Chapter 21: Reya’s Fears
In the blink of an eye, Reya was behind Lara, her body shaking uncontrollably like a sieve being shaken.
"Mi.. Miss Lara, sna.. snake," she stammered.
Lara approached the snake, which she had carelessly thrown to the ground. She wrapped it in a leaf to avoid scaring Reya and Sandoz, but unfortunately, her maid was too curious for her own good.
"It’s dead, Reya. It can’t hurt you now. See?" Lara said, her voice calm but firm as if willing Reya’s fear to dissipate through sheer reason.
Lara picked up the upper half of the snake and walked steadily to where Reya and Sandoz were.
"To overcome your fear, you have to embrace it. Come here, Reya. Touch the snake." Lara beckoned Reya.
Reya stood frozen beside Sandoz. Meanwhile, the little boy took four steps forward, and with trembling hands, he touched the cold body of the dead reptile, which Lara wrapped around her waist, the snake’s head in her hand.
"Can I hold it?" Sandoz’s voice was tentative.
"It is quite heavy." Lara reminded him but still proceeded to place the half body of the snake on Sandoz’s outstretched hands.
Sandoz stumbled, and he and the snake fell to the ground. Determined, he stood and tried again, but the snake was too heavy for his tiny body.
"Don’t force it. You have a long way ahead."