Chapter 14 - Haunting memory from past (2/2)
Vendor smiled at me and handed me our cups while Eshan paid him. Eshan took his cup from me and we both started walking towards our car parked at the side of road.
I dipped my spoon and scooped out spoonful of ice-cream.
”Mmm... yum,” I moaned in bliss as I took first bite. The sweet, chocolaty, and cold taste had me close my eyes in a pure satisfaction.
”Careful!” Eshan held me by snaking his hand around my waist and pulling me towards him. My eyes opened with a jerk. Startled I look at him for an explanation. With his eyes, he pointed forward.
I gasped as I realized as was about to step on dog's tail. Eshan's hand slid down across my stomach and he carefully tugged me aside. Then like a slow motion, it happened.
As our closeness registered in my mind along with sudden panic moments before, the cup in my hand fell. It did not touch the ground. Instead it had to fell on that sleeping dog abruptly waking him up as the freezing cold ice-cream sprawled across his body. I involuntarily stepped more into Eshan as the dog turned towards us, ready to attack.
***
”You don't know how to behave? This shall teach you a lesson.” The sickening voice of that woman thundered above the loud bark of Golden Retriever dog she held leash of in her hand.
”No, please. No.” Nine and half year old frightened me pleaded as tears streamed down my face.
It did nothing to her stone heart as I watch her hold on leash slackening. Her 'rocky' as she called him, scooted forward on his paws while barking and sniffing the air. I crawled backwards from my already fallen figure on the ground. The cruel smirk on her face turned to the sadistic laughter.
”Sorry, sorry. I'll behave. No. No,” I chanted continuously.
***
I felt blood rushing faster through my veins, adrenaline shooting in whole body as my heartbeat raced up to the point I could hear the pounding in my ears. My vision blurred as the memory of that incident clogged my senses. I wanted to crawl back from that haunting memory but it felt as if my senses were numb, I couldn't move.
”Shhh... relax. Breathe in. Sweetheart, listen to me. Breathe in for me.”
I found myself concentrating on the voice that softly whispered in my ear as the arms wrapped around me tightly and I felt the steady heartbeat beneath my palm.
”Breathe in.”
”Hold it inside.”
”Let go.”
”Breathe in.”
”Hold it inside.”
”Let go.”
I followed the instructions the voice steadily commanded in my ear while holding me close. I unconsciously gripped the soft material under my palms while my eyes squeezed shut on their own.
”Sleep, sweetheart. Sleep. Ti ho amato. Dormire.” As my brain registered endearment and the foreign language, the certain someone uses, I sighed in relief, ”Eshan.”
I faintly remember watching Eshan's face before the exhaustion won and sleep took over.
*