Chapter 10

"It's going to rain today." Ella looked up at the dark angry clouds that began to form in the sky. "I think you should take a day off, Aurora."

Aurora wrapped the cloak over her mother's shoulder and shrugged knowing her mother's suggestion was not effective. Her employer was stingy and selfish and he would happily deduct a huge sum of money from her small wage and as a punishment the man would force her to work overtime. 

Ella pinched the bridge of her nose and said. "You work too hard darling. I'm sure your employer won't mind if you do take the day off." 

"It's clear you don't know what my employer is like, mother." Aurora clenched her fist as images of what her boss tried to do the previous day flashed in front of her vision. 

"He's an old friend of mine, Aurora. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you skipping a day." She crossed her arms and peered at her daughter intensely. "Is something the matter with you?"

She swallowed a lump that formed at the back of her throat before planting a genuine smile across her lips. Even though it didn't quite reach her eyes, it was quite enough to have her mother convinced. "No of course not."

"I'm still against you leaving this house in this bad weather condition." She pulled the cloak further up her shoulders. "Why can't you just settle down with that lad that sent those flowers. He seems prestigious and wealthy. He could take care of you as well as this family."

Aurora covered her ears as a way of protecting them from her mother's words that were like venom. She wondered if the woman was hearing herself. She was tired of trying to explain her reason for not wanting to be with a man. She was still young and tender and she wasn't ready to take on responsibilities as a housewife. She wanted to be a free woman, who could make her own decisions. Not a woman who was bound by rules.

It seemed Ella was even more gullible for money than her daughter's wellbeing.  The entire village had the same problem, parents wanted to marry off their daughters to the most eligible bachelor. Women were not allowed to choose the person they spent the rest of their lives with. Most of the village men were considered abusive but the females were not in any position to speak out against their spouses. The women who got divorced were considered rejected. No man would be willing to marry these females since they are considered useless. 

Parents never cared about their children's feelings or interests. The parents only focused on things that could build their status and wealth.

Apart from Aurora wished her mother was made from a completely different material from the rest of the native villagers. Arranged marriage was embedded as a part of the tradition of the village for decades as a way for parents to control who their child will marry in the mere future. Aurora saw the traditions as irrelevant and stupid but no one else agreed to this.

She held onto her mother's frail hand lightly and led her back inside the house when the clouds burst and conceived a baby.

 "I will take my chances."  She said knowing her mother wasn't worried about the weather condition but instead the full moon.

"Oh, Aurora!" A weak smile formed on her dry lips and her eyes welled with tears. "What will I do if anything happens to you?"

Aurora's heart swelled as she embraced Ella in a warm hug. She loved her mother dearly despite her desires towards her. Aurora knew Ella was only doing what was best for their survival. 

Ella wouldn't be around for the rest of their lives and it was up to the girls to care for themselves. The thought of losing Ella gave her heartache but she knew the illness would take her home. She shrugged away the thought and decided to get ready for work.

She clutched her stomach that growled like an angry lion. Pain exploded throughout her stomach. She went an entire day without a meal and she knew if she went another minute her mother would find her corpse slumped on the wooded floor. 

"How much more will you endure?" Violets concerned voice asked. 

Aurora looked up at her sister with furrowed eyebrows. "What do you mean by that?"

Violet searched Aurora's once vibrant eyes that were distant and stretched her arms out. "You are my sister so I have to be honest with you, Aurora. You are so absorbed in doing what you think is best for our mother that you hardly have time for yourself."

"I have time for myself, Violet. Our tax is due in a week and we don't have half of the money to pay. If we can't pay you to know what will happen to mother." She crossed her arms over her chest.

 "You poor thing." She laughed bitterly. "Mother is the real reason we are in this mess, to begin with. I don't know what she got involved with but I know it's not good?"

"What are you saying?" Aurora didn't understand what her sister was trying to tell her but she had a feeling it wasn't anything good. Their mother was a loving woman who pushed her children to do things that were necessary for their survival. She

couldn't think of her getting involved in anything that would put her family at risk.

"She is the real reason no man will ever glance in my direction." 

Aurora shook her head. "That's not true Violet." Their neighbor's grandson took a liking to Violet. She was so preoccupied with looking pretty that she failed to notice the signs.

"I know you are just trying to make me feel better but it's all in vain."

"I'm not trying to make you feel better. I'm just telling you that there are many young men out there that are interested in you." Violet was a delicate soul in the eyes of men who never truly knew her. She was loved by anyone who sets eyes upon her beauty.

"No one ever took interest in me, Aurora." Her voice became weary as she spoke. "No one has ever bought me flowers and sent me love notes."

Aurora sat on her bed and soothed her grieving sister. "Maybe you never took notice. Any man would die to ask for your hand in marriage. Just be patient sister it's just not your time as yet."