Part 2

We had to travel about two and a half miles over hilly terrain. Of course, I felt familiar with the environment. On both sides of the road, which consisted of huge trees, it had taken on a somewhat deserted character. In this mountain village, where there are no houses built next to each other like in the city, there is a gap of at least one kilometer between two houses.

"What do you think, Amelya.."

Emma asks as she climbs the mountain.

"Something I don't understand.."

I read

"Huh..?"

She narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

"I feel familiar.. feel so cold.. it's like.."

I fell silent as my throat felt tight. I felt tears welling up in my eyes for no reason, seeing Emma's blurred image. At that very second, I covered my eyes from her.

"Amelya.. why this.. "

Her face was questioning.

"I'm fine.."

I told her and started to pull forward. Of course, I was feeling very strange. I felt like the deserted village was taking me to a different world. But I was anxious enough to bear all that with effort. In a few more minutes, we were near the house in question.

The house, which was located in the middle of a huge garden, looked very ancient. Looking around the garden, I realized that the neatly arranged yard was full of flowers of different colors. But the beauty was overshadowed by the start of the snowfall.

"There, Amelya, this is what the Kassoli bungalow is called.."

Emma said, opening the black-barred gate. As soon as we entered the gate towards the bungalow, the whole sky turned black and roared as I held Emma's hand tightly.

"Don't be afraid, Amelia girl..."

She started comforting me.

"I feel something strange."

I told her.

"I'd be surprised if I didn't feel that way..! I also felt that way the first day I came to this bungalow."

I walked there, not clear minded enough to understand anything she said.

We made our way towards the bungalow over rows of box-shaped stones held on a small path separated from the gate to the bungalow, which was visible at a distance of two hundred meters.

The side wall of the oval shaped house was made of black stone. We climbed the few short steps in front of the bungalow and stopped in front of the whitewashed door. At the same time, the large glass door opened in another moment, and a middle-aged female figure appeared in front of us.

"Ah, these two children.. come in.."

I could feel the lovely smile that spread over her face as a relief.

"Good evening, Elena.."

Emma said she was entering the house

"Good evening, children.."

Elena, the woman who was leading us, turned to us and said.

Passing through an empty semi-circular corridor, we reached the large hall of the bungalow.

Although it appeared that the floor of the hall was finished in a strange pattern using tiles mixed with brown and cream colors, I could not get a clear idea about it because of the carpet spread everywhere.

The large hall with ancient household appliances placed in orderly places looked very attractive. On the large cabinet were several decorative glass vases, two rather tall candle holders, and several small figurines of various shapes. When I was about to put my hand towards one such statue, which was designed as an angel, it automatically moved far away from my hand while I was startled.

"Amelia, what happened?"

Emma asked, placing her hand on my shoulder.

When I didn't even open my mouth to answer her, I felt like my throat was closing like before.

"I need some water."

I said it as soon as I could get a word out.

"Ah, wait a minute.."

The woman named Elena said that, and soon we left the place.

"Amelya, what's the matter..? Why is this..?"

Emma asks again.

But I shook my head without saying anything to her. When I looked at the small statue again and saw that it was where it was, I started to salivate.

Drink this.. Amelia is tired..

It was at that moment that I realized that she knew my name. Treating her with just a smile, I emptied the glass of water in one breath.

"Thank you.."

I said that as she placed the empty glass in her hand.

"Then let's go to Mrs. Serena's room, shall we, children?"

As she said, Emma and I started walking behind her.

Entering the upper floor along the large staircase, we walked along an empty corridor and entered Mrs. Serena's room.

Lying on a large couch with old-fashioned carvings, she closes her eyes freely. I fixed my eyes for a moment on the painting that was draped across that very high canopy.

Looking at that picture, I felt that the Mother of God, holding the baby Jesus in her arms, would be looking at me with fatherly eyes. I felt something familiar in the image of the two angels greeting her on both sides. As a series of vague memories faded across my mind, I closed my eyes and filled my chest with a big breath.

Again, my eyes were drawn to old Mrs. Serena, who claimed that lovely figure lying on the couch.

Emma had told me earlier that, at ninety-four years old, she had been alone for some time. Twenty-four years ago, when her husband, grandson, and granddaughter died due to an accident, she had been in a coma for a long time due to the shock of being alone in this world. Although she regained consciousness after a long time, due to the trauma that happened that day, she is still unable to speak a word.

