The Butterfly Effect

Her journeys home were often few and far between. But, with each one of them, she was allowed to see glimpses of how she helped; first better clothes, then better food, followed by a better house deeper in the city and the funds to support their own families. She knew that they were no longer numbers—but rather, citizens. It was a difference that many would consider trivial, yet one she thanked Orestis for every evening.

She actually double-checked the address her brother had given her in his most recent letter. It was hard to believe that the house in front of her—one of the better ones in what appeared to be a middle class neighborhood—belonged to him. But the address was the same, and she had hardly knocked on the door before she was swept into a tight hug.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't show up, wonder kid! Get lost on the way here?" Her brother stepped back and gestured inside. "Come on, my wife's got tea going and the kids'll be excited to see you."

"You said that Mama was staying with you," she said, hoping the exclusion was by accident. She tried not to focus too much on the decorations inside; it would confirm what Jimar had said when he left was true.

That all she was doing was making excuses, and her family was fine without her.

"Oh, yeah, Mama's here. I think one of the older kids had helped her downstairs. Not the woman she used to be, you know? But I think she was probably the happiest to hear you'd be coming."

She nodded, certain that her relief was clear. She followed him past the kitchen—she waved to his wife, who smiled back—and into the dining room. There, she saw the small frame of their mother in her wheelchair, listening to a story a child was telling her.

When the child noticed them, he hopped up to greet them. "Papa! Oh, and Auntie Tandi! Hi, Auntie! I haven't seen you in forever. You look pretty."

Tandi smiled. "You've grown quite a lot, too, since I last visited. Where are your siblings?"

"They're playing upstairs! I know, I'll go get them!" Then the boy darted off.

It made her remember that her least favorite part of visiting her family was seeing her nieces and nephews. Not because she didn't like children—no, far from it. It was because it made her think of having children of her own… before the one person she'd wanted to share that joy with left. Now she'd be lucky to ever see him again, between his travels, her work, and the undoubtable lingering tensions between them.

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Tandi's mother looked up in the direction of the doorway and, though her vision had long since left her, her smile widened. "Tandi, dear, you're here? Come closer. Tell Mama how you've been."

Tandi nodded and walked closer. She put her hand on her mother's, so she'd know Tandi was there. "I've been doing well. Master Tyrus makes sure that I'm taken care of. You've been getting enough support here, right?"

"Of course, dear. I hear his payments are as predictable as the rise and setting of the sun. But what about you? Are you getting enough to eat? You better be nice and plump. I won't be convinced that he's treating you well until you say you've been eating well."

"I assure you, Mama, I have everything I need and certainly everything I want." Tandi paused. "Though you might be disappointed. I'm a dancer, Mama. I need to make sure I stay fit."

Her mother let out a stubborn hmph. "Fine, then. Are you making friends there, dear? What about that boy—the one you'd left with? I was hoping you'd bring him with you. I would've loved to talk to him now that he's all grown, too."

Tandi's smile faltered. "Jimar… left the estate, actually."

"What? When? I don't remember hearing you mention it in any of your letters."

"It's been a couple of years by now." She knew exactly how many: in just a few weeks, it would be the fourth year anniversary of his departure.

"Why didn't you say anything? I thought you liked him. You made it sound like you did. I was really looking forward to knowing you two were together one day… it seemed like he was really reliable. I knew I could rest easy knowing that he was beside you."

"It… wasn't really that important. I suppose you could say that he left on good terms…"

"Why did he go? You sound upset. Was it sudden?"

"It was… a little sudden, yes, but nothing I shouldn't have been expecting. There was a disagreement between Master Tyrus and some of the servants. Master Tyrus offered to pay the debts of those who disagreed and allowed them to leave. Jimar was one of the servants who took the offer."

Her mother might've asked something else, were it not for the fact the kids returned at that moment.

"Auntie Tandi! Auntie Tandi!"

They all overwhelmed her in mere moments, asking questions about her work, her clothes, and her journey.

It wasn't long until she heard her mother laugh. "Remind me, dear—how long are you staying?"

"Master Tyrus permitted me to stay all week," Tandi answered. "But I do have to tend to some business matters while I'm here."

"That sounds perfect. We can have everyone together—a peaceful break from everything else. You've done a lot of hard work over the years. It's about time you're given some time to rest with your family."