them, only two of us. There's nothing we can do. " Emil: "The only thing I want is for her to be well, even if far from me, I just want no one to hurt her. I lost one sister, I don't want to lose another. "

 Asya (or Eulalia, however you want) was not allowed to leave the house, she had transportation to work and back, for everything else she had an escort of a mother or at least two people who worked for her father. She was in some kind of detention, she didn't care that the detention was surrounded by gold - it was never a real golden glow for her, just a pale copy. Her father planned to hold a celebration because of her return, which did not really impress her, but she had an idea. Terrible idea, but she didn't care anymore. She remembered the words of the man from the trash when they brought her things - daddy fulfills everything. She won't look for hills and valleys, but she wants something to help her escape.

 She entered his office. Asya: "I have a suggestion for you. I want Emil and Arvi to be present at the celebration." Father: "I can possibly hire them as a servant. " Asya: "I didn't mean that, but better anything than nothing." Father: "I don't know why you are so attached to these poor people, they are not part of our society." Asya: "You're wrong - I'm not part of your society. OURS in this case does not exist." Father:" You are very stubborn ... Here, I will let you see whatever they are once again, after everything you have prepared maybe it shouldn't be but it doesn't matter, I have nothing to lose if I fulfill that miserable wish for you. "

 She got ready for the celebration, went downstairs and headed for the service, where Arvi and Emil were setting up their uniforms. They hugged Asya and praised her appearance, even though she didn't look right for herself in the clothes she was wearing and with the jewelry that stood out with its glitter. She negotiated with them.

Asya: "We're running away from here tonight, that's why I wanted you to be here. While my father is being taken to prison by the police for selling drugs, we leave by car. This will be for you just in case. (hands them the guns) Shoot only if necessary." Emil:" Are you sure about that plan? What if something goes wrong? " Asya: "I have never been good with details, but I hope that nothing will go wrong. If by any chance something goes wrong, you know where the secret passage is." Arvi: "He'll know you reported it. " Asya: "Maybe, maybe he won't ... The important thing is that he won't be there. Then comes the escape plan." Emil (worried):" It doesn't seem to work, but we will try. "

 At the party, everything went as usual, everyone was constantly hanging around Eulalia, so no one saw when Celestina called the police and said that there was a whole drug store in the basement. After a while, a familiar sound was heard - the police arrived. Knowing that they would arrest him for sure if they went to the basement, where they immediately went, Eulalia's father approached her and said angrily: "So ... this is your work, isn't it? Are you sending your own father to prison?!" Asya: "Just like you sent your own son to his death." Father (slaps her in front of several people): "You ungrateful fool... You took from me to give to those beggars and it still wasn't enough for you! I have tolerated it all and this is how you give it back to me? I will order them to kill those two and you ... (he grabs her hands and puts the gun to her neck) ... I'll deal with you on my own. "

 The shocked people just watched, while the police gave permission for the arrest because the report was true. However, they could not pass because he was holding a gun in his hands and Asya was being held as a hostage, they were not allowed to risk her life. Asya (to the policemen): "Forget me, arrest him!" Policeman: "We must not risk hurting you!" Asya: "And how many people has he killed so far?" One more or less." Father:" Shut up! Someone would do much more on your place, all you know is to give everything you have for someone who doesn't even really care. You are incapable of life, weaklings like you do not survive in this world! " Asya: "Maybe not in this world, but people at least remember them on good way, and not as they will remember you - as an ordinary tyrant!"

 Emil and Arvi wanted to get involved, but Asya showed them to run away. Emil didn't want to leave her like that, he wanted to do something at the cost of his life, even if he had to kill her father. He wanted to aim, but Arvi wouldn't let him - he knew they would attack them right away and they had no chance. He looked sadly at Asya, who reciprocated with a slight smile, and then headed for the secret exit.

 As soon as they stepped outside the yard a shot was heard behind them; they hoped it wasn't a shooting at Asya, that someone had managed to arrest her father before he hurt her. They watched from a distance as the police took her father out of the villa and took him away. Emil winced "No ... Asya! (returns)"Arvi: "Emil, are you crazy, you can't go there! Emil!"

 He entered through the same passage, running to the great hall where it all took place. Behind the crowd laid Asya in her not-so-white dress and, of the red hair and carpet beneath her body, only the blood that stained her neck, dress, and the ground beneath her was redder. The bullet went through her neck and killed her on the spot. Emil fell to his knees completely desperate, facing his worst nightmare.

 Chapter XII- Eternal splendor

 A month later:

Life in the settlement improved slightly - the municipality made a road to get there, put lamps by the road, employed some men and women and gave social assistance to others. Their standard of living has slightly normalized, but for them that slight change seemed huge. The children went to school, including little Sylvia who went to kindergarten, they all had health insurance and the right to treatment. Many of them did not even believe that they would get it  during their lives.

