From Marley, with Love.

Chapter 29: Passing beyond

Rosanna stirred underneath her thin blanket, feeling something crawl across her cheek, she swatted at it, covering her face with the blanket to block out the sun that was peeking through the rafters. She smelt the sweet smell of hay, sun and... "Coffee?" Rosanna shot up from her bed of hay, the farmer's wife stood there, smiling up at her. "You slept well? It's still early." Rosanna smiled back at the woman, she stretched and hopped down from the hay bed. "I slept quite well; I was quite tired." She took the coffee and sat down on a stool. The woman grabbed another stool and sat down with Rosanna. "You can ride well, are you from these parts?" Rosanna shook her head, sipping her coffee. "I come from the city, Liberio." The woman flinched slightly at the name of "The Cage" as it was called. Eldians were also closely monitored in the country side, but they were usually privileged by their service during the wars and delivering resources to the cities. "Oh, I am sorry." She mumbled. "It's okay." Rosanna nodded, wanting the woman to calm down. "You don't look like a Liberio girl, are your folks from occupied lands?" Rosanna grinned; the woman was confused by her brown skin and long black hair. "I was adopted." The woman nodded, smiling. "I understand." Rosanna plucked some strands of hay from her hair. "is it a long walk from here to Liberio?" she asked, the woman nodded, "A few hours. You can be there before nightfall." Rosanna nodded. "I could make you a knapsack with some food. So, you don't go hungry." The woman stood up to leave. "I'll pay you for it." Rosanna said, reaching into her pocket. "Noo.' The woman chuckled. "We have a good harvest this year, have a share." The two women exchanged a warm smile before the farmer's wife walked out. Rosanna thoroughly combed her long black hair with her fingers, looking at her reflection in a pool of rainwater, she looked wild, like a country woman. The roads would be muddy, it rained quite hard while she slept. She hopped back into the hay to find her headscarf, she tightly wrapped it around her hair so no one would see the matting or the hay. There was something that she was forgetting, but... It was too much in the back of her head to fully visualize. She just knew she had to get back home as quickly as possible. She hopped off of the hay again and marched out the door. She perched herself on a fence until the farmer's wife came out of her house, handing her a cloth knapsack with a bottle of milk, bread and cheese. Rosanna said goodbye to the woman and went on her way, hopping over puddles and ploughing herself a way through the mud. She whistled breathily as she hiked on.

When she came to the checkpoint, she took her legislation from her pocket. In the distance she could recognize the familiar silhouette of Oscar. She sped up her gait and walked towards the gate, her muddy shoes colored yellow when she changed onto the sandy path into the city. The sun was just coming up, it would be warm today. Oscar already stood ready, arms crossed, looking angry. "Your identification please." He asked sternly, Rosanna raised her eyebrows at his mood, but she understood, he must've still been in shock about the young boy she had with her. Rosanna took her ID out and handed it to him, she nervously fixed her headscarf and armband. Oscar glared at her, "What?" Rosanna asked. "Nothing, everything in order." He answered. Rosanna shrugged, taking her ID back and taking a few steps ahead. Oscar huffed and stood there, staring ahead of him. Then he twisted around and leapt forward, grabbing her wrist. "Know, that you have put the both of us in peril." Rosanna's eyes widened. "Have you told anyone?" she asked as emotionless as possible. "no..." he answered. "Just... know... that if you die, I will die with you. and the other way around." Rosanna nodded, "An eye for an eye" she whispered, and pulled herself loose from his grip. "Don't worry, the mob will only assume and shame me for having a child at 16, not rescuing a victim of genocide." She walked on quickly, almost jogging. "I have to get to the harbor."

