A Sudden Catch

It was a very gloomy but cold evening for Teresa and it's been days since she last saw Stefano. She has had so many failed attempts to leave the convent. Their desperation for Teresa to see him has now grown to be a curse rather than a blessing as it affected her mood in the process. Only Louisa could best relate to the mood swings Teresa had been having all day.

Louisa began talking to Teresa, sharing some beautiful childhood moments with her but Teresa seemed to give deaf ears to all she had been saying as her mind had already journeyed in the thought of Stefano.

“Teresa you can't continue like this,” Louisa asked with so much concern.

“I am doing fine, Louisa. It's just one of those things.” Teresa immediately replied with a low tone.

“One of those things? Teresa, I know you better than anyone. I love it the few times I have seen you happy and I desire to see more of that.”

Teresa remained mute as Louisa kept on talking and pouring out her displeasure around her mood swings.

“Should we go now? Who knows, we may get to see him.” Louisa suggested with a smile on her face.

“Go where? Louisa, it's past 6 pm. Don't you know what time it is?” Teresa asked in curiosity as she sat up in surprise at what Louisa had said.

“Well, we can give it a try if that would make you much better.” 

Teresa felt like she had been dead and just came alive that minute. She couldn't hide the joy she was feeling as she just desired to see Stefano. It was like her dream had come true. Louisa just knows how best to make Teresa happy.

“Thank you, dear friend,” Teresa said in appreciation as she gave Louisa a big hug.

They both headed for the basement and sneaked their way through the basement door leading to the streets.

“Where are you both headed?” One of the nuns said as she sighted Louisa and Teresa.

They stopped in fear that they had been caught. A day they never dreamt of experiencing. 

Teresa hesitated as she replied in fear “Uhm, we are going on an errand.”

That was the only lie she could think of. Meanwhile, Louisa was quiet and shocked to the brim, gently accepting her fate that she had been caught.

“Really? An errand through the basement?” The Nun asked while giving a stern look.

It then dawned on Teresa that she had been caught and there was no escape route for her and Louisa. They both gazed at each other with fear in their eyes.

“What's your name?” The Nun asked.

“Teresa”

“Louisa”

“You both should kindly follow me.” The Nun said as she ushered them back into the Convent.

They all head to the Mother Superior's office and her fellow nuns. She was surprised to see Teresa and Louisa at a time like that and even ushered in by one of the nuns.

“Is anything the matter?” Mother Superior asked in curiosity.

“I caught these two sneaking out of the convent through the basement.”

“What! That's impossible!” The Mother Superior echoed.

All the other nuns began to murmur in surprise. Despite the rules guarding the convent, they are shocked to hear of such a case.

“Teresa, is this true?” Mother Superior asked.

Teresa was lost for words as she began to plead for forgiveness with Louisa joining her.

“We are so sorry, Mother Superior.” They both echoed.

“No, this is highly unacceptable.”

“Take them to the waiting room and await further instructions.” Mother Superior added as she handed them over to a nun.

Teresa almost felt her life leave her body, she had never seen Mother Superior that harsh towards anyone ever. 

As Teresa and Louisa sat at the waiting room they began to cry and watch from a distance how Mother Superior and her fellow nuns judged their case.

“Louisa, we are doomed!” 

Louisa kept mute all through even as she continually weeped solemnly.

****** 

It was dinner time but it turned out to be different this time as Mother Superior called for them to the dining area and have them stand in front of all the sisters and officials of the convent. Everyone in the Convent was seated just right before them.

“I am aware this is your dinner time and you all are entitled to your meals, but I have an important announcement to share with you all.” Mother Superior said.

“From today till the next three months, Teresa and Louisa have been stripped of their duties and will be in detention for sneaking out of the convent through the basement.”

Everyone shouted in exclamation. They couldn't believe their ears, pointing fingers at them and saying all sorts of things.

Mother Superior sounded so stern and didn't care to know why they both sneaked out of the convent, she passed their judgment and permitted everyone to eat afterward.

They were both taken to the basement with sadness in their eyes. Teresa couldn't believe it, it all looked like a dream to them both not until they were being locked in the detention area.

“What have I gotten us into?” Teresa asked with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“No, don't say that. It's not your fault, we are both in this together, and besides it was my idea” Louisa quickly chipped in, trying to comfort Teresa.

Teresa began to feel her world crumbling apart because now she wouldn't only be able to see Stefano but she couldn't also be roaming around the convent like she used to. Her strive for freedom has eventually made the little she has been taken away.

Louisa signaled a nun and pleaded that she could help beg Mother Superior on our verdict.

“Have her show mercy upon us.”

“I wish I could, but the verdicts from Mother Superior are final and cannot be superimposed.” the nun spoke softly.

“I am doomed!” Teresa shouted in a loud voice.