Edelweiss

Lady Catherine Puller.

…

Lady Catherine Puller.

Yeah… yeah, here. 

It is time.

Time for… Who the hell are you?

My name is -

No… no, no, no, no. You stay the hell away from me, you freak.

Fear not, my lady. My name is Charon. I am here to carry you across the river.

River? What the fuck do you mean, river? I don’t need to cross any river, I’m perfectly fine where I am.

Please, Lady Catherine. I will assure your safety.

No, no, you don’t understand. I’m not supposed to be here, I still have a long life. Take me back right now.

You know I cannot do that.

Then find someone who can!

Lady Catherine.

I said take me back. Now!

Lady Catherine.

What! Please, just leave me alone... please.

I have devoted my life to guiding countless souls, some exhibiting a more distressing state than you. But I am here to offer my word that each and every one of them gave me their unwavering appreciation for being there in their final journey. So I request that you please offer me the opportunity to help you.

No... please... just... leave me alone.

Are you afraid, my Lady?

What do you think?

Take my hand, child. All will be fine.

...

I promise.

...

Our journey will be brief. Do offer me the locket around your neck.

Locket, what lock…

…

Wait, this isn’t mine.

Your kin has taken great care of you, even unto death.

Yeah, well... that’s what they want you to think. Deep down, they’re a bunch of stubborn pricks who don’t wanna listen to anything I have to say.

And why is that, my Lady?

All they want is for me to follow whatever they tell me to do. As if they even have a right to control my life. Don’t go to that school, don’t go to that place, don’t get together with that guy. And now look where I am. Ugh, thinking about it just pisses me off.

Perhaps it was out of love.

Love, pfft. As if. You know, I don’t even know why you agree with them. You don’t know the amount of pain I went through!

…

Especially my mother. Oh my God, my mother. She’s the whole reason why I’m even here, that dipshit. I swear, she drove me fucking crazy that day. Kicking me out of the house, all because I didn’t wanna leave my boyfriend? Who the hell is she to say that he was a bad influence? If anything, he was doing me a favour getting me out of that hellhole. I don't even know why Dad sides with her.

Well, pain is love masquerading in distress.

What the fuck does that even mean. You know what, dude? Just shut up. I don’t even know why I trusted you in the first place. Just… shut up and take me wherever you need to take me, please. Ugh.

…

… pissing me off.

…

What? What are you looking at me for?

Our journey will be completed in a moment.

How far more? You're taking your own sweet time, aren't ya?

…

That look again, what do you want?

Hmm. I want you to have this.

A flower? Right. And what am I supposed to do with this?

This is an edelweiss, my lady. This is a beautiful flower, only capable of growing in heights where no man shall be willing to ascend.

…

Except the courageous. Those who are willing to look adversity in the eye in pursuit of true and unwavering love. You see, everyone has an edelweiss ready to be picked.

Pfft, even my jackass of a mother?

Even your mother. It is only up to those who are willing enough to make the sacrifice for the betterment of those they love, and your mother displayed much bravery.

I don’t know about that.

That’s why I am here to clear any resentment you harbour in your heart.

And how exactly can you do that?

Well, the easiest way is to start with this question: Why are you here?

Well, I died, duh?

No, why are you here?

Oh, that kind of answer. Well, because… because I drank too much, and I don’t… I don’t know why I decided to drive that day. I tried to get as far as possible from her and Dad. Ugh, I… I don’t even know why I did… oh my gosh. I shouldn’t have done it. Why did I do it?

It’s okay, my child. Take your time.

I was just pissed, okay? She told me to break up with my boyfriend because he apparently “was not a good man”. Like, I loved that man. But she was so insistent that he was out to get me. And this wasn’t even the first time. I swear, she had it out for me my whole life. She even refused to pay for my tuition because of him.

You were her only child.

Yeah, I was her… How the hell do you know that?

I am the ferryman of the Underworld.

Right.

And she would do everything to protect her one child she had left.

What do you mean, left?

You see, Lady Catherine, your mother’s love for you was a way to right what she thought were wrongs.

And that is?

She failed to protect your brother.

I didn’t have a brother, you said it yourself.

You didn’t have a brother in your lifetime.

