The Last Letter from the Maestro
Chapter 3 The Last Letter from the Maestro

Happy Reading

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NIGHT IN WINTER

[Starting from chapter 3 mostly contains Flashback from Lucas' point of view ]

Lucas sat leaning back with a gaze that stared far out the window of his room, not the least disturbed when the door opened and closed again. A young man with black hair and blue eyes sat next to Lucas, his hands stretched out to touch fingers that looked so thin, like bones just covered in skin.

" Papa." called the young man, but Lucas remained unmoved.

" Papa." the young man called out now in a rather loud voice, and only then did Lucas look to open his eyes and begin to turn his head.

" Papa was daydreaming again" said the young man with a small smile.

Lucas who saw Allano coming to see him also smiled until the wrinkles on his face became more clear.

".. Why ?" lucas asked as Allano just stood still and lowered his head. Although usually Allano is quiet but Lucas knows them very well, he is very familiar with how the habits of each of them.

" I honestly don't want to know the past what made Papa end up adopting us, even though I was curious about the truth but I was afraid of my heart.. " allano said as he stared right in Lucas' eyes with an agitated look.

Lucas gave a small smile hearing Allano's words that sounded like whining in his ears.

" Do you know, son. There were two reasons why I was telling the past, other than because of my guilt there was one important thing that even I was unable to do.. Maybe it's my selfish desire, but I hope that when I finish telling you everything, you can continue the work that was previously stopped because of my condition.. "

Allano laughed bitterly at Lucas' desperate words.

" Pa, I don't think papa should say that. Do you know how hard Kak Helio is trying to find a cure for papa . " said Allano with a wrinkled forehead.

" Papa's relieved, at least you were grown up when papa left. Don't blame anyone and live well. "

Allano was silent at Lucas' words that were so painful to him. He himself was aware of what disease Lucas was suffering from, but his heart refused to accept the fact that the cure for the disease had not been found.

The sound of the door opening broke the strange atmosphere in the room, three young men with handsome faces walked in.

" Well, I didn't expect Allano to arrive early today" Helio said, sitting at Lucas's feet.

" It seems like my quiet sister was so excited to listen to the story before her sleep.. " Said Richard this time with the intention of slightly teasing Allano.

" God stop, look at Allano's face that blushed embarrassed, a little make me creep. "timpal Alessio who teased him with Richard.

Lucas smiled broadly at the interaction the children were so carefree and familiar, it reminded him of his two younger siblings first.

" Hey already, come sit down. " Said Helio mediate when finally Allano who was upset trying to flank the head of Alessio in his armpit.

" Papa come.. "We are ready, Helio said smilingly looking at Lucas. But even though his lips were smiling sweetly like that, Lucas knew how the boy felt which was not much different from Alessio.

" All right, the boys are coming closer to Papa." said Lucas. And Lucas went back to telling the story, continuing the story that was cut yesterday.

" That moment.. November of the year ... "

 [26 November 1920, port..

The atmosphere at the dock was so busy, Maria stared in amazement at a large ship that was pulled over at the edge of the dock. This was the first time they had ever made a long trip by boat. Lucas was a little worried at first because it was his first experience, but after seeing his brother's enthusiastic response to see the ships at the dock and asked cheerfully when they were leaving, Lucas was a little relieved.

" Sister when we leave, "ask Mary.

" A little while longer" Lucas replied, gently rubbing his sister's long hair.

" Where are we going ?" ask Nolle.

" We're going to America, I happen to have an acquaintance there. "I replied Lucas, "Oh come on, it's open, we're quick in line !"

Lucas took his two brothers to enter the queue, and soon they boarded the ship.

" Sister is America very far away ?" maria asked, just after they had entered the room on the boat.

" Of course, very far away.. It's going to be a long journey" said Lucas, "You rest, brother out for a bit.. "

During the weeks-long journey, the three brothers seemed to enjoy their togetherness. It seemed like Lucas' decision to move to a distant place was just right, slowly the sadness that was entrenched in their hearts slowly faded away, although sometimes there is still a sense of tightness that comes not when the memory goes back but at least now it has improved.

***

Hustle and bustle of life on a cruise ship like there is no stopping, employees back and forth carrying trays.

More than 30 nights passed very slowly for Maria, and in that time it was enough for the teenage girl to make it a habit to just vent her frustration.