Mrs. Serena

Sitting on the edge of the couch, Elena touched the old man's head and began to speak in a soft voice.

Opening her eyelids with difficulty, she looked first at Elena and then at us. I felt sad for her when I saw how her eyes widened in surprise, and in another moment, her eyes filled with tears. I started to wonder if tears are not her closest friend in this life where she is so helpless that she cannot say a word. I don't think there is anyone close to me who knows as well as I do the closeness of the tears that wet the eyes without permission in times of happiness and sadness.

"Go Amelya.. You are the one who should take charge of her life after today.."

I am as sure as the sun and moon that I have never heard such a sweet tone before.

'But who is she..?'

I know that there is no one close to me that I can talk to except Emma and Elena. But that voice I heard right next to Desawan was mesmerizing. I had to know who she was, but putting all that aside, my feet began to gravitate toward Ms. Serena.

I felt great pain for her, who is still carrying the unspeakable pain in those tearful eyes. As soon as I went next to her and sat on the couch, Elena started to leave.

"Mrs. Serena..."

I called her.

She closed her eyes and moved her head up and down, holding my hands tightly.

"I'm Amelia... I'm Mrs. Sererna's maid from today."

I started looking into those eyes.

Her eyes had started shining so brightly that my image could be clearly seen over those shining eyes.

"Mrs. Serena looks very happy."

Elena's voice was heard behind us.

Who wouldn't be happy when a beautiful little girl like this takes care of

them.. Then it was Emma's voice.

"Mrs. Serena.. I'll be back soon.. Otherwise, it will be late by the time Elena leaves..."

I started patting Mrs. Serena's head. As she nodded her approval, I got up from the couch and greeted her with a smile.

"Mrs. Serena's medicine..?"

I asked Elena.

"Here on this shelf are all her medicines."

She said this, picking up a fairly large square box placed on the shelf on the wall to the left of the couch.

"The medicine should be given at night and in the morning.. Details about it are written on the medicine covers.. Don't forget to leave this medicine here when Amelia leaves in the morning.."

She started to say that she didn't know that we were on vacation for a few weeks.

"Good Elena.."

I said.

"And then more…."

She keeps an ear on her waist and thinks.

"Come with me."

As she left the room, I once again looked into those familiar eyes of Mrs. Serena.

"bye Bye.."

I licked my lips and fell behind them.

"I have prepared Mrs. Serena's dinner and put it in the fridge.."

"Also, don't forget to give something like fruit after the meal.. more.."

Elena went through the entire bungalow and started describing each one. Starting with Mrs. Serena's meal, she started teaching her cleaning routines, how to rest, and bedtime. Even though I felt that I was ready to enjoy this new experience that I had never experienced before, the number of times I was startled when I felt that there was something hidden here.

However, I strengthened my mind as I remembered that I could not leave this duty that I had willingly accepted, and the detective work that arose in my mind that I had to do in the future.

"Then let's go, Emma.. If you want to know anything, call my home number, Amelia."

She says this, looking at Emma and me.

"These three weeks are holidays.. so I will do the morning work...

"Ah, no, no, Amelia.. I forgot to tell you before.. I will be on vacation for these three weeks.. Because Amelia is coming, Mrs. Michela wanted to give me leave.. "

She was very happy to say so.

"I'll go, Amelia."

Emma started to say something as she hugged me.

"Go carefully, Emma.. It's getting dark.."

I started to tell her, looking up at the darkening sky.

"Good girl.."

That loving address of hers is heard like that even today.

In another moment, I watched them until Elena and Emma went out the far gate.

I was getting a different feeling that I had not noticed for the past year. Sometimes I was comforted by the doubt, Is it because my place of residence has changed?' But, I did not know.. The time had not yet come to know that there are a thousand and one stories buried in this bungalow.

"Um...!"

Letting out a heavy gasp, I closed the main gate at the front of the house and stepped onto the darkened porch. I reduced the darkness here to a certain extent by turning on the light bulbs, took my clothes bag, which was still at the end of the hall, and started walking upstairs.

I set foot in that room because Elena had said before leaving that the room on the other side of Mrs. Serena's room was prepared for me. I couldn't imagine what happened when I put my hand on the closed portal and thought to open it.