Chapter 41: Rain And Silence
Mira stood in the garden, staring at the flowers for a while before her gaze fell on the Senerp flower. A slow, painful smile tugged at her lips, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She stood there, unmoving, lost in her thoughts, unaware of how much time had passed. The drizzle began to fall, soft raindrops pattering on her wavy curls, slowly undoing the care she’d put into her hair. Each drop seemed to blur the colors of the garden around her, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.
She wondered, fleetingly, if the rain was mocking her, and she smiled bitterly at the thought. Hours must have passed, yet she remained rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed on the Senerp flower. The flower’s petals, usually vibrant, were now weighed down by the rain, opening and closing with the rhythm of the droplets. Mira watched its subtle dance, feeling a strange comfort in its resilience. For a brief moment, it felt as though she’d forgotten her troubles, if only for a while.
"Miss Mira, please come inside. You will catch a cold," Nana called out, her voice filled with concern as the rain began to fall harder. The raindrops were now heavier, drumming steadily on the garden’s stone paths and creating small puddles around Mira’s feet.
Mira turned to her, worry flickering in her eyes. "Is this flower safe?" she asked, her gaze shifting back to the Senerp flower. She noticed how the heavy raindrops had slowed its movements, no longer opening and closing as it had before. The once delicate petals were now drooping, weighed down by the relentless rain.
Nana’s eyes widened in surprise at Mira’s question. She couldn’t believe that, with everything going on, Mira was focused on the flower. Nana knew Mira’s concern was misplaced. There were far more pressing matters to worry about—Mira was standing in the pouring rain, her clothes clinging to her body, and was going to catch a cold at this rate.
Before Nana could say anything, Mira asked, "How about the gardener? Where is she?"
"Miss Mira..." Nana began, her voice a mixture of disbelief and concern. "You need to come inside. She’s already taken shelter. It’s not safe for you out here."
Before Nana could try to convince her otherwise,Mira bent down to lift the silver vase holding the Senerp flower. It was heavy, but its weight was nothing compared to the pain she carried within her.
Nana rushed forward, ready to help, but Mira spoke, her voice low and steady, barely audible beneath the falling rain. The rain felt like it was trying to knock some sense into her, though she doubted that was even possible. Still, that was the strange sensation she felt.