Page 4 of Souls We Rip

“Hilarious,” I whispered, glancing at the sky.

It was odd seeing the darkness of it fading, revealing the birth of light. Two forces, never meeting, joining in the same sky.

Odd, yet mesmerising.

Angelica’s head was tilted up, her chest moving faster than usual. “You are as exhausted as I am,” I remarked, my breathing slowing.

Her delicate hand slashed the air to dismiss me. “Maybe. If Mum did not give me so much work, I would enjoy the view more.”

In our village, daughters stayed at home with their mothers to keep the household running: feeding animals, preparing food for winter, and even making their own clothes. We worked from dawn till dusk.

We had to. When one of us got married, upon the wedding night, we would receive our dowries. In our case, pieces of land, food, clothing and some coins.

“Look, Ana, it is here,” my sister breathed, her eyes fixed on the sky.

I raised my head towards it and saw perfection.

The sun was coming up behind the next hill, its orange glow cutting through the dark sky. It was surrounded by small stars, the perfect blend of two worlds.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

My sister grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers. “I want us to be happy, Ana. Will we be?”

I stared at my little sister’s precious face. Her round brown eyes, her hawkish nose scrunching, and her full cheeks were all lovely features, but the most beautiful of all was her heart.

The kindest soul I had ever known.

“Yes.” I nodded, then squeezed her hand and watched as the night made room for day.

Little blades of grass tickled my thighs, and to welcome the sensation, I pressed my skin harder against them.

I was already happy. It did not bother me to still be at home with my family, even if this cast a shadow on my parents’ faces. The books that Teacher Alexandru gave me from the local school kept me company when I had a moment to rest from all the chores.

My mum had always encouraged us to read. She couldn’t do that for herself, so she wanted what was best for us. She was the reason I spent time at school, learning under the guidance of Teacher Alexandru. But every good thing that happened in our lives was always overshadowed by my father.

“I so want to get married,” my sister declared, her hands clenched in fists.

“And you will,” I giggled.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked me as she stood up, already starting downhill.

I followed her on the way home; people were already working around their households.

“Love,” I answered, watching my feet.

She cackled, turning towards me, her blonde hair swishing into the air.

“Do you think you will find love?” she inquired, spinning with her arms open.

I tilted my head, my brows joining. “What do you mean?”

She stopped spinning and placed one hand on her forehead. “I don’t think we need to dream of love, Ana. For me, happiness means being stable. A good husband, not like our father. I want us to respect each other and raise our household together.”

My sister, the practical one.

“Let me ask you this, sister,” I said, walking next to her, “how do you know the man you meet at the fair will not be like our father?”

She pouted her thin lips. “I already have my eyes on someone.”