 Emil lived with Arvi; they found Arvi's father in another country, so he wanted Emil and Arvi to come to him and to find them a job. They thought about how smart the decision was, they realized that nothing tied them to stay here anymore so decided to go, just as they had planned to go with Asya.

 During the week arrived an envelope for Emil; it contained a large sum of money, but also one important piece of information that was more valuable to him than anything. After a month of grief, he smiled for the first time, feeling that this time it would be different.

 In a few weeks everything was ready to go, they took their passports and all the necessary documents. They wanted to say goodbye to only one person before they left.

 The two graves stood at a distance from the others, symbolizing the death of two young people who were under all that land, sleeping peacefully in their coffins. Emil had already said goodbye to his family, kissing their tombstones and promising that one day he would return to join them, but that he wanted to do many more things before that, and now he had come to say goodbye to her.

 Eulalia, remembered by many as Asya. Her brother had been resting next to her for a long time, long before her arrival, both of them with their blue eyes from the picture gently looking at the one who stopped by their grave. Emil knew that her grave would never be neglected and unvisited - people from the settlement came and thanked her for everything. She may not have been able to hear them physically, but he believed that those words reached her somewhere, that they not only bounced off this cold marble but that they warmed her like the sun that she loved to watch so much. Now she will be facing the sun forever, she will witness every spectacular sunrise that will paint everything around her in gold, in her favorite color. Emil believed that it was the color of her soul and he was grateful that he met her, that she gave him inspiration for life, that she showed him how to fall in love with colors, sounds, the texture of things around him, the golden glow of the sun. He knew he would remember her every time he felt that gold dust on his bronze skin, that way he would never forget her.

 He bowed before the gravestone, took the beautiful black-haired boy by the hand and said to Arvi: "It's time to go on the road. (address the gravestone) Although you cannot go with us physically, Asya, we will carry you with us in our hearts. (kisses the boy on the forehead) And for finding my nephew ... I'll be grateful to the grave for that. I will forever consider you a sister as well as my own. (turns to her brother's gravestone) Take care of her, and I'll finish her mission, don't worry."

 They went to another country the next day, leaving their old life and went trying to start a new one or, better said- to start living.

***

 Fifteen years later:

The car is parked in the parking lot in front of the store, signaling with a siren that it has arrived. The girl leaves the store, followed by her older brother. The younger gentleman and his assistant get out of the car first. Assistant: "Here, Mr. Naum, we can build what you plan, it will be great for urbanization ..." Naum: "Come on, take it easy, we'll talk about construction later! (takes girl in his embrace and kisses her) I missed you a lot, you know?" Girl (blushes): "I missed you too, but I had to come here for a while. It doesn't matter, you're here now. "

  Naum (opens the car door): "Come on, old men, get out! (laughter) "Arvi (gets out of the car):" We'll give you old men, we're at our best now! " Emil (comes out): "Let him go, he's joking ... We were like that as well when we were younger." Naum: "I'm kidding, uncle, you're still young!" Emil (looks at the girl): "Sylvia, how do you keep up with this fool of ours? (laughter) " Sylvia:" What am I supposed to do, it's love. (laughter)" Arvi:" That's how you and I have been patient for fifteen years and we're doing great! Well, there's going to be double of it. " Emil: "Only? We're not going to die at sixty, are we? Let's get to at least fifty years of communion!" Arvi:" Come on, let it be!" Emil (hugs Ignatius): "Look at him, such a man! How's business, is it going somehow?" Ignatius: "It's going great! Both my father and mother help me a little. Mother prepared a lunch and said for all of us to go when you arrive." Naum: "The future mother-in-law knows what the son-in-law needs, I'm hungry like a wolf from this long ride. Anyway, to build that complex for which I brought the plan, you will see how everything will get even better, and then to get married and have a child running around us - what do you think, Sylvia?" Sylvia (hugs him): "Of course, I'm here to help you. My profession will be useful to you." Naum (kisses her on the forehead): "You are one of the best architects in the area, of course I will need you. I need you anyway. (smile)" Emil: "Come on, kids, let's go to the table slowly, and then you'll talk about work and love! There will be time for everything!"

 Arvi (while the young people went forward says to Emil): "Will we stop by her later?" Emil (pensive smile): "Absolutely. I wouldn't even feel if I was here if we didn't stop by her- she, out of the piles of planks and tins, created home. (looked around at the brick-builted houses where the villagers lived) She started, we will continue. When we stop, Naum and Sylvia will continue, and then someone after them ... One golden spark will create a world we could never even have imagined, and while this spark is within us we will feel its energy - and work wonders with humanity. "

THE END
Suzana Ristic Suza
8.11.2020 06: 00 PM
Typing completed 11/14/2020 4:23 PM