Vera Stefania - Jaime´s Secret

Stefania Vera, Ec

Jaime’s secret: Could you keep a secret for years?; illustrated by Stefania Vera. -1st ed.- Guayaquil: Stefania Vera, 2020

Digital book

Digital archive: download and online

ISBN 978-9942-38-300-6

Copyright

©Stefania Vera 2020

Legal deposit established by Law on Intellectual Property Official Registry No 320.

The total or partial reproduction by any form or procedure, as well as its storage or photocopying by any electronic system without due authorization or mention of the author, is prohibited. All rights are reserved.

Thomas grew up hearing his grandfather say <>. He was really always curious to know the sadness of his old man, it wasn’t something that upset his grandmother because the old man always smiled to make her happy as he had promised when they got married, however Thomas every night watched him from the balcony looking up at the sky as asking to see something or someone, even long before seeing him sick.

It’s morning, the veteran frigate captain Jaime Robles is in very delicate health and is being treated by Doctor Vélez, something is not right with his heart. Apparently, life in the city has deteriorated his condition, so he advises a different environment for his recovery.

Jaime chooses to go to his hometown after forty years of service in the naval force aboard a small plane with his wife and grandson. Everyone is delighted with the idea of changing atmosphere for a few days.

As the plane lands, Jaime observes the drastic change of the landscape, but his gaze is focused on a special place worn down by the passing of the years but still retaining some vegetation. Perplexed he begins to have memories of his childhood and youth and imagines a slender young woman walking around with her arms stretched out and smiling on several fresh leaves. Suddenly he hears the voice of his grandson questioning his condition. The old man reacts and remains silent for a moment, then nods slowly with a small smile from his wrinkled lips.

The plane lands in the middle of the garden, goes down and heads to Jaime’s old house. They open the door, unpack and start dusting. While his wife cleans the kitchen and his grandson goes to get medicine, Jaime goes to his room, searches through his old things and finds a cardboard under the bed. He sits down, opens it and is stunned to see what is inside, His trembling hand reached in until he took out a small box with two rings based on very fine branches with details of small dry leaves around and an ancient photograph in which he found himself with a beautiful young woman with a gentle look. The old man can’t stand the sadness and let out a sob.

Suddenly, Thomas opens the door and is stunned for a moment and sits next to his grandfather, ready to discover the pain in Jaime’s eyes, asks him to tell him about his past. The elderly man agrees to the request, places the photo on his chest, lies down, closes his eyes and begins to narrate the life of the young woman.

It’s morning. In a village far from the city, a humble family lives. Outside is Laia, eight years old, playing with her little doll. Suddenly a heartbreaking scream is heard, fearlessly he picks up his wrist and rushes to his home.

She enters the room and watches her father Benjamin holding firmly the hand of her mother Elena, a very pale and extremely thin woman who has been bedridden for months. The woman looks at her and takes the little girl’s little hand, Laia immediately approaches crying and hears the woman’s last words. Her mother reassured her with a few words from her stay in God’s paradise. Laia, holding on to her mother’s hand, begged her not to leave. The woman cannot hear her now, but with the last of her strength she embraces Laia and places the care of the little girl in Benjamin. The woman caresses Benjamin’s cheeks, smiles at her little one and drops her arm.

It’s late. Benjamin and Laia return after leaving some flowers in the cemetery. As they approach, Laia watches a beautiful figure woman waiting outside her house.

On the way home. Benjamin takes the hand of that woman, approaches Laia and presents her as Mirella his new wife, her perverse look frightens the little one. Mirella smiles at her, the little girl does not understand what is happening, but Benjamin tells her that Mirella will stay to take care of her. Laia manages to understand that that woman would replace her mother.

The first rays of sun appear. Benjamin gets ready to go to work as usual, says goodbye to Mirella and the little girl. When closing the door Mirella throws a glass of milk over Laia and sends to her room. The little girl disobeys Mirella, the woman gets angry and goes for the girl. Laia leaves the house quickly, after the escape she slips and is hung on a mound, held to a thin branch the little one screams for help, but the woman leaves the place. Laia can’t take it any-more, her little hands are too hurt by the weight of her body about to fall.

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