Eva - Page 4

Eva did not remember the details of that night, only the screaming and shouting between Cynthia and Father. A loud quarrel that ended in Father hitting Cynthia, and the young girl running off into the night in tears. Caught up in the emotions, Eva could only cry as Mother did her best to shield Eva from the conflict. 

Cynthia had always been a headstrong girl, inheriting the stubbornness from Father. When she was of age, Cynthia had wanted to try living in the city, far from the mundane life she had in the countryside. Father, of course, forbid such nonsense. She was to find a suitable husband among the villagers, someone able to help in their farms.

When Cynthia had ran off that night, Father had threatened to disown her if she did so. They've thought she would come back and apologize, but she never did. Mother did frantically went out to search for her, but only learned that Cynthia had took the night bus to the city. Too proud to go back on his words, Father did not went to look for her.

In their small town, words traveled fast, and gossips even faster. The news of Cynthia's run-from-home left a mark on the Lyubov family. Eva felt it in the whispers from her classmates, and in the look of pity from the other adults. It hung like a grey cloud over the family. Over the years it slowly dissipated, but never fully goes away. Eva had always wondered about the fate of her sister, but for the sake of her family, she kept those thoughts to herself. 

Until one day, not long after her own coming of age, Eva received a letter from Cynthia. In the letter, Cynthia talked of the richness and opportunity of living in the city, and asked Eva to come join her. A bus ticket and a city map was enclosed within.

The letter sparked a multitude of emotions: Relief from knowing her sister is doing well, Excitement from the invitation, then Anger from her silence for all these years, and Concern from how Father/Mother will take the news. 

Eva loved her sister, but did feel that Cynthia leaving had broke the family, and she had to pick up the pieces afterwards. Deciding to avoid any conflict between Father and Cynthia, Eva told her parents she will be meeting a faraway friend the whole day, and sneaked over to the bus station instead. She'll see Cynthia's side of the story first.  

Artist's Note:

Flashback / back-story of Cynthia's past.