CHAPTER THREE- VISITATION

WITTY ANN POV 

Walking into the reading room with anger all over my face and banged into the room

"you said she would change, she would get better when she gets older; but every day she gets worse, just take a look," I said to Simon witty my beloved husband who always had hope in Elena

"Elena broke the cameras in the locker room in anger just this morning, on the day we are preserving a fast for Eva; she is becoming something else" I raised my voice in irritation 

but Simon kept quiet on me to back like a dog in the house every day 

"you have nothing to say about your piety daughter of yours Mr Simon" still quiet on me reading a book which burns me down with anger in me 

" you know what!? This time I will take action on that child" I walked close to the door 

"Don't hurt that child; she's already been a lot for years; the isolation, hate. She is a human, for the sake of Eva" he stood up and held my shoulder 

"Today is her day too, don't be harsh on her, you are just scared that she would try to escape or injure herself like before, you are afraid of losing your daughter" he said to me.

I knew he is right with his words; I'm afraid to lose Elena the way I lost Eva

 "I know, she's fed up with everything but this is the best I can offer to her" I said while wandering the room with a lot to say 

"Yes!! I am scared of losing another daughter in my life but she's the reason Eva is no more" with tears wrapping up my eyes 

"Do you know the humiliations she has caused this family, Do you know how society hates her as well as I" I cried but still standing strong to Simon witty.

"I know but she too is suffocating over there; no friends, no care, no love. When did the love you had for her faded away?" he asked with a peg on her cheeks to calm my nerves down 

"The day Eva died because of her carelessness under everyone's watch" I backed out from him and move close to the window for fresh air as I could not hide my tears 

"This is the best life I have to give to her, I will go down there and have a word with her"

"Don't worry, I will do that this time; I promise I won't let her come out from the room I did three years ago today" Simon ensured me 

"I won't be deceived by her tears, I want to speak to my daughter this time not on a cellphone but face to face" He kissed me gently on the back of my hair 

 "Please let me this time, I promise I won't get vulnerable when I see her"

"and you forgot the promise the other time," I said 

He immediately pulled away from me "Enough with this attitude, all these years I have been like a father with no children while I have one right under my watch; all these years I tried to see reason with you why she should be locked up there but you don't seem to understand that I need my girl back close to me if not…." He staggered, pacing around the room then stopped at the window.

"if not for what!!? Simon, it is not my fault that she is locked there but her misfortune she brought up herself. I wish I can conceive again after the birth of Eva but it's not my fault that I can not" Tears dropped down my cheek as I spoke to him.

I sat on the chair looking at her picture close to the reading table. 

"he has missed his daughter so well; he has always been the one very close to the girls; I thought to myself.

" you can meet her this time if you wish to" I broke the silence between the both of us "She's 18 today, she must be a full-grown noblewoman like me," I said while I stood up 

"As for me I will call the installators to repair the damages she has caused right there" I walked close to the door and slammed it.

So many thoughts were piling on my head, I entered the sitting room and saw Eva's portrait with Elena

 I could not hold back my tears as I touched the portrait hung on the wall 

"Happy birthday Elena Witty" I finally said after many years

 "You have to be strong and know I ought to be like this to avoid the humiliation upon this family, I wish our family will whole and happy again even after the incident" 

Hearing some footsteps, I wipe off my tears immediately and there she is- Mrs Lecia. 

"Good morning Ma'am"

"Mrs Lecia set the candles close to Eva's pictures and collect the flowers on the balcony. Both of us will be visiting her grave… "

"How about Mr Simon? She interrupted. 

I took a deep breath and sat on the couch 

"he might go down to the locker room today to meet Elena, so he won't follow up but might join later"

"Ma'am …" she called me 

"Yes Mrs Lecia, I have always told you not to call me that but call me by my name- Ann," I said while collecting the glass of water she had in her hands" I held her hands 

"I know I have been harsh on you too after the incident that happened under your watch but I have forgiven you and I want to amend my ways for Eva"

Mrs Lecia withdrew herself from me "Ma'am I can start calling you that when you finally meet your daughter" Lecia said calmly 

"I don't think that I am ready to look at the beast in her who…" 

"then I'm not ready to call you by your name; I'm and will be always your servant" She walked away to the balcony

 "I am a mother and she needs your love"

I was so surprised by the actions she portrayed to me.

Glimpsing that our companionship got sour after the incident makes me despise everything around me.

"These flowers will be nice for Eva on this day," she said on the balcony faintly.

I walked up the stairs to prepare for the visit for Eva 

"It's going to be fine eventually" I said to myself with confidence, trying to calm the atmosphere this morning.