The Underground Sisters

Prologue 30 April 2015

Prologue

Aletta sat at her dressing table and stared at her reflection.

She barely recognised the white-haired, wrinkle-skinned woman looking back at her; her slow blinks, the hollowness of her cheeks, and certainly not the frail hand that trembled as it lifted to touch her face.

The woman she remembered had been bright-eyed, quick to smile and with thick chestnut hair that brushed her shoulders.

She closed her eyes, holding back her tears and wishing she could go back in time, to have even one last day as she remembered herself.

When Aletta opened them, she saw her daughter standing behind her.

Aletta smiled as warm, soft hands came to rest on her shoulders, her daughter meeting her gaze in the mirror.

She could see that she, too, had tears in her eyes, and she watched as one slipped from the corner of her daughter’s eye, sliding down her cheek.

‘We don’t have to go.’

Aletta nodded, understanding that her daughter wanted to protect her.

But today of all days, she needed to be brave.

There was no other choice. What would it say about her if she stayed home instead of facing the past?

She smiled as a warm cheek brushed hers, her daughter’s lips whispering a gentle kiss to her skin.

She inhaled her perfume, reached up and placed her hand over her daughter’s as she took a deep breath.

Aletta cleared her throat, the words hard to find, knowing she needed to say them.

‘If we don’t go, they will have won,’ Aletta said, her voice catching. ‘We fought too hard to let that happen.’

She closed her eyes again, wanting to remember but at the same time wishing that her memories couldn’t still haunt her. Remembering the past was a blessing, but sometimes, on days like today, it could also be a curse.

‘All these years later and she’s still the bravest woman in the room,’ her daughter said, her smile kind as she dropped a kiss to her mother’s head. ‘Shall I give you a little bit longer, or are you ready?’

‘I just need a moment,’ Aletta said, looking at her reflection again. ‘I promise I won’t be long.’

‘You take all the time you need, there’s no hurry.’ Her daughter turned to go, but Aletta reached for her hand again.

‘Thank you, for taking me today. I wouldn’t be able to do it without you.’

Her daughter’s eyes glistened with fresh tears. ‘It’s my pleasure, Mum. I would never, ever let you do this alone.’

And she wouldn’t, Aletta knew that. Her daughter had always stood bravely by her side, always there for her when she needed her. She also knew that attending today was a privilege of the living, and one she couldn’t allow herself to miss, and certainly not because she was too scared.

For those we lost, and those we loved, she told herself. Today, we honour you. Lest we ever forget the sacrifices we made, all those years ago.