A question

Whenever Patience looked at the painting, her heart came in her mouth and tears flooded from her preternatural emerald eyes. Why her parents left her to a governess when she was just six, she never knew. Haze swirled around the mystery. Ten years later, it was the same- the painting of the family, decorated so lovingly by her father, never got back its charm. One Thursday evening, as Patience sat down to dinner, the governess, Nancy, brought in piping hot casserole and browned bread with banana milkshake to wash down the food.

“Hello, Patience dear!” smiled the woman, “Supper’s ready! And guess what? There will be chocolate ice cream for dessert!”

Patience smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Aunty.”

Nancy had been there, since her parents married, as a well-loved maid. She loved Patience more than anyone else, so perhaps, Patience thought, that’s why they gave her to Nancy. As they ate, a question appeared in Patience’s mind.

“Uh, Aunty?”

“What, darling?”

“You have been with my parents for 18 years, yes?”

“Yes, dearest. Why?”

“Err…” Patience bit her rosy lips, “I was wondering whether you- you could t-tell me w-why Mum and Dad left me on my own.” She breathed a long, hard breath.

Nancy stopped mid-bite in her bread and her cheeks turned posh red. She swallowed her milkshake in a manner as if she was trying to retain her cool. Patience had a look of guilt on her face. “This is not a question to be asked right now, Patience dear,” Nancy finally said, avoiding eye contact.

“Six years ago, you said the same thing, Aunty!” she bawled.

“I know and it is not your- your problem, Patience!” she said with a rough angry voice.

“No, you will tell me everything now!!” Patience shouted, much louder and livid,

“I am way too tired living under a net of lies like a petty fish. No, Nancy, no, you can’t keep the veracity- the truth- any longer! You WILL tell me!!”

Nancy looked up at the hot tears rolling down Patience’s cheeks. She sighed and licked her lips. “Patience, darling, do you realize why your parents named you, ‘Patience’? Because they wanted you to-…”

“No!!! I don’t realize why they named me so!!! I will not remain patient, Nancy!! NOT ANYMORE!!” With her eyes squeezed shut, she banged the table so hard that all the pots rattled. Nancy had a miserable look in her nut brown eyes.