It was customary at night that Mary would sit on the deck staring up at the sky, which sometimes made Lucas worried. The night wind at sea is sometimes quite strong and cold, Mary always forgets her jacket and blanket. Maria fell ill for too long on the deck, and Lucas has since monitored her younger brother more closely.

" Nolle, where's Maria ?" asked Lucas that night shortly after dinner.

" I wasn't with him from that moment. Maybe he's back in the room, " replied Nolle. " So he was chatting with Miss Davofhile. "

" Marya? " call Lucas as he arrives on the deck and see Maria sitting with her knees hugged.

Maria, who felt her name on the dial, turned her head and smiled when she saw Lucas coming up to her with a blanket, with a small laugh Mary received the blanket on her shoulder gently.

" Let's go back, it's too late" Lucas said as his hands rubbed the girl's hair and head.

" Wait a minute, sister." said Maria, "I want a little longer, because maybe tomorrow night I won't be able to see this scene again. "

The night sky seen from the deck of the ship in the middle of the night, is indeed so beautiful even if lucky they can see the Aurora dancing on the surface of the sea water.

Lucas gave a small nod while sitting beside the girl, they both looked at the sky with different feelings.

" Sister." call Mary.

" Yes ?" lucas answered, looking up at his sister, but Maria still looked up at the sky.

" I've heard it, he said when people die, they turn into stars. What father and mother were on it, was staring at me as well." Maria said in a hoarse voice, as if holding back tears.

" Do you want my honest answer or just the answer you want to hear, "ask Lucas.

" I miss my father and mother" said Maria in her tears. This was his second cry since their parents were gone.

Lucas understood how his brother felt, he missed them too. Honestly, he was not ready if he had to live alone, while taking care of his two younger siblings. But he could not show his incompetence in front of his two younger siblings, he should be able to be a big brother that can be relied on as his father said.

That night Maria cried long enough on the deck of the ship, Lucas did not tell her to stop she just hugged her sister warmly, because at this time Maria needed a good listener.

" Sister ?" a voice rang out behind Lucas, but it was not enough to stop Maria's crying.

" Why come after me, I'll be back soon. It's cold here" Lucas said as he watched his brother walk over.

" Mary why? " asked Nolle with a puzzled expression.

" Just miss mom and dad" Lucas replied, telling his younger brother to sit next to him.

" I am too.. Miss them " said Nolle.

And finally Lucas hugged his two brothers who were sad because they missed their two parents, Lucas did not think that Nolle would cry like this with Maria. It seemed as if Nolle was completely shaken with that last incident, Nolle became even more sensitive.

*** ***

" Eventually... "

" I like the land ! "

Nolle and Mary welcomed the land before her, after a long time drifting in the sea. Finally they returned to the ground.

" Be careful when descending" Lucas said as he saw Nolle and Maria so enthusiastically get off the ship.

In the afternoon in December, the ship that had been sailing for a long time was finally pulled over at the dock. Loved the passengers who got off the ship so boisterous, so did Lucas and his two brothers.

Even though the temperature in this month is so low Maria is so enthusiastic about welcoming the new land that became her residence.

Lucas took his two younger siblings to their new home, a house big enough for three young people to live in a fairly crowded area of Chicago.

" This is our new home" Lucas said as he looked at his new home with great hope.

After being satisfied to look around the interior of the new house, they gathered in the living room. Sitting on the couch just straightens their tired backs.

" Tonight you guys take a break okay. Brother will come out don't wait for brother, you two have dinner together" said Lucas told his two sisters, then got up and took his coat which was lying in the corner of the sofa.

Nolle and Maria nodded cheerfully, waving their hands while telling Lucas to be careful on the way.

*** *** ***

The atmosphere of the night in a new place sometimes makes some people feel a little uncomfortable, including it has been three hours since Maria arrived in America, but the drowsiness she never felt.

The clock on the wall pointed at 2 am, Maria carried her lying body towards the window of her room. Open the curtains and let the light from the lights that were deliberately installed in the yard enter the dimly lit room.

The streets were quite quiet though there were still some people passing by, Maria observed the people behind open windows, with her chin up.

As her eyes were busy observing Maria making eye contact with a man sitting across the street, under a yellow incandescent lamp with a thick coat. It was the beginning of the thread of destiny for an immigrant girl from Italy who fell in love with a young American doctor.

A love story that ends up injuring each other and making pain drag on.

" What the hell is that guy thinking. In this cold weather sit and daydream outside. What people in America are like that, " Maria said without knowing if the man was the figure that would make her world upside down].

*** *** *** ***

Seriate.