Chapter 485 The invitation
Alicia had been explicitly told to rest, yet she couldn't comply. For the next two days, she immersed herself in the script, delving into videos, online articles, and textbooks related to the subject. Amidst this information overload, contradictions and nonsensical facts were rampant, not to mention a multitude of discrepancies that plagued her understanding.
But then again, what more could be expected from such a complex topic?
The true essence of historical events remained an enigma, an eternal puzzle. Even those who had lived through those times possessed varying narratives to recount. Generation after generation, the tales would mutate until the truth was obscured, leaving only the remnants of lies in its wake.
A startled gasp escaped Mabel's lips as she entered the room, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Don't tell me you were up the entire night?" Alicia's attention was drawn away from her relentless study as she became aware of their presence.
When Alicia finally lifted her head to acknowledge them, a sharp twinge of pain coursed through her neck, a consequence of hours spent in the same strained position.
"Alicia..." a little voice laced with disbelief called quietly.
Alicia's gaze shifted to the small figure beside Mabel. Leya. She was Mabel's 8-year-old daughter.
Leya, with teary eyes and already sobbing, evoked a pang of emotion within Alicia. Alicia hadn't exactly been able to really grasp the fact that she had been asleep for a full year until she saw Leya.
The girl had transformed during the time Alicia was unconscious, growing slightly taller and now sporting her hair in two neat pigtails. She was no longer 8. She was 9 years old.
The words tumbled from Alicia's lips, her voice laden with a mixture of awe and realization.
"Leya..." She extended her arms, inviting the girl into her embrace. Leya rushed to her side, climbing onto the bed and wrapping her arms around Alicia, tears flowing freely as she cried out loudly.
"You... were asleep for so long." Leya's voice quivered against Alicia's shoulder, her sobs punctuating the air.
Tears welled up in Alicia's eyes as she held Leya close, soothingly rubbing her back. Her voice trembled as she spoke, carrying an apology that flowed from the depths of her heart. "I'm so sorry for causing you distress. I truly am."
Leya's response was fervent; her words were imbued with the intensity of emotion. "I would have never forgiven you if you had left. I would have hated you forever and ever
—"
"Leya!" Mabel interjected gently, moving closer to them and brushing away her own tears.
"I know. I know. That was why I came back. You can forgive me now." Alicia's grip on Leya softened, and she broke the hug, allowing their gazes to meet. A tearful smile graced Alicia's lips as she reached up to wipe away Leya's tears with her thumbs. "You look absolutely lovely. Did your grandmother take good care of you?"
A nod came from Leya, her voice a mixture of pride and excitement. "A lot has happened. I won first place in the drawing competition."
"Truly?" Alicia's eyes widened with astonishment, and she glanced at Mabel for confirmation. The nod she received was filled with maternal pride. "That's quite an achievement."
"I hope it was a painting of me again," Alicia playfully teased, a spark of amusement in her eyes.
Leya's response was bubbly and exuberant. "It was! And I've gotten much better. I've been waiting so long to show it to you..." The sentence trailed off as Leya's voice wavered, emotion once again overcoming her.
Alicia's reassuring hug enveloped Leya, her words tender and laden with empathy. "It's alright. I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry."
Their presence acted as an unspoken pause, temporarily halting Alicia's intense research. Nestled in her bed, she cradled Leya close while Mabel scolded her for neglecting her well-being and bemoaned the dark circles under her eyes.
Although it was obvious that Mabel was relieved. She would rather have Alicia consume herself with studying this piece of history she wasn't sure why Alicia was interested in rather than have her constantly in a depressed state.
"It doesn't matter, Mabel. It's not like I have anywhere to go." Alicia said in a casual tone.
Mabel's concern took a different turn as she mentioned a looming event. "You know, there's a party you might have to attend soon."
"If you want, of course." Mabel quickly added.
Alicia's curiosity was piqued, and her expression turned inquisitive as Mabel handed her an invitation. "It's a special gathering showcasing recently unearthed artefacts related to this." She gestured at the script. "This is primarily for the elite."
"Real-ly?" The intrigue in Alicia's voice was unmistakable as she fully sat up and accepted the invitation.
"I was hesitant to bring it up, considering you might not be up for it. However, given your unexpected fascination with all this, I thought you might find it interesting," Mabel explained.
Alicia's fingers carefully extracted the invitation from its envelope, her eyes scanning the details. "It's scheduled for next Friday." She said quietly and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Yes, indeed. But only if you feel prepared. It's a lot to take in, and I'm not sure if it's advisable given your current condition—"
"I will attend," Alicia interjected firmly, handing back the invitation.
Her determination was unwavering as she reiterated her intention. "I wish to be there."
Once again, she could feel the flood of emotion rushing towards her and decided to distract herself with the people around her.
Mabel's tone held a mix of caution and care.
"Then you must treat this seriously and prioritize your health. This is going to be the first time you are showing up in public after a year. It might not be easy."
Leya's enthusiasm bubbled over as she piped up with hopeful eyes. "Can I come too?"
Alicia's response was instantaneous, a smile tugging at her lips as she reassured the young girl. "Why not? You can accompany me." The joy that illuminated Leya's face was infectious, and Alicia felt a sense of connection and warmth that transcended her research-driven isolation.
"Sorry to burst your bubbles, but children are not allowed in there," Mabel said, causing Leya's face to fall while Alicia gave her a sympathetic look.
"How soon am I getting discharged?" Alicia asked Mabel.
"After a comprehensive test is carried out tomorrow, we'll know how soon that will happen."
Alicia nodded and rubbed the back of her neck again.
Once again, she could feel the flood of emotion rushing towards her and decided to distract herself with the people around her.
"You didn't check the Internet for posts about you, right?" Mabel asked hopefully since she had specifically told Alicia not to check them before she handed her a cell phone.
"I have been too busy to look through those."
Mabel looked at her closely. It didn't look like she was lying.
That was strange.
Alicia always cared about what people said about her.
"Why are you so interested in this topic? You've not actually been a fan of history, except you had to study for some roles."
Alicia looked at her thoughtfully. That was true.
She knew a thing or two about history, most of which she hadn't learned on her own. But for some reason, she was drawn to this.
It wasn't only a good distraction for her, but it seemed to be drawing her in.
But it was difficult to get any real thing. She only had to wait until the big reveal next Friday night.
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