Fuente by jarmoluk
That Friday the rain didn't stop so Charles got a borrowed umbrella and a raincoat so he could get to the bus stop, it was cold so his jaw was a little numb, yet nothing was going to stop him from going to his grandmother's house, a place that had always reminded him of the happiest memories of his childhood. He had always felt comfortable there, as if that place was his home, Marta found peace and security because she was a happy and positive woman.
When he arrived, his grandmother welcomed him with open arms. They sat in the living room, as they always did, and she began to tell him the stories of yesteryear. With a sweet bread in his hand and a hot cup of coffee Charles began to take the chill out of his body. Martha loved to tell her stories as she did so she relived in her memory all those who were no longer with her, plus as she told them she couldn't help but let out a few smiles for the joy that these moments caused her at the time.
This time Charles listened attentively as she told him about the difficult times she had lived through during the war. She talked about the friends she had lost, the family that had been separated and the sadness she felt remembering those days, these wounds caused by the war were still open in the souls of many, they were still suffering the losses and many could not find nice memories among all those dreadful scenes they had to witness and Marta also had her bad days, this was one of those.
Charles was touched by her words, but he also wondered what the reason for her visit was. Her grandmother had asked her to come that day, but she had not told him why, Martha always waited for the weekend to see Charles, since he visits her those days, but this time she said over the phone that it was urgent that he come to visit her. Although Charles was concerned to hear her say that she was well, he was able to feel more at ease. They talked at length throughout the morning.
Fuente by TheDigitalArtist
Martha told Charles that during the war she was hiding in a house destroyed by bombs, full of fear, hungry and freezing to death, when out of nowhere a girl approached her and in a low voice whispered "Do you want a piece of bread?" Martha did not know if it was a trap, but she saw kindness in that girl's eyes, so she took the bread and during the war they remained hidden together in that place.
-If it hadn't been for that girl, I wouldn't be here today," Martha said quietly.
Finally, her grandmother explained. She told her that she needed her help and that she should help her resolve a matter from the past. Marta wanted her to go to the neighboring towns and find someone she had met during the war. This person had lost her entire family and was alone, it was the girl who had accompanied her in those difficult times. Charles was terrified, he did not know if this was a good idea, but seeing his grandmother so distressed, he understood that he had to do what his grandmother asked him to do.
Doing what Marta asked was not easy, it was a long and costly journey, he even thought that the woman probably no longer existed, but he kept trying when he could. After several days of searching, in social networks, telephone directories and others, he finally found the address of the woman his grandmother had asked him to find. Excited to take her to her grandmother, he rushed to the house but when he knocked on the door for a while, no one answered.
Disappointed and a little sad for his grandmother, he walked a few blocks until he reached a nearby park. There was no one there because it was very cold, only an older woman was sitting on a park bench, crying. Without thinking she sat down next to her, it reminded her of her grandmother.
-Good afternoon, I have a handkerchief here. -You can use it if you like.
-Thank you dear, I'm sorry. -I don't feel well at all.
The old woman told him that she had lost her family in the war and that it was 85 years since that happened, the memory was still intact in the mind of that aged woman, she mourned the loss of her parents and siblings who had been mercilessly taken from her. Since then she had had no companionship. She told him about a little girl who accompanied her in an abandoned house named Marta and how she was able to survive those terrifying days thanks to having found her.
Fuente by pyou93
Charles could not believe it, it was her, he had found the girl who had accompanied his grandmother during the war. While the woman was still talking, Charles gave her a big hug.
-I am Charles, Martha's grandson," he said excitedly, "She has asked me to find you and bring you back to her.
The woman looked at him with astonishment and hugged him. She knew it was a miracle that someone had found her after all those years. Charles and Marceline returned to Martha's house. When they arrived she couldn't believe that her beloved grandson had made it, she managed to recognize Marceline's aging face and as she saw her approaching he hugged her tightly, letting her know how much he had missed her. Martha and Marceline spent the next few years together, recalling memories of the war and building new and more beautiful memories.
Charles, for his part, went to his mockery's house every weekend without fail, staying with the two of them eating some bread and chatting with them. Charles thanked Martha for telling him that story and asking him to find Marceline. She had given him the opportunity to save a life, to bring two people together and to bring some light to the memories of the war.
