(Past) Longing for Family
During an inspection of the territory, Tobias Edigma learned of the birth of his first daughter, Marie Edigma.
He rushed back to the estate after hearing that his wife had gone into labor just before noon and had given birth to a lovely baby girl early in the day.
His beloved wife had had a difficult labor when their first son was born, and they had been told that it might take some time to deliver this baby as well, so he was surprised at the sudden turn of events but rode his horse with joyful anticipation.
It was early spring.
A gust of wind hit Tobias as he rode through the fields on his way home.
He closed his eyes against the sudden wind.
As he opened his eyes slightly when something hit his cheek, he saw that a large number of marigolds had bloomed, and petals scattered by the gust of wind were flying at Tobias.
Feeling as if he had been blessed, he named the baby sleeping soundly in the mansion Marie, after the marigold.
Marie was outrageously clever.
Although she had not received much education as a lady in the remote estate and was forced to live more like a village girl, she would politely greet the occasional guest with curtseys.
He is praised for having an excellent daughter because she welcomes guests with polite but unfamiliar words that he didn’t know where she learned.
“Where did Marie learn her manners?”
He asked her once, holding her young hand, and she looked up at him curiously.
“I don’t remember. I just knew.”
It was strange to see a still-young girl use the endless etiquette knowledge of a lady as if it were natural.
“Marie is a smart girl, isn’t she?”
Seeing his wife’s affirmation of her, Tobias did not pursue the matter too deeply.
If she was born with a gift, it’s the role of the father and mother to accept it and love her as an individual.
Rather, he even wanted Marie to teach her free-spirited brother some manners.
Tobias truly loved his family.
His wife passed away unexpectedly.
He married her after a romantic relationship despite her chronic illness, and although at one point it was said that it would be difficult to have children, his wife still desired them, and they were soon blessed with two children.
“Tobias. Thank you for making me happy.”
His wife tells him as they say goodbye.
“I love you, Stanley. Take care of your father and Marie. Don’t embarrass them too much, okay?”
“I know.”
Tears were welling up in the eyes of his eldest son, who could only act bluntly.
“Marie. My sweet girl. I’m sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you. Mother will always be by your side, Marie.”
The still small girl was silently holding her mother’s hand tightly.
The whole family stayed together until the moment when the last light was extinguished.
Every year on the anniversary of his wife’s death, he displays a large bouquet of flowers.
He buried the coffin in a scenic spot befitting of his wife, who loved flowers and nature.
His oldest son, Stanley, no longer lives with him, so he and his oldest daughter, Marie, decorate the flowers and pray together.
He still loves his wife.
But it is also true that his grief is fading away in his busy life.
In the midst of all this, Marie muttered a few words.
“I hope my next mother will also be Mother again.”
“Marie has some interesting thoughts.”
Tobias thought it was a wonderful idea to be reborn and be a family again.
If he were to be born again, he would want to be with his wife.
Tobias, who had been listening calmly, lost his composure at his daughter’s next words.
“Because the previous mother never looked after Marie.”
Previous mother.
“…. Marie. Who is your previous mother?”
He asked his daughter, trying to sound nonchalant, but she didn’t seem to understand what he was saying and laughed, saying, “I don’t know.”
Etiquette that he didn’t remember teaching, and also a ‘previous mother.’
Tobias sensed, if only vaguely, what Marie’s memories meant.
But what did it matter?
If she was born with these memories, it was his role as a father to accept them and love her as an individual.
Isn’t that right?
Tobias speaks to his wife in his mind as she lies in the cemetery.
If what Tobias imagines is true, he may one day be reunited with his wife.
What a wonderful thing that would be.
