The Unspoken Life Of Eva

Is this how my life will turn out, thought Eva Bullock as she wiped the dust of the office desk. Not with any sort of achievement, just alone grieving her loss. She dunk the towel into the bucket of water sending sprinkles of water onto the dusty floor. It was a Library kind of office, dark and scary, the air smelt like old books really old books. She shoved books aside, turd! a big book that served as gauge for the pile of old magazines, at the edge of the table fell onto the marble floor. She rushed to the side of the book, the book seemed so old, maybe the oldest book in the library. She can't afford to make a mess or a mishap in here. She picked up the book,but her small hands struggled to grasp the entirety of the big book, the back cover fell off with few pages of the book. Demoralized and sweating, She stared down at the book pages on the floor. All day she had been cleaning so carefully, making sure to arrange everything as she saw it, why now in what seemed like the most treasured place in the house, rather mansion. Eva's clumsiness had stirred up haunting memories. The echoes of her father's angry voice and hurtful accusations reverberated through her mind. Without hesitation, Eva swiftly started collecting the fallen book and found herself captivated by the intricate scribblings adorning its pages. The language inscribed within intrigued her immensely; it appeared to be of ancient origin. With a sense of fascination and curiosity, she embarked upon the challenge of pronouncing the words intricately written in elegant, sweeping cursive. Carefully, she traced her finger along the flowing lines, attempting to decipher the phonetic sounds of each character. Her lips began to shape unfamiliar syllables. The words felt alive as they rolled off her tongue. " Ra mura dù parous". Suddenly, a delicate needle of light materialized, floating ethereally above the very page Eva held in her trembling hand. Stunned into silence, she watched in awe as the shimmering light danced and flickered, casting an otherworldly glow upon the ancient words. Time seemed to stand still as Eva became completely entranced by this surreal phenomenon unfolding before her eyes. Lost in the enchantment, Eva felt as though the boundaries of reality blurred and melded, transporting her to a realm beyond the confines of her mundane existence. The luminous light surrounded her, engulfing her senses and pulling her deeper into its mystical embrace. As moments slipped by like dandelion seeds on a gentle breeze, Eva's consciousness was both heightened and suspended, and a profound sense of connection with something beyond herself took hold. Eventually, abruptly and yet gracefully, Eva was gently yanked back into the present moment. The weight of reality settled upon her once more, but the encounter with the inexplicable light had left an indelible mark. It was as if she had caught a fleeting glimpse of herself in another time, another dimension, hinting at the vastness of existence beyond the narrow scope of her everyday life. Gathering all her cleaning tools she immediately left the library. She didn't care if it was still in disarray, She needed to get herself together. Eva's life had seldom been a smooth journey. After high school, she was unable to pursue higher education due to the financial wreckage caused by her father's squandering of her hard-earned savings. The sting of his betrayal was further intensified by his audacity to label her as selfish. The weight of these circumstances pressed heavily upon her young shoulders as she relinquished the dream of college. Adding to her anguish was the presence of her mother, a woman consumed by fear. Her mother's timidity permeated every aspect of their existence, casting a shadow of perpetual unease. Their relationship was marked by silence, as if her mother had walled off her own identity. Even her father, who had left an indelible impact on her life, was a complete enigma. He had shaped her past, but any presence of love or guidance seemed to be a hollow void, leaving behind an unfillable hole in Eva's heart. When Eva's father passed away, she sought solace in working as an in-house maid, accepting an offer in a distant country side. At the young age of eighteen, Eva already felt a weariness beyond her years, as if she had been aged prematurely by the burdens thrust upon her. Her path seemed littered with hardship and abandonment, leaving her feeling forsaken by life itself. Yet, there was a resilience within her, a flicker of determination hidden beneath the layers of adversity. Eva carried her scars with a quiet strength, recognizing that despite the challenges, she possessed the power to forge her own destiny. When Eva stepped across the threshold of the grand mansion, her eyes were immediately drawn to the splendor that greeted her. The majestic mahogany beams stretched across the ceiling, and antique curtains cascaded down the walls in graceful folds. She couldn't help but marvel at the timeless elegance of it all. The air carried a sense of history, an aura that whispered of generations past. This was more than a house; it was a symbol of lineage and heritage. Yet, as enchanting as the mansion appeared, there was an undeniable air of eeriness that wafted through its corridors. It was as if the house held secrets within its aged walls, and it seemed to emanate from the old steward, Mr. Ben. There was something about him that sent a chill down Eva's spine, a coldness in his gaze that hinted at a knowledge she couldn't quite grasp. But despite the unsettling vibes, Eva couldn't deny the allure of the place. The location was simply splendid, a vast expanse of land stretching out for acres, maybe even more than eight. It was a world unto itself, with lush gardens, winding paths, and hidden nooks