Chapter 2
Emilia was stunned to silence for a few moments, not sure how to take what she’d just heard. The gypsy woman had a peculiar sense of humour. That was for certain.
‘Excuse me?’ she finally said, cocking her eye at her.
‘I said… I can grant your wish,’ said Esmera with an enigmatic little smile.
Emilia broke into a snorting laugh but stopped short when she saw Esmera’s face was deadpan. Emilia huffed and knitted her brows. ‘Okay, I’ll humour you... How would you do that?’
‘Never mind that! But… what if I told you it’s the wrong thing to ask? To be young again?’
‘No, it’s not. To be young is to have opportunities of all kinds. In business and in romance. It would also be my only chance to have a fit and lean body again!’
‘Wrong, wrong, and wrong! You can have all these things at forty-five or even later. Anytime you want, Emilia.’
‘I beg to differ.’ Emilia raised one bare arm and shook it in mid-air. Her skin sagged underneath and wobbled like jelly. ‘See? That didn’t happen when I was twenty-five. These days, I’ve got flab in all sorts of places. At twenty-five, I had smooth and tight skin from head to toe. I rest my case.’
Esmera put a hand on Emilia’s shoulder. ‘Emilia... Listen to me. First off, taking care of sick family members, and being a dutiful daughter and granddaughter are godly things. They’re not a waste of a lifetime. These are things that sculpt souls into masterpieces of godliness. Do you believe in God, Emilia?’
‘Yes, of course I do! I am Greek!’ Despite herself, Emilia giggled.
Esmera gave a chuckle and asked, ‘So, if you were to put aside all the painful family memories… and the flab thing … what else is bothering you about your life?’
‘Well… I have no steady income and no money in the bank, for a start.’
‘Are you unemployed?’
‘Not exactly. I am a freelance landscape artist, and it’s tough to find new customers. Whatever little I make, mostly as a gardener here and there, is not enough, and if this carries on for much longer, I fear I will wind up homeless, living on the streets.’
‘And you’re sure you have no one who can help you?’
‘No… As I said earlier, I have no family left here in Athens. And only that one friend I mentioned earlier. She did offer me some help—’
‘Anita?’
Emilia stared at her, incredulous.
Esmera flicked her wrist. ‘Relax. I am no medium or anything… I saw you leaving the restaurant with a nice lady earlier. I heard you say goodbye. You called her Anita, and you told me you only have one friend, so, duh !’
‘Oh! Right... I had no idea you were around. I didn’t see you.’
‘I was just standing at the bus stop and, actually, I admired you girls. You both looked lovely in your summer dresses, all made up. I presumed you were off to a party somewhere, but when you said goodbye I realized I was wrong.’
‘No, we only met for a meal. Just the two of us. It was a special occasion…’
‘I see… So, you were saying? About Anita?’
‘Yes… she offered me a place in her home, so I don’t have to pay rent until I manage to earn more money, but I don’t want to be a burden.’
‘I see… So you’re down on your luck. I get it. But thinking life has stolen from you is wrong, Emilia. And so is thinking that you need to be young again to get all the things that you want. Every day comes with a chance to get what you want! Every day holds the power to change you beyond your imagination and your understanding, if only you believe that it’s possible. You can still find the right man to marry, you can create a successful business and, yes! You can even get rid of the flab on your arms.’
Emilia shook her head. ‘I am sorry, I don’t see how any of this is possible for me.’
‘Okay, I do admit, it’s probably a little late for you to have kids now. That ship’s probably as good as sailed, but all the other proverbial boats are still moored at the bay, just waiting for you to decide in your own time when it’s time to set sail.’
Emilia continued to shake her head, unable to allow herself to believe. The last thing she needed was to add false hope to the frustration that was lathered thickly all over the burnt-to-a-crisp slice of toast that was her life. ‘I am sorry… it seems too late for any of these things. Not with twenty years of lost time behind me, and all these things that weigh down on me.’
