Page 309 - Revelation

Svetlana de Rohan-Levashova. Revelation

my truly beloved town! Venice remained MY city forever! I loved its rich beauty and
high culture... Its bridges and gondolas... And its singularity, making it a unique city
built only once on Earth.

The evening was very pleasant and quiet. Tender waves gently whispered
something and idly swished against stone portals... They fluidly rocked decorated
gondolas and escaped back into the sea, carrying away the petals of roses which, on
sailing away, looked like scarlet drops of blood which somebody generously sprinkled
over the mirror of the water.
Suddenly a very familiar voice pulled me out of my sad-happy dreams:

– I cannot believe my eyes!!!.. Isidora?! Is it really you?!
It was our kind old friend, Francesco Rinaldi who stood dumbfounded looking at
me, as if he saw a familiar ghost... He did not dare to believe that it was truly me.
– My God, where have you come from?! We thought that you had died a long time
ago! How did you manage to save yourself? Did they really let you go?!

– No, they did not, my dear Francesco. – I sadly shook my head. – Unfortunately,
I did not manage to save myself... I came to say goodbye...
– But, how can that be? You are here! And free! And where is my friend?! Where
is Girolamo? I have not seen him for ages and missed him so much!

– Girolamo is not with us anymore, dear Francesco... just as my father...
Whether it was that Francesco was a friend from our happy "past" life, or simply
I wildly got tired of endless loneliness, but, on telling exactly him about the harm that
the Pope had done to us, I suddenly felt the unbearably superhuman pain... And at last
I gave free reign to my feelings. The waterfall of bitter tears gushed from my eyes
wiping off shame and pride, leaving just the thirst for protection and pain of loss... I
hid my face on his warm chest and sobbed like a lost child looking for friendly support...
– Calm down, my dear friend... There, there... Please, calm down...

Francesco stroked my tired head, like my father had done it a long time ago. Pain
burned, pitilessly throwing me into the past which could not be returned and, which no
longer existed, because people who had created this wonderful past did not exist on
Earth anymore...
– My home was always your home, Isidora. We have to hide you somewhere!
Come to our place! We will do everything we can. Please, come to us! You’ll be safe
with us!

They were wonderful people, his family... And I knew that if I agreed, they would
do everything to hide me, even if their life was fraught with danger because of it. For
a short instant I wanted to stay with them so desperately! But I perfectly knew that it
would not happen and I would go right away... In order not to cherish vain hopes I
sadly said:
– Anna is in the "holy" Pope’s claws... I think you understand what it means. And
she is the only one who I have now... I am sorry, Francesco.
And then I asked about another thing:

– Tell me, my friend, what happened to the city? What happened to the holiday?

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