Chapter Text
It was the beginning of winter, on a bitter cold beginning when Minori answered the door to see Veronica standing there. Her face was dark with worry and stress, her brunette hair sporting a few more gray hairs than normal.
What she had to say wasn't anything Minori wanted to hear. Not to mention it wasn't something she had anticipated hearing at all- but does anyone ever really expect to hear their friend is dying?
Minori was anything but prepared. She rushed over to Eda's with Veronica quickly.
Marian and Otmar were already there, looming over Eda's bed, where she lay sickeningly still.
Minori could hardly believe her eyes. Drowning out the world around her, she could barely hear anything being said.
Marian guided her over to the bedside, instructing her to listen to what madam Eda had to say.
Minori could tell it wouldn't be long. Looking at the old womans frail body and pale face made her feel cold all over. Blood was now crystallized into ice inside her veins, her skin crawling with goosebumps.
This couldn't be happening. The person she was closest to in this town was dying...wanting nothing but to speak to her one last time.
Minori couldn't prevent the tears that had begun to stream as she spoke with Eda for the final time. Listening to her final wish, to have Minori take over her farm and keep the prosperity going, she shook.
It took several moments for Minori to work up the energy to speak, to fight past the sobs and rejections in her throat.
It burned to agree- burned hotter than the summer she spent in the city on pavement with bustling cars and tall buildings- it hurt to accept Eda's dying wish. To accept her death.
Memories of their time together flashed through her brain. Minori should have known this was coming...The signs were all there! From Eda's exhaustion to her loneliness that was growing- she- she...
Minori couldn't hold it back any longer. As Eda smiled happily, passing with no regrets, Minori sunk to the floor and wept, forgetting the world around her.
She wasn't sure who dragged her away from the bed, nor who had secured her in her own home- but after they had buried Eda and said their prayers, Minori was happy to be home.
Eda was gone....
The thought stung like a fresh wound, reverberating through her hollow body, dragging out the pain in her heart. It felt punctured, every beat creating a bigger wound that ripped her apart slowly, painfully.
Eda....She was a wonderful woman. Minori couldn't have asked for someone better to train her, let alone accept her. She had become a grandmother to Minori, a best friend...She had truly loved her.
To have her gone felt like a slap in the face. To have started her new life here with Eda and have her taken away was torture. How was she supposed to even step foot on the new land of hers without breaking into tears? Sure, she had promised to take care of the land- but she couldn't bear the thought of keeping the animals Eda had- let alone her things.
But there they sat. Hollow and empty now.
Lifeless.
With winter came the darkness. And with that darkness, Minori sank. Further into it, wrapping the midnight cloak around her soul.
Many people stopped by, conversed for a short bit, then left. Minori couldn't tell anyone what they had said- some gibberish here, something muttered there. She didn't hear them. She couldn't.
How long had it been? A day? A week? It was still winter, snowing like it did on that very day. That day...When Eda left..
Minori stood in the cold, bitter night. Beneath the moon, she watched the still farmhouse across from her. Hoping for a light. Some movement. Something to signify that Eda was still there. Still alive.
That this was nothing but a nightmare.
Minori waited for hours on end in the freezing winter. She waited through the snow and even after it had quit falling down in frozen tears, burying her in slowly. Like cinder blocks around her feet, it packed around her, anchoring her to the earth. To where Eda should be with her.
Only Eda wasn't here anymore. She wasn't in that house. There would never be a light on again.
There was nothing.
The house was empty.
And it always would be.
When the sun rose, Minori contacted Veronica.
“Ah, Minori. It's good to see you out and about.” Veronica smiled softly, her eyes worried. Minori could see the tension laying beneath the diluting colour but ignored it.
She had other business to attend to..
“I want it all torn down.” Minori said blankly, her voice void of emotion. There was nothing but the cold painted in her voice. Nothing but the darkness that came with the cold.
“I- I beg your pardon?” Veronica blinked and her brows knitted together in confusion, unable to comprehend exactly what it was that Minori meant.
Minori only pointed behind her, toward the empty shell where Eda used to live.
“All of it.” Minori repeated, being careful to speak around the lump in her throat. If she allowed it to surface above, it would surely drown her in tears once more.
“Are...Are you sure?” Veronica asked slowly and eyed the vacant property. “Are you sure you could not use some of the materials or animals-”
“Sell them and use it for the town. I don't want any of it. Ship the rest of personal belongings to her children.” Minori spat and forced herself to hold her tongue. The words were slipping. The ice inside that was keeping her stable was melting. At this rate, she could slip farther than she wanted in front of anyone.
“....As you wish. I will have it arranged accordingly and it will all be gone soon.” Veronica nodded sadly and straightened her posture with a deep breath. “Is there anything else you need?”
“No.” Minori shook her head and turned toward her farmhouse. It was time to go inside. “Thank you.”
Veronica didn't say anything as she watched Minori disappear behind her door. She stood there for a minute, only watching the world around her.
The crops looked wilted...She should arrange for someone to come down and take care of them for a few days. That would be a good use of the money from the animals and other various things sold form Eda's estate.
If Eda saw Minori now....She would truly be heart broken.
“Please watch over her, Eda...” Veronica sighed sadly and turned her gaze upward to the darkening sky.
It would be snowing again, soon..Veronica hoped Minori would have enough food to last the next few days.
Maybe she should check on her more often...
~
Minori dreamed of Eda often. Memories replayed in her brain in slumber, where she was happy. Where Eda was alive. Tea times and chit chat, learning how to care for animals. Shopping days with Eda and Otmar.
There was nothing Minori wanted more than for them to keep happening. To have Eda back. No matter there was no blood connection between the two, Eda was family. She was the one Minori was closest too in the whole town- and now...
Now she was gone.
Minori sighed slowly and took another deep breath.
It was time to sleep again.