The tragedy that changed a life (part 02)

Two months passed and my 17th birthday was approaching, my days were still the same.

I took care of the flowers in the garden, helped my grandmother with her daily tasks, made the meals...

Sometimes we sat down to talk and watch the stars, we talked about different subjects, from cuisine to the history of our country, they were the happiest days of my life.

"Grandma, what would you like for lunch tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? It's not your birthday, let me make the meal for you, it's a special day and you should enjoy it."

"No need, I like to cook"

"*sigh* You in... Alright, do what you want" She shrugged her shoulders and made a face of disappointment, of course I didn't fall for it, my grandmother knew me well, the same can be said of my knowledge of her.

"You're the best, so what do you want?"

"Choose what you want, I like everything you cook" She winked at me seductively.

* guffaws *

We laughed until we were breathless, I really didn't know where she dared to do that, well…I wasn't much better.

The night passed and soon morning came, I went downstairs towards the kitchen and, to my surprise, found my grandmother cooking for me.

"Happy birthday, my beautiful granddaughter!" She said with a big smile "Oh gods, how quickly time goes by, one of these days she was a little girl who couldn't stop crying and now she's almost grown up!" She grimaced in astonishment, as if shocked by what she had just discovered.

I blushed with embarrassment and was speechless, I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I even doubted if my ears were right and if it was really my grandmother.

She walked over and hugged me tightly. "Happy Birthday" She whispered in my ear in a sweet voice full of affection, it felt like my heart was dipped in a pot of honey, it felt so good. "Thank you," I replied, returning the hug and we sat down at the table to enjoy our meal.

We spent the day doing things we enjoyed, gardening, hunting and painting, I loved archery and my grandmother was an expert when I was younger, I like the moments when she stopped to guide me, it was a fantastic day.

So fast it came and so fast it left, the day was over, the moon rose high in the sky, that night mostly, more beautiful than usual, the full moon was big and bright, its rays bathed us as we watched that sky magnific.

"So beautiful," I muttered under my breath, taking a seat on the porch next to my grandmother.

"Yes, tonight is magnificent" She answered me with her usual smile.

We were silent for a few more minutes before she finally said something.

"I know you want to ask me about your parents…" she said softly.

I was stunned for a moment, turned to look at her and see what those eyes, full of the vicissitudes of time, hid.

"You don't have to talk about them if you don't feel comfortable," I replied in the same soft voice.

"No... it's time to tell you, you've already turned 17, it's time for you to know..."

I looked at her and saw those eyes that hid a myriad of emotions, fear, anguish, sadness, I couldn't decipher her.