‘Emilia! Just listen to yourself! “Lost time… Weigh down…” You should never speak such negative words! Are these the kinds of things you keep saying to yourself? And to Anita? No wonder I found you so upset on this beautiful beach, under the glow of this magnificent moon! You see? You’ve marred your special night out. You mar everything, every day, Emilia. For no cause!’
Emilia was silenced by this. How did Esmera know all that? Indeed, Emilia had spent the last two hours telling Anita all about her past family woes during their meal. Her special birthday dinner had been meant to be a celebration but had felt anything but, because of the topic of discussion she had picked.
Anita, sweet Anita… as always, she had lent an ear, never complaining. Maybe, I overdo it. It’s true I talk about the past often… Concentrating so little on today. Blaming life… And what do I do about my current situation every day? I just moan…
Esmera’s voice echoed loudly this time, breaking Emilia’s reverie. ‘Listen, Emilia! I’ll let you in on a huge secret: God made us creator beings, in His own image. We have the power to choose what to create in our lives, all subject to His agreement, of course. And how do we do this? It all starts with our thoughts. The words we utter are part of this process. God created the whole universe by using words! And so, our words, too, have tremendous power. You really need to guard your tongue!’
‘Guard my tongue?’ Emilia asked, taken aback.
‘That’s right, Emilia. And I suggest you do this: As of this night, try to only think and speak of the things you do want. Not the things you do not want. Not the things that upset you now or have upset you in the past. What we talk about repeatedly we attract more of in our lives. Faith in the good is positive thinking. Faith in the bad is negative thinking. Whether you believe in the good or the bad, you create situations in your life with the same ease. Like attracts like. And both take the same amount of energy to bring forth. Now, doesn’t it make sense to think positively, since you have a choice?’
Unsure, Emilia said feebly, ‘I don’t know… How can just thinking positively help anyone find happiness? It’s not enough, surely.’
‘I am telling you that it is. Given enough time, obviously.’
‘I don’t know… It all sounds too simple to be true.’
Esmera huffed. ‘ Liakoula , you’re one stubborn woman, aren’t you?’
Emilia was stunned for a second or two. Finally, her voice sounded tiny to her own ears when she said, ‘What… made you call me Liakoula?’
‘A-ha! See? I do know more than you give me credit for. Because only one person ever called you that, right?’
Emilia hesitated for a few moments, then said, ‘Yes… my aunt Irini did.’
Esmera tilted her chin. ‘That’s right. She lives on the island of Milos, doesn’t she?’
‘Yes… but… how do you know her?’
‘I know many people… enough of them to know everyone is the same, Emilia. We’re all after the same things.’
‘And what are these things?’ asked Emilia, deciding to let go of the pressing question of how this stranger knew her aunt. For now, at least.
‘Same as what you want.’
‘How do you know what I want?’
‘Why don’t you tell me?’
‘I want to be happy.’
‘You have to elaborate a little more on that. What is happiness to you?’
‘Many things… But the one thing I want the most I can never have.’
‘And what is that?’
‘I told you. I wish I could be young again. Start afresh with the wisdom I have now!’
‘There you go again, about being young…’
‘Yes! Twenty-five. I’d give anything to be that age again.’
Esmera heaved a long sigh, then flicked her wrist. ‘Bah! You’re one stubborn girl! It seems I can only show you how wrong your perception is by granting your wish.’
Emilia chuckled. ‘Yeah, right! How could you possibly take me back twenty years?’
Esmera twisted her lips, then said, ‘Well, I can’t take you back in time. But I can do better than that. I can give you a choice. I can help you decide for yourself what is better… being twenty-five or forty-five? But don’t ask me to tell you any more as it would spoil the surprise. And I do love to see the surprise in the eyes of those who receive my gifts. It makes the giving even more enjoyable.’
‘I don’t understand.’
Instead of answering, Esmera dug into her skirt pocket again and this time produced what looked like a CD in its case. ‘Here! Sorry it’s not wrapped.’ She winked. ‘Happy birthday.’
