Chapter 18
As I close my eyes I picture my sister. My dear sister. My Frankie. Her bright blue eyes and stubby nose. Her long brown hair that curled at the ends. Her sweet laugh that rang throughout our home in Germany and stopped in America. On the boat to America, I remember her asking our father , „Müssen wir nach Amerika, Vater gehen?“ Do we need to go to America? Father replied in english, our new language, “The American's need us. German is prosperous and America needs German help.”
Of course he didn't tell us the truth. The scientist in him wanted to explore the cast lands of American, the rich soil and history. Our own Motherland was industrializing and indeed prosperous but none of it citizens received their dues. Father wanted everyone to be equal, he had to power to speak out and when he did the Government respectfully told him to leave. He wasn't exiled or anything but we were uprooted and sent to America under an agreement with the american government. Our home and properties to be used as an Schutzstaffel base 100 years later by the Nazi's.
My sister begged to be left in Germany. „Warum nicht ich kann, bleiben Sie mit Tante Rosalind und Onkel Klaus?“ Why can't i stay with Aunt Rosalind and Uncle Klaus? Father, calmly as possible reminded her to use english but she refused. On arrival she cried and hid behind mother. While I stared at Kryzstofer, she cried and looked around at the soldiers. There had been soldiers in Germany but they had been nice and well kept. Some soldiers here where dirty and had caked mud on their boots. I saw none of this, all I saw was Kryzstofer's deep brown eyes and shoulder length hair.
She died in November, 1889. I reaped her. A last request to see my darling Franziska. She wasn't scared. She'd been happy to see me. The thought of my death had made her unstable yet she never believed it. I knew her heart was about to give up when I approached her that November evening. She was still as beautiful as I remembered her.
I walked calmly next to her and held her hand. „Ich habe verfehlt Sie, Schwester.“ I whispered to her. For a moment she was stunned. Her eyes, so similar to mine, looked at me in disbelieve. “It can't be...” She replied. We stopped walking, as her eyes inspected me. “Mikaela...” “Yes, Franziska.” I nodded. “Have I told you I love you?” She nodded no, her eyes filling with tears. My heart constricted. 20 years of being apart. She was almost 40 now with 4 kids and a Jewish husband. While I had nothing but my memories. “I love you.” I told her before her Lifestream ran out and she collapsed in my arms, a smile on her face. Her hand remained in mine, for the life of God I would not let go! I'd let her go once and I would not do it again. I collapsed on the pavement and rocked her gently, the way she used to do when I cried. I held her in my arms until someone noticed us and ran for help. Until the carriage came to take her away. Until Kryzstofer took me away.
A few weeks later, she was laid to rest at a German cemetery in town. I attended with Kryzstofer in tow. She was buried next to our mother and father. Her family cried silently as the German priest read the bible. I stood to give a eulogy. No one knew me, they'd all died. Face covered with a black veil, I told them what was in my heart. My sister, my best friend had died. She'd died with her beauty intact, something mother would have been pleased with. She died with a smile in her face and love in her heart. I told stories of our childhood and cried harder than anyone there.
Afterwards her husband, Josef, came to me. We hugged and he asked for my name. For the first time in a almost 50 years, I told the truth. I told him I was her sister, Mikaela Tresky. He hugged me again and this time we couldn't let go. We had both lost one of the most important person in our lives. But at least he would see her again, soon by the way his Lifestream had flickered. Two years later, he was killed in a train crash. I also attended his funeral and I made arrangements for his burial to be with my parents.
Now, as I wipe away the foliage of their graves, I think of them. My family, the family I still miss even after 145 years. Her children, great grand children and great great grandchildren. The 5 generation gap that I have outlived. I wipe father;s grave, then mothers and place a white rose on each of their graves. Then I wipe Franziska's and Josef's and place a red rose on both, one for every one of their children and grand children.
A hand lands on my shoulder, Kryzstofer. I look up and he nods. He found it, the grave of Clare my grand niece. Kryzstofer takes a step back out of ear shot as I say my good byes. It won't be until next year when i'll be back, too risky.
“Frankie, I love you. It's been 120 years, soon 121, but you know what? You've never left me. I know you are watching me, protecting me.” I lowered my voice. “But please help me. Dearest Sister, I need your help. Is it my time? My time to join you and father and mother?” My voice quivers.
“Let's go.” Kryzstofer said kindle. I stood and looked at my father's grave once more. It reads:
“Doctor M. Tresky
December 1821- December 1883
Beloved husband and father
He shall be missed.”
I kissed my hand and pressed it to his stone.
Kryzstofer lead me to a crypt a few plots down. We were about to enter when Kryzstofer stopped. I stopped too. Inside their was a man. I looked at him closely. He motioned to the inside.
“Alec.” Kryzstofer whispered.
“What?” I peered in closer.
Alec was on the floor praying, in front of Clare's tombstone/plaque. His Lifestream remained missing. Kryzstofer remained in the doorway, his aura followed me into the crypt. Ever since the mysterious Kleopatra infiltrated my home, Kryzstofer has wanted to be by my side. Both he and Hixak, checked in on me every half hour if they were not with me.
I walked over to him, my heels making a clink sound on the linoleum floor.
“I've been waiting for you.” He said as I approached him.
“What?” I replied. Alec turned startled. Kryzstofer remained at the door way, but I felt him tense up.
“Mikaela!” Alec stood. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting...” I replied. “You?”
“Visiting as well.” He swept his hair back and looked behind me at Krzystofer. “Who are you visiting?”
“My, um, sister and parents. You?”
He pointed to Clare's plaque. “My aunt.”
I shifted a bit. His aunt? That would mean... no. That is not possible.
“Wait.” Alec said, thinking. “I thought your parents died in Germany...”
“No, they died here. We remained in Germany while they, um, visited here. Honeymoon/ anniversary.” I lied. “They died in a car accident.”
“Yes, I remember. I didn't know they were buried here. I would have invited you to come with.” He looked sadly at the plaque. “My aunt died a few years ago. She was really old.” He chuckled. “Raised me better than my parents. I mean look how Janice turned out.”
“Clare raised you?” I asked. This was the first time i'd heard of this.
“Yeah. Janice and I were a handful when we were children. Twins and all. My parents couldn't handle it so I was shipped here to Clare's.”
I looked at Alec and for the first time I could see the family resemblance. His long brown hair similar to Franziska's. Looking at Clare's plaque I tried to suppress tears but could not. In a second Kryzstofer was by my side. His strong arms supported me as I realized Alec was family. He probably knew the legend of me. My sudden death and my body disappearing along with a northern soldier. I'm sure, if he was the person Hixak says he is, he knows who we are and how I am connected to him.
“We must go.” Kryzstofer whispered into my ear while keeping an eye on Alec. To Alec he said, “I apologize on interrupting. We will be on our way now.”
“Call me later.” I told Alec. I looked at the remaining flowers in my hand. “Here.”
“Thank you, Mikaela.” Alec said as he took them and placed them on the little stand next to the plaque. He turned back and hung his head low, praying. Kryzstofer's hands tightened around my waist as we left the crypt. We walked back to the car, I refused to take Kryzstofer's way of travel, in silence. First Kleopatra then this! What was next? The apocalypse? Kryzstofer chuckled as he drove out of the parking space.
“That would be better than the unexpected.” He said.
“Just drive!” I replied annoyed.
_*_