On the border of the city, she could hear the sounds of music and people over loud speakers. Suddenly, she realized why she had to go to the harbor. "Oh... no!" she exclaimed, watching her life and career flash before her eyes. In a panic, she sprinted down the hill, tripping and stepping on her head scarf. It was still early, but she had to rush to get into the city, to her house, wash and change and then get too the harbor. She left her headscarf of on the grass, her long hair waving after her in a flurry. Out of breath she reached the gate, scaring one of the guards. "What... are you okay?" he exclaimed, "yes... fine. Just check my ID" she ordered him, throwing her ID at him. "God... you make quite a scene miss Bauer." Rosanna nodded, watching a few military trucks leave HQ. "When do the warriors leave?" she asked him. "Hour and a half." He stated. Rosanna cussed again, gently taking her ID back, saluting him and running off to her house. She coughed loudly when she ran through the steam of a truck that rode past her. She ran into her street, pulling the attention of passerby's, people would gossip tonight... let them. She ran into her house, but... she was stunned by the silence. Her stomach sank, she flew up the stairs to her parent's room. Through the crack of the door, she could see her aunt, dressed lovely for the parade in her best dress and new gloves. Her uncle, pale and small in his bed, his breathing awfully slow. A pang of tears came to Rosanna's eyes. "How was the wedding?" aunt asked, turning to Rosanna, faking a smile. "Good." Rosanna whispered, taking off her coat, her uncle slightly woke up, smiling at her. "How was your cousin? Did she take the boy as her own?" he asked weakly. Rosanna nodded, sitting down at her uncle's bedside, the two held hands. Her uncle coughed, "I don't have a lot of time, my dear." Rosanna felt hot tears stream down her face, she looked at her aunt who was also weeping. "I am... so sorry uncle... if I had been perceptive..." Rosanna croaked. "You would've missed your cousin and not given the boy a chance..." he coughed; aunt handed him some water. "And now... you need to get that uniform and get to the harbor. They are waiting for you." He patted her shoulder. Rosanna stood up slowly, kissing her uncle on the forehead and hugging her aunt. "I'll be here for him." Her aunt said, kissing her daughter on the cheek. "Alright." Rosanna nodded, she slowly walked out of the room and as she closed the door her tears came out with muffled sobs. She cried as she combed her hair and put on her uniform, digging her nails into her hands from the grief she felt. "He won't be here when I get back." She stumbled downstairs, drinking some water and washing her face. The cold water calming the inflamed skin around her eyes and on her cheeks. She walked back upstairs, her uncle was asleep, she said goodbye to them and left for the harbor. The parade had already started, Rosanna could see the young warriors in the distance, waving to the crowd. She stood out in her dress whites against the muted colors of the crowd. She spotted Berthold who waved at her, she smiled and waved back before running into a street that was a short cut too the harbor. She wrestled her way through another, smaller crowd and saw the launching platform. She sped up to a jog, two little girls recognized her, waving at her. She waved back before looking both ways to cross the street. The carriage with the warriors had just turned the corner, the crowd walked with the carriage, throwing flowers and cheering. "This really is the only time when Eldians are celebrated." She said to herself. She hopped up the stairs, seeking out Zeke or Mr Magath. She spotted the two men, saluted them both, took a sneer from the general and snarky comment from Zeke and finally stood her place at the top of the stairs. "That could've been worse..." she thought to herself. The carriage pulled up to the launch, Rosanna thought about her task, bow or shake hands and give them a piece of advice. She was told. The first one out was Marcel, he smiled brightly at Rosanna and bounded up the steps. The two shook hands, "Trust your gut, Marcel. It's your strongest brain." She told him, the two saluted. Berthold followed, beaming at seeing Rosanna, "Don't doubt yourself, Berthold. Trust your brain." The two smiled and saluted, Rosanna felt the strong urge to ruffle his hair but didn't in front of the whole of Rebellion and Liberio. Annie was up next, she stopped abruptly, staring at Rosanna. Rosanna smiled at her, the two shook hands. "Look after the boys, will you?" she asked. Annie huffed, saluted and moved on. Reiner followed closely, he looked distant, not in the moment. Rosanna patted him on the shoulder, the boy jumped. Rosanna did not know what to say. "Reiner... my wish for you. Is that you will understand yourself. And have peace with who you are." The boy stared up at her, eyes big at saucers. "T-thank you." He saluted and bowed deeply for her. She patted his shoulder and send him off. Rosanna watched as the young warriors spoke to Magath and Zeke. She watched as the ship was loaded, baptized and send off. She watched the ship until it was a mere dot on the horizon. Then, taking her leave from Zeke and Mr Magath. She rushed home. Finding her aunt weeping, supported by her neighbors, Rosanna went upstairs and wept at her uncle's bedside for hours, until she fell asleep on the floor, exhausted. The only time she had felt this alone, was when she was five. When she was still in that house where her uncle saved her from.