Wait… wait, wait. What the hell? You're saying there was another before me?

Well, he had not entered the world. Years ago, your mother had a child with a man she trusted her life with.

My father?

Another. He was a hardworking and honest man, labouring each day in search of a better life. Troubled by the news of an incoming child, he regrettedly engaged the wrong crowds for a better life.

What do you mean?

A violent life. In exchange for a more peaceful one. It gave them opportunities to start a comfortable family. He was, however, indebted to heinous people, and his attempt at leaving resulted in an unfortunate circumstance.

…

Savage men ravaged their residence. And your mother, oh your mother. An innocent woman intertwined in a life she never chose, wrongfully caught in the violence.

The baby.

A man, who brought pain to her life, a byproduct of love masquerading -

In distress.

Hmm.

I didn't know all this.

It was perhaps for the better.

But that doesn't change the fact that she's a control freak.

Well, perhaps your partner has... caused her distress?

No, Josh wasn’t like that. He… he was a good man. I know him.

Josh. How was he?

He was a... wait. You told me you know everything.

I want to hear your side.

What's the point, you already know what I'm gonna say.

Please, Lady Catherine.

Fine. He took care of me, okay? He gave me a sense of value, like I was important to someone. He was perfect, everything about him.

He was flawed.

No he wasn't. You watch your mouth.

Lady Catherine, we are all flawed. Perfection is the balance of your good and your undoings.

He changed! He wasn't like that anymore, I know it. He promised me he would get help. I threw away all his gear! I flushed everything down the toilet!

But you couldn't get rid of the past.

It was in the past! Don't you get it? I wanted to help him change!

And he did.

Of course he did!

But your mother still worried for you.

Yeah, cause she's a deranged woman who couldn't cut me some slack!

A woman who did it because she loved her daughter.

No... no, no, no. That wasn't love. She did it because she's -

She did it because she saw her past!

...

I apologise for my tone, Lady Catherine.

No, no, it's okay. I'm sorry.

Your mother saw parallels to the man she once trusted as the guardian of her family. And it a moment of what was meant to be love, she became the victim of his undoing.

She.. she could've at least said something.

Her flawed emotions let her down. But she did what she had to do to make sure you were safe. To make sure that the pain she went through was enough to ensure her daughter could enjoy peace.

...

Are you all right, my Lady.

Just... give me some space.

Hmm.

I just don't know what to say.

There is nothing that needs to be said.

No, I guess you were right.

...

I... I need to go back, please.

You know I cannot do that.

No, please. It’s not what you think. I just wanna talk to her one last time, please.

I am afraid that is beyond my control.

Please… just once. Please. I’m so sorry, Mum. Please.

…

I didn’t mean any of it. Please. I love you, Mum. I’m sorry. I’m sorry…

It is good that you have made amends with your resentments.

No, there is no amendment until I’ve talked to her.

...

I need to talk to her. Please.

Perhaps you already have.

What… what do you mean?

You see, souls are unable to cross this river alone. The living will have to accompany them across the river in spirit, and I will bring them back to the other side once the journey is complete.

In spirit?

The flower I gave you. Your mother chose the edelweiss as a vessel for her son. A symbol of her courage in letting her child go. Something a parent should never go through, let alone twice. 

Wait, you're saying... You're saying she's with me now in this locket?

Well, I’ll keep the locket. It is the payment. But the contents...

Contents?

Here.

Another flower, this...

...

This is... her?

Yes. This, my child, is the heliotrope. It is a mark of eternal love. No matter the circumstance or consequence, your mother has expressed her unrelenting love for her daughter. She would have loved for you to have it.

I… I… I'm sorry Mum. I love you.

...

I'm really, really sorry, Mum. I love you so much.

I insist that you keep it.

Thank you, really. I don’t know what to say.

There is nothing to say. I just need to know: Have you overcome your resentments?

I have.

Then your journey is complete, Lady Catherine. My job is done.

Well, thank you so much, Mr…

Charon. I am honoured.

Will I ever see you again?

…

Not even on the other side?

Unfortunately, my journey ends here.

Well then, I am grateful. I really am.

So am I. Farewell, Lady Catherine.

Goodbye, Charon.