Page 225 - Revelation

Svetlana de Rohan-Levashova. Revelation

far away, in her still unforgotten and apparently very painful past. I stood motionless,
being afraid to stir, expecting that she would say no and go away wishing to share
nothing with us. Finally, Isidora roused herself, as if waking up from a frightful sleep
that only she knew and with a friendly smile at us asked:

– What exactly do you want to know, dear?
– I accidentally looked at Anna and for a short instant felt what she had gone
through. It was awful and I don’t understand why humans did such a thing?! And
whether they were humans at all after that? – I felt that indignation started boiling
again in me and did my very best to calm down, in order not to seem a "silly little child"
to her. – I have a Gift too, although I don’t know how valuable and strong it is. I know
almost nothing about it, but I would like to know very much, because now I see that
gifted people even died for it. It means that the gift is valuable, but I don’t know even
how to use it for the benefit of others. In fact it is given to me not just for being proud
of it, right? So, I would like to understand what I should do with it and what you did
with it, how you lived. Forgive me, if it does not seem to you important enough. I will
not be offended at all, if you decide to leave now.

I hardly understood what I was saying and worried like I never did. Something
inside me prompted me that I needed this meeting very much and I should get Isidora
talking, no matter how hard it would be for both of us.
But she, as well as her daughter, had nothing against my child's request, and on
submerging into her distant past, she began the story.
– Once upon a time there was a beautiful city – Venice. It was the most wonderful
city on Earth! Anyway, so it seemed to me then...

– I think you’ll be glad to know that it still exists! – I exclaimed. – And it is
truly very beautiful!
Isidora sadly nodded and easily waved with her hand, as if raising the heavy
"curtain of time".
Incredible scenery appeared before our eyes.

The light-blue pure blue sky was reflected in the deep blue water right out of
which the amazing city rose. It seemed that the pink domes and snow-white towers had
miraculously grown straight from the bosom of the sea and now proudly stood shining
in the rays of the rising sun, flaunting before each other the grandeur of numberless
marble columns and merry flashes of multicoloured stained-glass windows. The light
breeze merrily drove white little "caps" of curly waves to the wharf, which broke in
thousands of shining sparks and playfully washed marble steps which went straight to
the water. Channels glittered like long mirror-like snakes and played on the
neighbouring houses with a merry spots of reflected light. Everything breathed with
light and joy and looked magically fairy-tale-like.
This was Venice... The city of eternal Love and wonderful Arts, the capital of
Books, great Minds and magnificent Poets...
I knew Venice, naturally, only through photos and pictures, but now this splendid
city seemed a little different – more real and colourful and truly alive.

– I was born there and considered it an honour. – Isidora’s voice began to purl

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