Wait, what? What does she mean about being as good as dead? I hear her cough again, and a chill goes down my spine. I don't like the sound of that and I don't feel good about this. Clarissa's even headhunting for witches. It does sound like she had some unhealthy obsession, but does that mean she... really wasn't a witch? What the hell, then...?
She grabs another paper, but her hand freezes. I wonder what's wrong, and she starts coughing again. It sounds painful even to me, and I can't feel the pain of it. She coughs, again and again, and something red suddenly stains the newspapers. Oh, crap...
"Miss!"
However, Clarissa suddenly grabs that woman's wrist and shakes her head.
"Don't tell my father."
"Miss, please! You should have been hospitalized a while ago already! Your... I know your father doesn't really show his feelings, but I promise he can take you to a very good hospital if you just tell him..."
"No. I don't care about that man. My father doesn't have feelings. He didn't have any for my mother, and he doesn't have any for me, either. He left her to die, didn't he? Why would he care more about his daughter? As soon as he knew I was sick, he just brought me back here and left again. He just hopes I'll die in silence and not bother him."
"But... still, your health... You can't keep suffering alone like that..."
"I'm fine. I don't... I don't care. The family doctor promised not to say anything, so please, don't do something stupid in my stead either."
"Please, miss... At least tell your sister, Miss Amy. I'm sure she could help you..."
Clarissa remains silent for a minute. Is she going to tell Amy? Well, does that mean Amy knew about Clarissa's... about our sickness? Or didn’t she?
After a while, she lets go of the woman's wrist, her gaze going back to her notes and pile of newspaper articles. I hear her chuckle, and she takes out her phone.
"Give me my sister's number."
The woman recites each number, and I'm a bit anxious. Is that how Clarissa left for Silver City...? To my surprise, Amy answers after only two rings.
"Clarissa?"
Even Clarissa stays silent for a few seconds, and I wonder if she's hesitating.
"...Did you know my number?" she asks.
Wait, is that the first time they... I mean, Amy and I are calling each other? No wonder she's surprised. Even I feel a little bit happy that Amy answered so fast and had her younger sister's number... I mean, our number saved. However, that pause is a bit more awkward than it should be. I swear, this family...
"...I had your number saved on my phone, that's all. What is it?"
Clarissa hesitates, and she goes through the pile again, until her eyes stop on something else. There's a brochure of the university, as well, and I'm pretty sure that the woman on the front is Professor Vutha... She takes it.
"...I ...C-could you help me? I want to apply to a university..."
"A university? ...Why don't you ask Father?"
"...I just thought... I could ask you... No, nevermind, sorry, I shouldn't have asked you..."
"No, no, Clarissa, wait!"
Amy's tone surprises me too. Another awkward silence happens between the two sisters and I could almost feel her heartbeat going crazy. That silence on the line is a bit heavy, until we hear Amy sigh.
"Sorry, it's just... I was surprised you called. ...I'll help you. Which university was it?"
"It's in Silver City. The name of the program is..."
Mara!
I jump, feeling a strong pull. What the heck is going on? I hear my name being called again and again. I feel like I'm pulled away from the memory, I hear her talking to Amy, but I can't make out what she's saying, as if I was going away. No, no, not yet, I need more answers! Stop!
Mara! Mara, come back!
