We walked the dark streets and followed what little I could recall from my memories. We only ever came there once so we couldn't be sure whether we were going the right way. Eliza couldn't remember anything and I'm the only one with a good sense of direction, and it was a struggle. The rain poured hard and we heard the thunder above. I was beginning to lose hope until I saw the pretty pink tree from my memories. It was something unforgettable, and I knew we were almost there. We took a right turn and I once again saw those beautiful houses I once did the first time I came when delivering those boxes. I grabbed Eliza by the hand and we ran along the wet pavement.
There it was - the beautiful white house with its blue tiled roof. It was as beautiful as I remembered. The intricate design of the railings and the carved flower above the door were just as I recall. We ran up the stairs and felt relieved to be able to take shelter from the rain under the porch's roof. We were soaked and shivering, but we couldn't help but smile to each other. I hesitated a little before finally pushing the button. We heard the doorbell rang on the inside. We held our breath, and worry dawned on me as I realized the possibility that nobody's home. After the bell rang, it was quiet. It was too quiet that it felt eerie. I could only hear the sound of my own heart beating. Then, I heard footsteps. They were faint at first but gradually grew louder.
The door opened and started crying seeing the kind face of the beautiful woman I met before. It was a sudden burst of emotions. I couldn't fight back the tears and almost wailed. The woman's surprised expression turned to concern immediately.
"Oh my. What's wrong? Did something happen?" She asked. "You poor ladies. Let's get you out of this rain. Come in."
Her voice was as warm as the first time I heard it. She led us to the living room and gave us a couple of fluffy towels and warm blankets. The maid who was with her also came with a tray of hot chocolate and biscuits. Eliza and I took the mug in our hands and took a sip. It felt like heaven. The warmth of the mug was so comforting in my hands. The heat from the hot chocolate was a gentle caress on my throat as I swallowed. Eliza finished her cup in no time and reached for the biscuits. I told her to take it slow. She giggled and thanked me. We took off our coats and hats. The old lady gave us some of her daughter's old clothes to change into. They smelled of fresh flowers and sunshine, and they felt so soft on our skin.
"Thank you, Madam," Eliza said, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Oh, please, dear, call me Amelia," the woman said with a kind smile. "Now, tell me what happened. You look like you've been running from a storm—a different kind of storm."
I hesitated. I looked at Eliza, and she gave me a small nod, a silent encouragement to tell her everything. I took a deep breath. "It's a long story."
"Well, I have all the time in the world," Amelia said softly, sitting on the armchair across from us. She looked at us with a gentle, patient gaze.
And so, I told her everything. I started from the day I got fired from the factory, the scuffle I had on the streets, the deliveries we made on the forty-ninth floor, the cursed butterfly, the confrontation in the stables, getting fired from the delivery job, my father's gambling, my brother getting taken, and my parents' death. I held back my tears, trying to maintain my composure. I didn't want to break down again. But when I told her about the loan sharks and how they took my brother, I felt my voice crack. I didn't cry though. I had nothing more to cry. I told her about Eliza's job and the man who owned the bar. I told her about our escape and how we ran the entire night.
She didn't interrupt me. She just listened, her expression a mix of sorrow and empathy. She looked at our faces, still bruised and tired from the night's events. She looked at Eliza, who was just as silent and emotional as I was. When I finished, she came over to us and sat in front of me. She took my hands in hers and looked into my eyes.
"That's so much for a young woman like you to carry," she said, her voice filled with genuine concern. "You have been so strong. Too strong."
"I... I just had to be. I had no one else," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "We have nowhere to go."
She wiped a stray tear from my cheek. "You do now," she said. "You and your friend can stay here for as long as you need. You're safe now."
I could only stare at her, my heart swelling with a mix of relief and disbelief. Eliza and I finally had a safe place, a temporary sanctuary from the cruel realities of the world we lived in. I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a very long time.