waiting to be discovered. Everything about this place, with its peculiar mixture of weirdness and fascination, drew her in like a moth to a flame. It was the perfect kind of oddity, a sanctuary that could temporarily free her mind from the weight of her sorrowful life. Having taken some time to recover from the bewilderment of her encounter. She was beginning to resume her cleaning duties, a voice sounded out, making her jump. It was Mr. Ben, seemingly appearing out of thin air, catching her off guard. " Well, will you explain to me what your doing here?" He questioned. Caught off guard and unable to come up with an elaborate explanation, Eva hesitated for a moment before responding, "Uhmm, I was feeling a bit dizzy, but I'm ready to continue now." Mr. Ben's gaze remained stern and unyielding as he spoke, "Make sure you're prepared for dinner preparations by six pm." His disapproving frown etched upon his face, he briskly walked past her without further explanation. Feeling a sense of urgency, Eva hurriedly made her way back into the library. Determined to make up for lost time, she wasted no time in grabbing a towel to remove the remaining traces of dust from the books. With swift and efficient movements, she meticulously cleaned each bookshelf, ensuring no speck of dirt or grime was left behind. As she moved with a renewed focus, she couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling created by her encounter with Mr. Ben. Nevertheless, she remained resolute in her tasks, determined to fulfill her responsibilities to the best of her abilities. With six o'clock approaching, Eva felt nervous about the impending dinner preparations. She disliked cooking and considered asking Mr. Ben to assign her a different task. As she walked from the maid's quarters to the main house, she glanced at the wildflowers and thorned bushes, finding solace in gardens over the kitchen. Spotting a path behind an abandoned storehouse, curiosity tempted her, but after the strange events of the day, she decided against further peculiarities. "Mr Ben" Eva called out as she knocked on the door to his office. "Come in" Mr Ben answered a bit irritated. "You don't have to call my name, as you have already knocked on the door. And what brings you here?" " I uhmm, I want to know.... uhm ask if I can switch out my duty in the kitchen ". " And where do you intend me to place you mmm?" " I am good with garden work I can take care of it well" Mr Ben looks at Eva's hand, wondering if she knew what she spoke about. " You work in the garden?" "Yes I assure you I can" " If you say so then, tomorrow you will start, but today you work in the kitchen". Nodding, Eva left his office. Noon had arrived, and Eva found herself stuck in one place. Wiping away sweat from her forehead, smearing soil across her brow, she gazed down at the small patch she had been working on since eight in the morning. It was disheartening to realize that, despite her efforts, this was all she had managed to accomplish. The task at hand seemed insurmountable, and the exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her. Resolute, Eva grasped the scythe and leaned down, determined to clear away the persistent grass. She pulled and cut relentlessly, ignoring the bothersome mosquitoes and the scorching sun beating down on her head. Amidst her frustration, she found a moment to rest, sitting atop the mound of grass. Her annoyance was quickly replaced by a sharp sting when she jerked up, realizing a thorn had become hooked onto her skirt. She scolded herself, berating her own carelessness. For the past three days since She arrived here she had not communicated with her mom. She was accustomed to poor communication with her, not that it bother her. It was just a passing thought. Eva stood up as she saw a fellow maid walking towards where she worked. Smiling she confronted Eva. "Hi I'm Ray" "Hi" Eva smiled. " You know you don't have to finish it today, there is plenty of time here" " Yeah, but I just what to achieve something good enough today". "I think this is good enough, no one ever cuts the grass here, maybe the see it as unimportant." "Really, it's good enough?" "Yeah, sure ,besides this old ass place will take time to look good again" "Good again, did you know it when it was looking good?" Eva laughed at her ridiculous question, to her it seemed so, but Ray's facial expression said otherwise. Ray had a distance look on her face " it use to be before Rebecca died". "Rebecca?" "Yes, Donald's wife " Ray leaned forward, picking up the scythe,she toss it to the side. " You should go and rest " Ray said looking a bit troubled. As they both walked back to the the maids quarter Ray questioned Eva. ''Why did you accept to work here, I mean we have been in need of an extra hand for a year plus no one would come". "I needed the job, it was a good excuse to leave home" "hmm I get that". Eva looked at the distance hill. As uncanny as this place seems she would love to be here. Right now, she was okay staying here. In the night, Eva lay awake, thinking about the incident in the library, she hadn't been able to wrap her head around it. "Do someone know about this, or the are all just ignorant or pretending to be." She questioned herself. she pulled the blanket close to her chin, the windows weren't open, but it still felt so chilly. She kicked aside the blacket, shuddering in cold she got up to layer her clothes with an extra quilt. Even with the heater turned on, the room felt cold. She wondered is she was getting sick. She sat up in bed wrapping herself tightly in the quilt and turned on the lamp, but it wouldn't come on, slapping her lamb severally at the botton to bring it on but to no avail. After several attempts she gave up.For a long time she kept still in her position. Finally she drifted off to sleep.