Chapter 9
Winter arrived with a heavy snowstorm,
blanketing the large estate in pure white.
Adrian built a fire in the hearth,
the flames crackling and popping very loudly.
Leo sat on the warm fluffy rug,
building a massive tall tower of blocks.
Mara sat in the comfortable armchair,
reading a thick fantasy novel in silence.
The peaceful domestic scene was absolutely perfect,
a stark contrast to the previous terrible year.
Adrian's phone buzzed on the coffee table,
displaying an unknown restricted caller ID.
He answered it with a cautious tone,
wondering who was calling on a Sunday.
It was the warden of the state prison,
calling with some unexpected grim official news.
Beatrice had passed away in the night,
suffering a massive sudden fatal heart attack.
Adrian listened to the warden's flat voice,
feeling a strange complicated mix of emotions.
He did not feel any deep sadness,
only a cold hollow sense of finality.
He thanked the warden for the call,
hanging up the phone very slowly and carefully.
He looked into the bright orange fire,
watching the logs crumble into gray ash.
The woman who had given him life,
had tried to take his son's life away.
He had mourned her a long time ago,
on the day he discovered her poisoned plot.
Mara looked up from her thick book,
noticing the serious look on his face.
She asked him if everything was alright,
her voice full of genuine gentle concern.
Adrian nodded his head very slowly,
telling her the news in a quiet whisper.
Mara closed her book and stood up,
walking over to place a hand on his shoulder.
She did not offer empty useless platitudes,
knowing the relationship was broken beyond any repair.
She just stood there offering silent support,
which was exactly what he truly needed.
Leo knocked over his tower of blocks,
laughing at the loud crashing chaotic noise.
Adrian smiled at the beautiful happy sound,
realizing the cycle of abuse was completely broken.
His son would never know that darkness,
growing up surrounded by pure unconditional love.
May you like
He tossed another log onto the roaring fire,
letting the past burn away into nothingness.
