The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

Flashback

For several weeks, we were like animals locked inside a big cage. We couldn’t get out of the vast land because Ymir’s armed men were standing guard around it. When I once tried to sneak out to find help, a man pointed his gun at me. Pale and trembling, I could do nothing but return home. Luckily, there was food stored inside. We won’t be hungry for the next few days.

But what worries me the most is my father’s condition. I have no news of what has happened to him, where he is, and if he is eating well.

I miss my father so much. I haven’t seen him for two months since I returned to Cerro Roca.

I’m going crazy wondering what happened to him. No matter how I begged the guards, they refused to let me talk to Ymir. No matter how many times I knelt down, cried, and begged them, they still won’t let me. Maybe they have become deaf and dumb to my cries so it seems like they don’t care if I shed blood.

But this morning was different from the past few days. I woke up from the nightmare. I was digging in the ground for my father’s burial.

With tears in my eyes, I got up and drink water to soothe my aching chest. It’s like my dream really came true. I can still smell the dark soil.

“Karina, calm down. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. Dad is alive. Dad is alive,” I told myself to calm my pounding chest.

When I was still not at peace, I left the house and squatted on the stairs. The sun is just rising in the east.

I remembered the times when I was still with my father. I regret why I even agreed to leave that day. I wish Diego and I would still have our father with us.

“Dad, I hope you’re okay there. I hope they’re taking good care of you. I hope you’re eating well.”

I was startled when one of the guards approached me. He came to me with the cellphone in his hand.

“Answer it,” he ordered.

I accepted the cellphone. “Hello?”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“Is this Karina Versoza?” asked the female voice on the other line.

I looked at the man for a moment then nodded weakly. “Yes, I am. Why? Who is this?”

“Ma’am, you have to take the body of your father, Carlito Versoza. You don’t have to worry about the bills anymore. Everything has been paid courtesy of the Asturia Foundation.”

“Huh? Body? Whose body?” No one seemed to hear my question.

The woman took a deep breath before answering. “Your father passed away last night, ma’am. The Asturia Foundation is responsible for the expenses because you are one of their beneficiaries. A plot of land has also been purchased for your father’s burial. If you have any questions- ”

I didn’t finish what the woman said next. I let go of the cell phone at the same time when I fell to the ground.

Dad is dead? My father is dead? But why? He was still very much alive when we last saw him. He was even smiling while watching his favorite TV show when I said goodbye to him. He even told me to be careful which he tells me every day before I leave to sell.

My father is alive so why is the woman on the cell phone saying he is dead? Why would she ask me to get the body? What is the land for if my father is dead? What about the hospital that Ymir brought him to? Didn’t they treat him?

“Get dressed. Boss ordered me to take you to the hospital. Your father has been embalmed,” the man’s cold voice urged me.

I looked up at him then stood up and shook the dirt out of my butt.

“What embalming are you talking about? Dad is not dead. He is alive. Ymir is fooling me again. Isn’t it enough for him to lock us up and watch over us here? Didn’t his parents teach him good manners? It’s rude to joke about an old man’s life. Just a moment and I’ll fix it. I’ll go with you to get dad. I’ll bring him home so I can take better care of him.”

I calmly returned home and got dressed. I just left a note to Diego to say that I just went shopping. I was still positive when we were in the car. There are negative things that are trying to enter my mind but I don’t let them. Dad is alive and in a few minutes I will be able to hug him again. Even when we got to the fancy hospital, I tried not to be nervous. But when we entered the hallway where almost all the people we passed were crying and squatting on the floor, that’s when I completely crumbled. And when I was inside a room with a coffin inside, I was almost in a trance.

No matter how many times I deny it, no matter how blindingly I do, the truth is right in front of me.

The casket was open so I could clearly see my dad’s thin face. Traces of the hardships he suffered lined his face. I can’t say that he is peaceful because his mouth is slightly open as if he is waiting for someone. Maybe he is waiting for us, his children.

I didn’t get close right away. I turned around first and gradually knelt down. My whole body trembled with sadness, grief, and anger.

Why is my father there? Why not in bed and smiling to greet me? Why is he not breathing anymore? Why is he a corpse?

He was still excited when I left him. I still remember his smile at me while waving at me and eating a pack of biscuits I bought him. My father is alive in my memory but why is he no longer alive here behind me?

My first tear fell, followed by the second, third, fourth until I couldn’t count them anymore. I looked up at the man watching over me who just averted his eyes.

“Hurry up. We have to bury your father according to the orders of the Asturians.”

The man walked out and left me breathless.

Why is fate so cruel to me?

I calmed myself down. Limping, I stood up and with slow steps approached my father’s corpse. I caressed his cold cheek while moaning in pain. With trembling hands, I hugged him for the last time. The person I owed everything to, the only person who loved me with all his heart, the one who taught me to be a good person is gone now.

“Dad…” I whispered and tightened my grip on his ice-like body, my tears continued to fall. “Why did you leave us right away? Why didn’t you fight? Why did you disappear right away? Who will Diego and I bring home? Who will tell me to be caref now? Didn’t I promise you that I’ll buy you a polo shirt because you want to go to church? You always taught us to be strong, to keep fighting but why did you let go first? Dad…” I shouted loudly.

“There’s so much I haven’t given to you, to you and Diego. I haven’t even given you a good life. I haven’t even given you a nice polo shirt. I haven’t made anything for you. We didn’t have a nice house yet.. Diego and I haven’t graduated yet… I’m not even close to what I promised you I would be.”

Some arms pulled me away from my father. I struggled out but my strength was gone. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw two men approach the coffin. My eyes widened as they began to close it.

“What are you doing? Put it back! Don’t close it! I’m not done talking to my dad! I said, put it back!”

I shouted hysterically but they didn’t listen. They continued to close dad’s coffin to take it out. I turned to the man holding me.

“Please, don’t. Just another five minutes. My brother. He hasn’t seen dad yet. Don’t, please. That’s my dad. That’s my dad. Why are you taking him?”

“Ma’am, I’m really sorry. I was just following an order. The Asturias want to bury your father at this time, otherwise they will not give you the land in the cemetery for free.”

“I don’t care! I can bury my father! You people have no respect at least for the dead. Please…” I held his hands and knelt down. “Please have mercy. At least let my brother see our father for the last time. You have a father too. How would you feel if this was done to you and denied you the chance to hug your father for the last time? Please, have mercy. Please,”

I continued to convince him. I will do everything to give Diego a time to see dad.

I thought he would give it to me because I could see that he also felt sorry for me but he just shook his head.

“Ma’am, it’s really not possible. There is also someone watching over us. Come on.”

It was like heaven forbid me at that time too. It’s true that maybe the one above is not by my side right now.

That’s when I learned that no matter how you plead, even if you shed blood, if you are treated as a lowly insect, there is nothing you can do to break what they want. That’s the truth of life.

That is the bitter truth in my life that even my father’s death could not change.