‘How… How did you know it’s my birthday today?’
Esmera tapped her nose and gave a lopsided grin. ‘I know more than you give me credit for.’ She stretched out her hand and Emilia took the CD case from her.
Straining to read the label in the semi-darkness, Emilia raised the cd case a little so the light streaming from the street lamps in the distance could reach it. It was faint, but she managed to see the label was blank. ‘What’s on the CD?’
‘It’s music. Just one track. The artist is unknown to you. But it’s a very special song. Memorize the words, Emilia. Learn to sing the song. It matters.’
‘What do you mean it matters?’
‘This song will change your life, Emilia. It will make you happy. Happier than you’ve ever been. Trust me.’
‘But, how?’
‘It all starts tomorrow. You will receive a phone call that will change everything. You will hear from your aunt Irini. You haven’t heard from her in a while, have you?’
‘No… I admit we’ve drifted apart. I haven’t phoned her in years.’
‘Last time you saw her it was here in Athens, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes, she had come for just one day to see my grandmother—her mother. She was fading very fast after the last stroke. Aunt Irini visited her in hospital two days before Granny died.’
‘Well, your aunt Irini appreciated more than you know how you took care of her mother, and her sister too—your mother— while she dealt with family troubles of her own back on Milos. And even though she has been living there, away from you all this time, she never forgot you. She loves you very much.’
Emilia saw the same warmth in Esmera’s eyes as before. It made her feel like family. It was a very strange feeling. She cleared her throat as she lowered her gaze and said, ‘Thanks, Esmera. I should phone her really… It’s so bad of me to lose touch with her.’
‘Don’t feel bad. And you don’t have to phone her. As I said, you’ll hear from her tomorrow.’
‘Can I ask you something, Esmera? How is it possible you know all these things about me? And my aunt too? Who are you? I don’t know you from Milos, do I?’
‘Perhaps I’ll enlighten you some other time. If I were to tell you more I’d distract you and, right now, you need to stay focused, my dear. What’s important is the song. Soon, you will realize just how much your aunt Irini appreciated you for being so dutiful. You seem to think it was a waste, for nothing, that you spent years taking care of your family only to lose them, but know this: Everything we go through in life has a reason, a purpose. And now, it is time for you to reap the rewards from doing your duty to your family all those years ago. This is your time to shine and be all that you long to be.’
‘Esmera, you speak in riddles. And I am having trouble following.’
Esmera stood and slapped her skirt here and there to get rid of any sand. ‘Don’t worry. It’ll all be crystal clear to you soon. And now, I have to go. You need to go home too. Tomorrow is a big day for you.’
‘It is?’
‘Yes. And it needs to find you well rested. So go home and straight to bed. And don’t forget the song. You need to learn the words to sing along. It’s very important.’
‘Why do I have to sing along?’
‘You will see why when you do it.’
Emilia nodded and stood to follow Esmera back onto the road.
At the roadside, Esmera took Emilia’s hand in both of hers and said, ‘Goodbye for now, Emilia. And remember: Youth is overrated. You will see this soon for yourself. If you need me, just come back to this beach. I am here all the time, enjoying the sunshine.’
‘You mean you’re here all day?’
Esmera giggled. ‘And all night, sometimes.’
Emilia didn’t understand but smiled anyway, feeling entertained by this strange woman. She felt differently now, after their conversation. Her mind was clearer, her heart was lighter, and she was very curious to listen to the song as well. Whereas before she dreaded going home to be all alone in it, now she couldn’t wait to get there and listen to the track.
Esmera waved goodbye and Emilia did the same and thanked her again for the gift.
Before turning away, Esmera flashed a confident smile and said, ‘Oh! You’d better get your old portable CD player out. You’ll need to take the song everywhere with you!’
Emilia didn’t understand but said nothing as she waved to the strange woman again and walked away, a ghost of a smile on her lips. Who uses CD players these days? Cuh!